ESDPAREVIEWEuropean Security and Defence Press Association de la Presse Européenne de Sécurité et de Défense

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Our cover – With a build programme of 11 units for France and a single unit for Morocco, the FREMM frigate is one of the most important surface combatant programmes at DCNS. © DCNS

I One Gulf – eight navies

I The Sun Rises in the EastForeword by Senator Jacques Gauthier

I The European Defence Industry:Politics Serving the Economy?

I GPMG & HMG: from “oldfavourites” to new releases

I Europe and India – a partnershipof sixty years continues

I Taming the Taliban OR dog’s life

I Fighter and missile markets in the Middle East

I Russian Defence Industry in the Second Millennium

I SU-30MKI plus Brahmos:New Capabilities

I Military Power:Key to India’s Future

I Armoured Vehicles ofIndia and the Persian Gulf

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Geo-strategically speaking, things are moving in theEast. And not only in China! There is, of course, theemergence of India as a global power. Behind the

acronyms, BRIC, G8+5, G20, the fact is that India joined the SuperPower club at the turn of this century. India is no longer emerging. Ithas emerged.

Another notable fact in the East is the appearance of new actors in theGulf that are challenging every sector of the Middle East's traditionalpillars, notably Saudi Arabia. Their leaders, visionary-princes, havetaken just a few decades to raise city-states out of the desert sands, city-states that today are at the tip of Arab modernity where education, tol-erance, freedom and economic development are concerned. Thesestates have their eyes fixed on Asia, which is to say India and Pakistan,and could contribute even more to the region's prosperity if the reli-gious dictatorship in Iran gave way to a more pacific regime.

French diplomacy has been able to anticipate these developments withconstance and clairvoyance.It was in 1980 that, thanks to his trip to the Gulf Emirates, Valéry Gis-card d'Estaing gave an impulse to France's previously non-existent pres-ence in these countries and strengthened our cooperation with them ina spirit of respect and mutual interest. It was also in the 1980s thatFrançois Mitterrand gave a new scope to our relations with India. Ourdiplomacy took a gamble that this country would make a strategic ap-pearance and we have consistently supported its claims on several issuessuch as a permanent seat on the Security Council, greater participationin the decisions of international institutions, or access to civilian nu-clear cooperation. The excellent links that our diplomats, our military,our entrepreneurs and our politicians have been able to forge have ledto strategic partnerships. It fell to Jacques Chirac to sign one in 1997with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and in 1998 with India.

It was logical that these partnerships should have a military content.India's armed forces have been using our equipment for several decades.They deploy Alouette helicopters and Mirage 2000s. This aircraft re-mains the backbone of the Indian Air Force and has just been mod-ernised. Indian forces have also purchased from our country a great dealof equipment in the missile, radar and, more widely, defence electron-ics' sectors. As for the UAE leaders, they have always chosen to equiptheir forces with the jewels of French industry. Their forces have a levelof equipment and operational expertise unparalleled in the Gulf: 60

The Sun Rises in the East

3 ForewordSenator Jacques Gautier (France)

6 EditorialJoseph Roukoz, ESDPA Chairman

8 Military Power: Key to IndiaÊs future • Bharat Verma

13 SU-30MKI plus BrahMos: new capabilities • Nikolay Novichkov

17 Europe and India – a partnership of sixty years continues • David Saw

23 Armoured vehicles of India and the Persian Gulf • Mark Huntiller

29 Fighter and missile markets of the Middle East • Thomas Withington

37 One Gulf – eight navies • Ted Hooton

43 GPMG & HMG: from „old favourites‰ to new releases • Jean-Pierre Husson

51 Taming the Taliban OR dogÊs life • Shaun Connors

57 Russian defence industry in the second Millennium • Nikolay Novichkov

Forewordby SenatorJacques Gautier

Partners and advertisersDCNS • EADS • Nexter • Thales • MBDA • Dassault • Renault • IMDEX

Singapore Air Show • Brahmos • Aviakon • Status • Rostvertol • United Engines • Koshkin Design Bureau • Russian Helicopters

ESDPAREVIEWWinter 2011 issue

continued on page 4

Contents

foreword

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Mirage 2000-9, 380 Leclerc tanks, one satellite and perhaps tomorrow the Rafale. Thesemilitary relations are structured according to a logic that we must understand and respect.For India, it is imperative to have equipment of a higher quality than that of its neighbours.For the UAE is a strategic choice not to be locked into a single partnership for equipment,as Saudi Arabia did with an “all American" military partnership.These partnerships have taken a concrete turn. France, for the first time in 50 years, agreedto operate a military base outside its territory, in the UAE. This base is for land, sea andair – I had the honour of attending the inauguration of the maritime section in May 2009together with President Nicolas Sarkozy. In India, DCNS is providing the project man-agement of a programme to equip the Indian Navy with six submarines and their ExocetSM 39 missiles. Paris and New Delhi in 2008 signed an agreement on cooperation in civil-ian nuclear power that opens the way for the construction of French EPR reactors. Finally,the decision of the Indian Government in connection with the tender for the MMRCA(Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft) is eagerly awaited.

These strategic military partnerships will continue to evolve. In the Gulf, the strategicthreat posed by Iran creates a growing need for missile defence. U.S. manufacturers havetaken the lead. But France and Europe are not absent from this segment. With MBDA andthe SAMP / T missile we can already provide effective and operational theatre protection.The recent decisions taken in Lisbon, especially those to work together on an anti-ballisticmissile system enlarged to territories should make things easier. India's “quest for power”,to borrow the title of a symposium recently held in the Senate chaired by Josselin de Rohan,President of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and the Armed Forces to whichI have the honour of belonging, will necessarily bring India to acquire the military attrib-utes of power. The submarines are just one example among many. Faced with this demand,French industry is able to offer top-of-the-range products which meet the strictest require-ments.

The time has thus come for our industry and our diplomats to capitalise on the excellentrelations between India, the Gulf and Europe to intensify and strengthen our partnershipsin all spheres, including the military one.

Editorial

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By Joseph Roukoz / ESDPA

From Saint-Malo to London, defence as aFranco-British objective

T welve years have passed since the his-toric summit of Saint-Malo, the angularrock of the European Defence and Secu-

rity policy. The international system hasevolved since, and with it, ideas of threat, security, information and conflict. It is there-fore not surprising that the main areas of co-operation have adapted to the new realities ofmodern warfare (drones, virtual wars, cyber-terrorism, etc.).

Nevertheless, although cooperation hasadapted to these changing threats, the Euro-pean public arms markets have hardly taken account of the new requirements these changesinvolve. They remain compartmentalised andnarrow, in contrast to their American equiva-lent. European defence budgets, already con-siderably inferior to those of the United States,have not stopped shrinking since the beginningof the global financial crisis in 2007.

It’s mainly to re-spond to both thesefactors that MssrsSarkozy and Cameronsigned these agree-ments which endedyears of negotiationsupposed to respondto the mutual needs ofFrance and GreatBritain. While its well known that the twocountries represent 70 percent of Europeanmilitary research and technology investment,there was also a real need to find a solution forthe European industry. Financial constraints inboth countries accelerated the signature ofthese agreements, which were welcomed by all

of Western Europe. In fact, the budget cuts an-nounced in Great Britain are seen as insuffi-cient compared to the high military costs(above 25% of the original budget). France,suffering equal budget pressures, has no choicebut to split the development costs to avoid cut-ting production, which would seriouslythreaten the future of its industry.

Cooperation and Sovereign respect: The ex-ample of French industry A note to those opposed to federalism: the mainparties have made assurances that these agree-ments don’t endanger the sovereignty of theStates that they represent, including on the nu-clear question. It’s above all about the internalinterests of each country in a particularly deli-cate international situation. To understand bet-ter, take the example of the French army: thereare three main companies which invest in thissector. Nexter, Renault Trucks Defense (RTD)and Panhard. This decentralization of produc-tion increases the risk of duplications and re-stricts productivity - and could lead to drasticcut-backs in a crisis. Panhard was particularly af-fected by the financial crisis and does not makerevenues sufficient to guarantee its long term

survival. In 2007, pro-duction was ten timesless than NEXTER, itsmain competitor. Anddespite its initial success,analysts are pessimisticabout the losses due tothe company’s PVP pro-gram. "French compa-nies specialised in

ground weapons are too small to survive alone,compared to the German giants Rheinmetall orKrauss Maffei," says Christian Mons, presidentof the French Land Defence Industry Groupand head of Panhard. This is why it would beadvisable if some French groups adhered tomore powerful groups to secure their future.

The European Defence Industry: Politics Serving the Economy?

French President Nicolas Sarkozy signed two defencetreaties on Nov 2 with Great Britain. On the menu: jointmilitary forces, nuclear collaboration and industrial agree-ments. Historic for some, the result of a latent budget crisisfor others, nevertheless these agreements could be an un-precedented occasion to strengthen Europe’s defence in-dustry, provided that economics is placed at the forefrontof political decisions.

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It is particularly true for Nexter, specialist inground weapons.

After NEXTER was split up into differentunits (Systems/Munitions/Mechanics/Electron-ics), several countries became very interestedin the main French producer land weapons.Germany was initially considered, but forBerlin it was a way to compensate for its ownbudget difficulties with exports, rather thanabout restructuring the French producer. Eng-land was considered next through BAE sys-tems, for whom it was about regaining lostcompetences in France, especially for theVBMR vehicle. But the future of Nexter willlikely be played out around three national in-dustries through a process of merger and ac-quisition: Renault Trucks Defense (mainlyinterested by vehicle production, and the ca-pacities of conception of heavy armoured chas-sis), Thales and EADS.

This restructuring movement is characteris-tic of European industrial policy since the endof the 1990s, in the model of its giant Americancompetitors (Boeing, Lockheed Martin, etc).European industries had to be allowed toreach a critical size and to offer more comple-mentary specific activities while increasing theproduct range and improving their allocationof R&T resources. Nevertheless, if the wavesof restructuring touching European defencebusinesses has contributed to the emergence ofdiversified groups, it has not led to the unifica-tion of the industry on a national scale. Splitup like this, local industries have become re-sponsible for the negative gap in Europeanweapons expenditure.

Force to the EU… on the markets. While it’s true that countries still find it difficultto accept the idea of a complete privatization oftheir defence industry - that it would be equiva-lent in their eyes of abandoning a part of theirsovereignty - restructuring of national means ofproduction is today the only possible solution tohelp the different sectors of European defenceindustry. Probably, capital alliances aren‘t

enough anymore. Strengthening business activi-ties and unifying the industrial production ofeach country are the first steps to creating Euro-pean blocks. It’s specifically this stage that theFranco-British agreement wants to reach bysharing on each side of the Channel a part of thespecialized industrial activities. Eventually, thecreation of a European industrial block is theonly scenario able to guarantee the autonomy ofthe European countries in defence, and their in-dustrial competitiveness on a world-wide mar-ket where China is making a space for itself as anew player, in addition to the traditional Ameri-can competitors. This is particularly true in thecurrent context where the fall-out of the globaleconomical crisis has hit the defence market.Nevertheless this should be an occasion for Eu-ropean industry to start a dynamic of unificationand consolidation of their industries on a na-tional scale. Such a restructuring would allowseveral sectors of the European defence indus-try to overcome difficulties, in particular theground weapons industry whose restructuringstarted later than other industrial sectors andwhich benefits from less political support. Thesenational consolidations could also be a solutionto the sub-optimal usage of the financial re-sources and the unequal distribution of thefunds in the principal industrial sectors.

Finally, it is not really possible to separate pol-itics from economics when it comes to a sector assensitive as defence. Countries are still attachedto their sovereignty and the recent history of Eu-rope has strengthened Europeans attachment totheir national institutions. Nevertheless, the in-ternational system is changing due to globaliza-tion, resulting in permeable borders and aproliferation of market institutions have made itdifficult for politics to exclusively control theeconomy. Perhaps the common parliamentaryframework of debates on Common Foreign andSecurity Policy as foreseen by the Lisbon Treaty(2007) will lead European States to support theidea of a defence policy serving the economy,with the risk of short circuiting the European in-dustry on a deeply American market.

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o defend the wealth it creates as well as the democratic space within Asia, India requires a

large modern defense industrial complex. Situated within the arc of fundamentalist terror-

ism, Indian military preparedness should be of the highest order with immense offensive

capabilities and the ability to induct large bodies of troops rapidly from one theatre to another.

While the Indian military machine is falling apart due to acute shortages, New Delhi continues to

fumble under the weight of its inherent helplessness. Former Air Chief Marshal Krishnaswamy’s counter-

question after the Mumbai siege, “When your defenses are weak, what are you going to coerce with?” illu-

minates the incompetence of South Block.

The adversary could not have prayed for a more fortunate break!

Out of the sanctioned strength of forty-five air force squadrons, twenty-nine alone remain operational.

One third of them are ageing MiG-21 squadrons that are nick named “flying coffins” for their air unwor-

thiness. The French have offered upgrades to Mirage-2000 but the project hangs fire out of sheer lethargy.

Despite being warned by the IAF for many years in advance of its requirement, 126 MMRCA acquisitions

mooted in 1999, stands delayed. If IAF is expected to secure 14000 kilometers of land borders, it requires

both, technological superiority as well as numbers. Both are missing at this moment when the country

faces external crisis. Similarly the air defense cover suffers from lack of adequate number of radars. The In-

dian Air Chief Marshal Naik’s public admission of the fact that fifty percent of the IAF equipment is ob-

solete should ring alarm bells in South Block.

This dismal scenario is equally true of the other two services. In Kargil out of 410 Bofors guns, less than 300

were functional. Lack of spare parts due to the blacklisting of the vendor after Bofors scandal left the army high

and dry. Despite repeated pleas by the army headquarters to upgrade artillery, most of the air defense elements

still boast of World War II vintage equipment. 00After the ban on Bofors, Denel was selected after seven years

and subsequently black listed.

Military Power: Key toIndia’s Future

The spread of two authoritarian streams, Chinese communism and fundamentalism, in combination or

otherwise, threatens the survival of democracies in Asia. Therefore, modern military power capable

of dominance in space, air, land and sea in Asia is the key to India’s future.

By Bharat Verma / ESDPA • India

The Indian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30MKIis a mixture of Russian, European, Is-raeli and Indian systems. The aircraftis now produced under license in India by Hindustan Aero-nautics Limited (HAL). IAF Su-30MKIpurchases could eventually reach 272aircraft. (Photos: ESDPA files)

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The truth is that a very few vendors make 155 mm guns. If fifty percent vendors stand black

listed because someone from India allegedly wanted a kick back, than from where will India

procure the guns that it does not manufacture? Obviously the military remains handicapped

and incapable of securing the borders.

The story of shortages, bungling in acquisitions, bureaucratic red tape, complicated proce-

dures, and political incompetence to appreciate relevance of military power in a society under

siege is unending. For example the navy is short of submarines but despite crying hoarse, it

will not have adequate numbers for a very long period. Instead of wasting time, New Delhi

should increase the order from six Scorpene submarines to twelve immediately, even as we

tender to open another line of submarine manufacturing!

The story of equipment shortages is endless.

To meet the combined threat posed by the authoritarian regimes on our borders, India re-

quires technologically driven lean and mean military machine. New Delhi needs to take mul-

tiple steps simultaneously on a war footing to implement rejuvenation of India’s military might.

The Western countries find India, a logical destination for their defence industries, both as

a potential market and base to develop low cost high-end

research projects. On the other hand, we need to leapfrog

technologically, as reinventing the wheel is not necessarily

an answer to the yawning technological gap that exists

between the western countries and India. Therefore, there

are synergies that should be exploited. Enormous mutual

benefits can accrue to both, if New Delhi can develop it-

self as a world-class R&D centre and manufacturing

global hub for sensitive military industry.

State-of-the-art technologies and equipment cannot

be manufactured unless New Delhi develops cutting edge

thinking — an ambitious farsighted pragmatic vision,

along with the ability to engineer the nuts and bolts at

the shop floor. It can only do so by jettisoning much of

the old thinking and evolving afresh by integrating the

Work on the Indian Arjuntank programme started in1974 and it has been a trou-bled programme. Today, thedifficulties of Arjun have beenresolved and the Indian Armyhave contracted for a secondbatch of 124 tanks on top ofthe first batch of 124. (Photo:ESDPA files)

The ongoing Indian Armysearch for a new family of 155mm artillery systems to sup-plement the 410 Bofors FH-77B Howitzers currently inservice, seems to have takenforever to deliver no result.(Photo: DPR, India)

Marketplace : India

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emerging favorable geopolitical picture into India’s quest for a

global role. Due to rapid march of technologies and huge costs

involved in R&D, no single player is in a position to deliver next

generation weapon systems. All of them, whether it is Boeing,

Lockheed Martin, DCN, Airbus or HDW, sub-contract different

assemblies and sub-systems globally to the most competitive and

competent companies. The other interesting trend is the forma-

tion of transnational consortiums of nations and companies to

manufacture platforms like the Eurofighter or the Eurocopter.

The game thus is global as it is not feasible for a single player to

manufacture or develop each item. In SU-30 MKI, the major

player was IRKUT, but without the help of France and Israel, the

fighter aircraft could not have developed the decisive technological

edge that it displays. Therefore, India needs to shed its inhibitions,

diversify, and form international industrial alliances to leapfrog

technological gaps, boost export revenues from its military indus-

trial complex, and leverage this strength as a strategic asset in Asia.

Basically we need to emerge from our mental ghetto and think

Asia — we are as central to its well-being as China, if not more.

Despite the favorable international climate, New Delhi will

not benefit unless defence R&D and armaments production is

thrown open to the Indian private sector under a regulatory

mechanism, as is the practice in the Western countries. The PSUs

will remain sluggish, non-competitive, and inefficient. The Kaveri

engine has failed. LCA stands delayed. The engine is the heart of

an aircraft. Only five countries in the world are capable of man-

ufacturing technologically advanced engines. India today can be

the sixth, if a private player is encouraged to tie-up with a foreign

partner.

The last statement on MBT Arjun heard from the Army was

“we will see how to utilize it once the first five tanks roll out.” If

the soldier does not have confidence in what Avadi Factory,

DRDO or HAL produces, then half the war is lost before it be-

gins. Our armored fighting vehicles should have evolved from the

Russian T-55s that we imported earlier, but we decided instead

to reinvent the wheel in MBT Arjun, wasting colossal amounts

of taxpayer’s money. Instead of picking up and relocating a com-

plete plant of AK-47s or Mirage to India, DRDO indulged in

shortening the INSAS rifle barrel and tried to pass it off as a car-

bine!

In any case, defence technologies become obsolete by the time

a country can reinvent the wheel. Therefore, radical shifting of

The Scorpene class submarine O’Higgins of the Chilean Navy. The Indian Navy has ordered sixScorpene class submarines to meet the requirements of its Project 75 requirement, all six units willbe built in India by Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL). (Photo: DCNS)

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strategic gears to a more advantageous position by opening up

the field to the private sector will stimulate self-sufficiency. Com-

panies like Tatas or L&T can enter into joint ventures and where

necessary import CEOs and employ foreign scientists to kick

start complex projects.

In fact, to improve performance of the PSUs there should be

competitors making fighter aircraft, missiles, and warships, etc.

in the corporate world. Given South Korea’s status as a frontline

manufacturer of super tankers, there is no reason why India can-

not collaborate with it in this field to give a flip to its energy se-

curity. India’s large coastal area can very well facilitate this joint

venture. Such farsighted policy shifts will improve India’s self-

sufficiency in the shortest possible time frame. This in turn, will

increase the stakes of multinationals in India’s well-being and

marginalize sanction regimes.

India must also start investing in shares of foreign defence

companies to enhance the global inter-linkages. To hasten the

emergence of India as the leading Asian defence research and

manufacturing hub, induct the Indian private sector to take up

the manufacturing of aircraft, warships, missiles, etc. either indi-

vidually, or in joint ventures with the multinationals.

Deep technology transfers should be the first preference in

‘offsets’.

New Delhi so far has grossly underutilized the potent geo-

economic card held in the Indian arsenal. For example there is

ban by the West in transfer of sensitive technologies to China.

Many of such technologies can be transferred to India, if the FDI

in defense sector is increased to 49 percent from the present un-

viable 26 percent! Importantly, when other democracies are al-

lowed substantial stakes in the Indian economy, which is mutually

beneficial, there will be an automatic increase in New Delhi’s in-

ternational clout.

Today India’s appetite and the resources to modernize are gi-

gantic. It has enough eggs to put in different baskets that can

leverage influence to its benefit, kick start the foundation of a

modern defense industrial complex and become the fulcrum of

democracies in Asia.

New Delhi must heal these self-inflicted wounds borne out of

myopic policies. ,

Two Indian Air Force (IAF) Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters re-plenish from an IAF Ilyushin Il-78 tanker, while a FrenchAir Force Dassault Mirage 2000 looks on during ExerciseGaruda in mid-2010. (Photo: SIRPA Air)

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lso, the BrahMos system has been installed on Project 61ME

Rajput surface ships, and missiles are being placed on Projects

R and 15A ships and the Indian Navy’s three new Project

11356 frigates. A variant of the BrahMos missile is being adapted for launch

from aircraft.

A series of 24 evaluation trials of the BrahMos missile carried out by De-

cember 2010 proved the soundness of the chosen concept as well as the relia-

bility, lethality and operational capability of the missile. This made it possible

to pass on to the commercial stage of the project and start manufacturing and

assembling missiles in Russia and India.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) plans to equip its growing fleet of Su-30MKI

Flanker-H aircraft with BrahMos anti-ship missiles co-developed by the Brah-

Mos Aerospace Russo-Indian joint company. As Dr. Sivathanu Pillai said, “the

missile will be put in service in 2013”.

The deployment of the Su-30MKI and BrahMos complex will dramatically

enhance the IAF’s capability for neutralizing seaborne targets far from India’s

coastline. The new complex combines strong points of two very successful weapon

systems – a carrier aircraft and a missile.

The Su-30MKI demonstrated fine performance in operation and during

joint exercises with US and West European combat aircraft. The officials of the

Sukhoi Design Bureau and the Irkut Corporation (prime supplier and manu-

facturer of the aircraft) claim that the fighter is a very upgradable product.

Among the main in-depth upgrades of the Su-30MKI are improvement of the

onboard equipment and expansion of the airborne weapon suite.

The BrahMos missile is an advanced anti-ship weapon. Its high flight speed

(around M=3) essentially enhances the missile’s ability to overcome ship-based

Dr A. Sivathanu Pillai, Managing Director andChief Executive Officer of the BrahMos Aero-space joint venture, pointed out that so far thecompany has developed the following: a stan-dardized anti-ship missile, on-shore mobile mis-sile weapon system, and a ship-based weaponsystem with a BrahMos missile.

By Nikolay Novichkov / ESDPA • Russia

Launch of BrahMos block-III with steep dive insupersonic speed on 2 December 2010. (Photo:BrahMos)

SU-30MKI plus BrahMos: new capabilities

Aircraft and Missiles

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air defense system. The long operating range of 290 km makes it pos-

sible to attack targets from standoff ranges unreachable to the foe’s

air defense missile systems. The missile is fitted with a smart guidance

system enabling target identification and choice of attack priorities.

According to the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Or-

ganization, India’s co-founder of BrahMos Aerospace) the trials in

2009-2010 tested the possibility of neutralizing small-sized, low

radar cross section area targets constituting an aerial decoy.

Also, experts note that the Su-30MKI armed with BrahMos

missiles will combine a lethal strike with an ability of air fighting

within and beyond the visibility range. Thus the IAF will get a ca-

pability of attacking targets protected by powerful air defense as-

sets, including aircraft carriers.

The BrahMos missile was initially built as a standardized round

for various carriers: surface ships, submarines, and land-based

launchers.

Today, the BrahMos missile is being deployed to the Indian

Navy. Simultaneously, close to completion are trials of a mobile

missile system developed for the Indian Land Forces.

Dr. Sivathanu Pillai points out that the airborne missile will dif-

fer from ship- and land-based versions. “For the airborne version

we had to reduce the mass of the missile and to ensure aerody-

namic stability after its separation from the aircraft. The air-

launched platform has its own initial speed during the launch of

the missile, so we have reduced the size of the booster» he said.

Also, Dr. S. Pillai declared an intention to develop a hypersonic

(M=5-7) BrahMos-II missile. “BrahMos Aerospace is developing a

hypersonic modification of the missile, which will travel at the velocity

five times higher than the speed of sound and become totally unreach-

able for interceptors”, - he said. However, no reports are yet available

concerning its integration into the Su-30MKI aircraft.

The Irkut officials believe the development of the Su-30MKI

with BrahMos holds much promise. This program may fetch Irkut

more orders to produce Su-30MKI aircraft that serve with India,

Malaysia and Algeria. Previously, it was planned that the Su-30MKI

series production at the Irkut Aviation Plant would be scrapped by

roughly 2014 following execution of all contracts now in progress.

However, integration of the BrahMos missile into the Su-30MKI

weapon suite may substantially extend the service life of this most

advanced of Russia’s serially produced fighters.

BrahMos Aerospace has designed a new version of the super-

sonic cruise missile of the same name that can be launched from

Dr S. Pillai (center) is explaining the BrahMos air-launch configura-tion to the Minister of the Defense of India. (Photo: BrahMos)

BrahMos missile launch from Su-30MKI fighter. (Photo: BrahMos)

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revue 15

submarines. "The missile is ready for use from submarines,"

Alexander Maksichev, managing co-director of the joint venture,

told ESDPA Review on the sidelines of the Euronaval 2010 ex-

hibition.

The results of the tender for another batch of submarines

would be announced shortly. "We have proposed that these sub-

marines be armed with BrahMos missiles too," Maksichev said.

Brahmos missiles will be tested aboard a Russian frigate being

built for the Indian Navy in the Baltic Sea in early 2011, Mak-

sichev said.

"Three Project 11356 frigates are being built for the Indian

Navy at Russia's Yantar Baltic Shipbuilding Plant. The first one

will begin performance and dockside tests soon," he said.

"During performance tests in the Baltic Sea the installation

trials of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile will be carried out.

This will happen in middle- 2011," he added. Maksichev noted

that "there is a certain delay on the frigate construction schedule,

but no delay on the missile part."

"The equipping of the ships with the BrahMos systems and

their controls is a fundamental distinction of India's second series

frigates from the first three Project 11356 frigates adopted by the

Indian Navy," Yantar Director General Igor Orlov told ESDPA

Review.

"Under the contract, the first frigate is scheduled to be pre-

sented to the customer in 2011, the second and the third ones in

2012," he said.

Under the terms of the Russo-Indian 1998 agreement for es-

tablishment of a joint BrahMos company, the missile will be pro-

duced for India, Russia and third countries. Malaysia, Brazil, the

Republic of South Africa, Chile and some other countries display

interest in the missile. According to Sivathanu Pillai, in the next

20 years over 2,000 BrahMos missiles will be produced. S.Pillai

expressed hope that the BrahMos systems would be used to equip

the Russian Navy, too. ,

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revue 17

ndia is still a state in transformation though; in reality it has just scratched the surface of its eco-

nomic potential. Over time, India is likely to have a profound impact on the global economy and

become a major strategic player on the global scene.

Arguably the main obstacle to Indian development had been the attitude of its governing class, but in

the 1990s that began to change. There was a recognition that India had to open up to the global economy

and remove its self-imposed barriers to trade, investment and development. Thus far the results have been

impressive, between 2000 and 2009, India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew at an average rate of

6.86%. In what is a relatively short time, India has gone from virtually nothing to became a significant

factor in the global economy.

Changes in India’s economic environment and the inevitable international engagement that came in its

wake, have had a significant impact on how India seeks to meet its defence equipment needs. At the end

of the 1980s, the Soviet Union was by far the largest supplier of defence equipment to India – a position

that it had held for more than 20 years. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990 had immediate and dam-

aging effects on Indian military preparedness – they were unable to acquire spares to sustain their Soviet

equipment.

The disappearance of the Soviet Union as a military supplier was the starting point for real change in

the composition of suppliers to the Indian military marketplace. For example, Israel was quick to establish

itself as a significant player in the Indian scene. Eventually the emergence of new defence industries from

the former Soviet bloc would become in an important factor in meeting Indian defence needs. Russia

Europe and India –a partnership of sixty years continuesToday India is seen as one of the most importantmarketplaces for defence equipment in the world.This is fuelled by India’s growing economic powerand by its perception that its strategic interests arenow far larger than ever before.

By David Saw / ESDPA • France

Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoonaircraft in formation with Indian AirForce Sukhoi Su-30MKI aircraft duringExercise Indradhanush, held at Ka-likunda, India in October/November2010. The Typhoon is one of the fourEuropean contenders for the MMRCAprogramme. (Photo: Indian Air Force)

Europe has always been a major supply of combat aircraft to theIndian Air Force (IAF) as this Dassault Mirage 2000TH illustrates.The IAF ordered its first Mirage 2000H/TH aircraft in 1982 andcurrently operates 52 of these aircraft. The intention is to upgradethem to extend their service life. (Photo: Indian Air Force)

Co-operation and Partnership

revue18

would become the primary supplier, but the Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan

and Uzbekistan would also play significant roles. Poland and Slo-

vakia would also emerge as suppliers to India.

New suppliers might have emerged to meet India’s defence

needs, but the importance of having indigenous defence production

capabilities would underscored in the aftermath of the Pokhran II

nuclear tests of 1998. India was hit with an international embargo

on new defence equipment and spares. The embargo was obviously

a blow to India, but in reality it was more of an inconvenience. Once

business as usual was resumed, India’s economic growth had made

it an even more important defence market.

The most-significant development post-2000 in terms of sup-

plying India’s defence needs was the arrival of the United States

as a player in the marketplace. Defence supply links had existed

previously between the US and India, but from the late 1960s

these had evaporated. Certainly the US did supply sub-systems

and components to India, but it was only in 2002, with an order

for Raytheon Firefinder artillery locating radars, that the US be-

came a primary system supplier.

US defence links with India continue to grow, with some sig-

nificant contracts having been signed, such as the supply of six

Lockheed Martin C-130J transport aircraft and eight Boeing P-

8I MPA aircraft. These two existing contracts look likely to be

expanded and more business looks to be heading towards the US,

through the acquisition of Boeing C-17 transport aircraft and

other systems.

Even though the US, Russia and Israel are all major suppliers

to India, there is one key group of suppliers that we have not yet

mentioned. This group has, and continues to, play a critical role in

supporting India’s defence capabilities. Indeed this group of sup-

plier nations has been supplying India for some sixty years. The

group in question is, of course, the European defence industry.

Building The PartnershipWhen India achieved independence on 15th August 1947, its

military forces were in effect largest element of the former mili-

tary of British India and its supporting infrastructure. At that

time the majority of the defence equipment in India had already

seen war service, and although the new nation would not seek to

upgrade its military capabilities immediately, it realised that it

would be necessary to acquire new equipment.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) had generated a requirement for a

new jet fighter to supplements its Vampire aircraft (see blow) and,

rather than turn to the British, decided that France had the answer

to its needs. This resulted in an IAF order on 25th June 1953 for

71 Dassault MD-45 Ouragan aircraft, with deliveries starting that

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revue 19

year. The Ouragan was known as the Toofani by the IAF and the

aircraft was successful in IAF service, so much so that they ac-

quired 33 more aircraft from French Air Force stocks in 1957.

France would solidify its position as a major supplier of de-

fence equipment to India across the 1950s. The IAF would add

to its fleet of French combat aircraft with a 1956 order for 110

Dassault Mystère IVA fighters in 1956. The Indian Army then

ordered 164 AMX-13 light tanks from France, with the Indian

Navy ordering 12 Breguet Alizé ASW aircraft for use from its

aircraft carrier.

Britain, the former colonial power, maintained its strong rela-

tionship with India, initially through the transfer of surplus equip-

ment - a process that started with the transfer of three R-class

destroyers to the Indian Navy in 1951. But later in the 1950s India

would become a major paying customer for British equipment, ac-

quiring over 220 Centurion tanks for the Indian Army, 80 English

Electric Canberra bombers and 160 Hawker Hunter fighters.

Indigenous CapabilityEurope and European technology would also play a major role

as India sought to develop its own defence industrial capabilities.

The basis for India’s aerospace industry, in the form of Hindustan

Aircraft Limited had been established in 1942, it would become

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in 1964. Initially its pri-

mary function was the repair and overhaul of aircraft, but grad-

ually it developed the capability to design, develop and manufac-

ture light aircraft.

Then, in 1950, the IAF acquired the De Havilland Vampire

FB.52 fighter from Britain. The next step was a decision to build

the aircraft under license at HAL, with the first Indian-produced

example flying in February 1952. By the time Vampire produc-

tion ceased at HAL in 1960, a total of 247 FB.52 fighters and

60 T-55 trainers had been built.

The follow-on to the Vampire programme came in 1956, when

India had decided to acquire the Folland Gnat from the UK and

produce it under license. HAL would go on to produce more than

200 Gnat aircraft. Then in the 1970s HAL would develop an im-

proved version of the aircraft known as the Ajeet, ten existing

Gnat aircraft were converted to this configuration and 79 more

were built from scratch.

License production of European combat aircraft continued in

India. In 1979 the Anglo-French SEPECAT Jaguar was selected

to meet the IAF Deep Penetration Strike Aircraft Requirement

(DPSA), with the majority of the aircraft to be produced in India

by HAL. In the end HAL would go on to manufacture 128

Jaguar in India and the IAF now intends to upgrade a large num-

ber of its Jaguar aircraft with new engines and other enhance-

ments to extend their service lives.

An Indian Navy Chetak helicopter is secured to the deck of a US destroyer during Exercise Malabar in 2009. The Chetak is thelocally manufactured version of the SA-316B Alouette III, some 350 of which were built in India. Europe is a major partner in In-dian helicopter efforts. (Photo: US Navy)

Co-operation and Partnership

revue20

India also looked to develop its own capabilities in terms of com-

bat aircraft design and manufacture. In the mid-1950s the IAF had

generated a requirement for a high performance combat aircraft

and the aim was that this would be an Indian project. However,

when it came to developing the new combat aircraft it was decided

to contract foreign design expertise and this saw the arrival at HAL

of Dr Kurt Tank, the designer of the famous Focke-Wulf Fw 190

fighter, and a team of German technicians in 1957. Although Tank

and his team were tasked with the design of the aircraft, qualified

Indian personnel had a major role in the programme as well.

The first prototype of the new aircraft, known as the HF-24

Marut, was completed in March 1961, with the first flight on 24th

June 1961. Deliveries of the aircraft started later in the 1960s and

a total of 147 Marut were built for the IAF, with the aircraft being

retired in 1985. The HF-24 Marut was an extremely ambitious

programme, but the aircraft never lived up to expectations, prima-

rily due to the inability to acquire suitable engines. What is sig-

nificant about the HF-24 Marut is that it set the scene for the

Indian Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme that eventually

led to the HAL Tejas aircraft that is flying today. Europe is also

playing a role in Tejas, with EADS assisting in the programme.

Broader SpectrumThe links between European industry and India go far beyond

combat aircraft, encompassing the license production of transport

aircraft and the development of a helicopter industry in India.

France played a key role here, after India selected the SA-316B

Alouette III to meet its needs. This led to a license production

programme in 1962 that resulted in HAL manufacturing 350

Alouette helicopters as the HAL Chetak. Then in the early 1970s,

the SA-315B Lama was produced under license as the HAL

Cheetah with some 230 built. The indigenous HAL Dhruv hel-

icopter of today benefited from European design assistance and

its engines were sourced from Turbomeca.

There are so many areas were Europe has helped to build

India’s defence capabilities. For example, there is local production

of the Milan anti-tank missile at Bharat Dynamics. Tank pro-

duction in India came from license production of the Vickers Mk

3 tank in the early 1960s, with technology transfer and assistance

in establishing the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) at Avadi where

India still manufactures its tanks today.

In terms of naval programmes, the British transferred the tech-

nical data to India to allow Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL) to

produce the Leander class frigate in the 1970s. This led to the

construction of the Nilgiri class of six frigates for the Indian Navy

between 1972 and 1981and the follow-on Godavari class, with

enhanced Indian content, through to 1988. Submarine construc-

tion in India was developed through the acquisition of four Type

209-1500 submarines from HDW in the 1980s, two of which

were manufactured at MDL. Today, MDL is in the process of

The Indian Navy frigate INS Ganga (F 22) participating in the IBSAMAR II exercise with Brazil and South Africa in September2010. This Indian-built Godavari class frigate is a development of the British Leander design and is the second generation offrigate built in India. (Photo: South African Navy)

building six DCNS Scorpene class to meet the Indian Navy Proj-

ect 75 submarine requirement.

Next StepsThe relationship between the European defence industry and

India continues and has great potential to expand in scope. For

example, in addition to the Project 75 submarine programme, the

Indian Navy has generated a new requirement known as Project

75(I) for six submarines. The plan is to build four of the sub-

marines in India, with two being built by the winning foreign

contractor. Contenders for the programme include, DCNS of

France, HDW of Germany, Navantia of Spain and Russia.

India’s extensive naval building programme offers plenty of

scope for European collaboration, as the experience of Italian

shipbuilder Fincantieri illustrates. In 2004 they were selected to

assist the Cochin Shipyard in India with the design of a propul-

sion system, technology transfer and related services regarding

the construction of the Project 71 Air Defence Ship – India’s in-

digenous aircraft carrier programme. Then in 2008 the Italian

company won a contract to build two 27,500 tonne displacement

fleet tankers for the Indian Navy.

Winning the contract for the fleet tankers was very significant,

there was a time when these would have been built in India but

Indian yard capacity is overwhelmed, hence the decision to have

the units built overseas. Under capacity and an inability to deliver

on time, also explain why two of the Project 75(I) submarines

will be built overseas.

Although India will expand its indigenous naval sector to keep

pace with its naval ambitions, there is still plenty of opportunity

for Europe in the future. The supply of systems and subsystems,

technology transfer, technical assistance and many other areas

offer Europe a host of possibilities in India.

Key ProgrammesHelicopters and combat aircraft have formed the core of the de-

fence relationship between Europe and India, with there being

two future programmes that could see the relationship develop

further. In terms of helicopters, the Reconnaissance Surveillance

Helicopter (RSH) programme covers 197 helicopters and the

primary contenders are AgustaWestland and Eurocopter. Poten-

tially both companies could play an even greater role in India

through involvement with indigenous helicopter programmes.

The programme that overshadows everything else in India is

the IAF Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA), with

an initial requirement for 126 aircraft and the high probability

that in excess of 200 aircraft will eventually be acquired. Origi-

nally there were six contenders for this programme, but now it

appears that in reality there are only four: Boeing, Dassault, Eu-

rofighter and Saab. With three European solutions and one US

solution on the table the odds do seem to be in favour of the Eu-

ropeans on MMRCA.

India is not the easiest of defence marketplaces to work in and

the character of the marketplace is heavily influenced by the In-

dian desire to build and maintain indigenous capabilities. How-

ever, European defence systems and defence technology do have

a major role to play in assisting Indian defence modernisation.

Beyond that, Europe also has the ability to be the partner of

choice for India’s emerging aerospace and defence industry to

meet national requirements and to penetrate into the interna-

tional marketplace. ,

The advanced jet trainer needs of the Indian Air Force (IAF) have been met by the BAE Systems HawkMK132; with the initial order covering 66 aircraft of which 42 are being built by HAL in India. A sec-ond batch of 57 aircraft, to be built by HAL, is on order for the IAF and the Indian Navy. (Photo: BAESystems)

www.esdpa-org.eu

revue 21

www.esdpa-org.eu

revue 23

W hile the main European powers are each capable of pulling two to

three hundred battle tanks, the mass armies can line up twenty times

as many. The Indian army owns close to five thousand tanks of which

half (2,400 to be exact) are T-72s.

It is prepared for three types of conflicts: a border conflict with China in the challenging

hilly terrain where twelve divisions of specialized mountain infantry are amassed in the dis-

puted regions of Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin; a conventional war with armoured ve-

hicles against Pakistan; and finally a war against insurrection in Kashmir or the main cities,

the favoured targets of Islamic terrorism.

To face conventional Pakistani forces, India wants numerous armoured units equipped with

tanks and modern armoured fighting vehicles. But according to General Deepak Kapoor, for-

mer chief of defence staff of the Indian army, 80 per cent of Indian tanks are currently inca-

Armoured vehicles of India and the Persian Gulf

With thirty two divisions, the Indian army is the one of theworld’s last remaining mass armies. It shares this character-istic with its main rivals, the Chinese and Pakistani armies -as well as the American, Korean (North and South) andTurkish armies. It has equipment programs larger than any-thing old Europe will ever see again: thousands of AFV andmajor land systems.

By Mark Huntiller / ESDPA • Luxembourg

A defence cooperation agree-ment between France and theUAE should ease rapprochementin the field of MBT modernisation

Armoured Vehicles

pable of night combat. India wants to replace close to two thou-

sand vehicles. The modern section of the Indian fleet is made up

of 124 locally made Arjun and hundreds of T-90s (bought to fill

the gap that the much delayed Arjun, which entered service

twenty seven years after its conception). In recent trials against

the T-90 in Rajasthan, the Arjun performed well and the army

placed an order for an additional 124 tanks. Their size and per-

formance means they will be exclusively stationed in Jaisalmer,

facing Pakistan, to equip the regiments of the 140th Brigade.

Arjun’s woes forced India to buy 347 T-90 tanks from Russia

in 2001. Like the T-72, the T-90 are made and licensed in India

in the Avadi complex near Chennai. There is talk of around a

thousand T-90s being made in the next ten years.

Last August, India announced the launch of a new tank pro-

gram. The Defence Research and Development Organisation

(DRDO) will develop a new tank, correcting the main defects of

the Arjun, with production costs closer to the T-90. In particular,

the future tank’s mass won’t exceed fifty tons, and the size will be

reduced (focusing on the width to ease rail transportation). It will

be armed with a new 120 mm barrel capable of firing shells and

missiles against armoured vehicles and helicopters. An active pro-

tection system and reactive armour plating will give

the crew a very high chance of survival. The future

Indian tank will be able to survive in a NRBC con-

taminated atmosphere. It will be linked up to tactical

information systems and will be endowed with pow-

erful radios systems authorizing the data transfers.

India plans to spend a billion dollars on its develop-

ment, which should result in six prototypes being made by about

2020. Experts evaluate the total cost of the future tank program

at more than $20 billion to produce two thousand models, mak-

ing it the most expensive armament program tin Indian history.

But a modern tank is effective only in combined

arms manoeuvres alongside mechanized infantry.

Currently, the Indian infantry use a local version of

the Russian BMP-2 called Sarath. It will be replaced

by the Future Infantry Fighting Vehicle (FICV), of

which 2,600 will be produced. India will give the de-

velopment of this vehicle to the company that wins a

The Nimr (panther in Arabic) is a good example of localknow-how in light armored vehicles. Nimr has alreadyfound customers in the Gulf and it is also marketed in nortAfrica, namely Libya.

Iraq is the last customer of the American M1A1 Abramstank. The Iraqi army has ordered 140 pieces taken from theUS surplus.

Sherpa the new Frenchlight armored vehicle hasgained good experience,and enjoys a reputation forperformance, in the desert.

www.esdpa-org.eu

competition launched last summer. Four companies have a look-

in: three private and a state-run company, respectively Tata

Group, Mahindra Group, Larsen & Toubro, and the Ordnance

Factory Board. The FICV will have a mass between 18 and 20

tons, which means it will be amphibious and can be transported

by air. It will be armed with an automatic cannon and anti-tank

missile, able to transport a group of seven to eight infantrymen.

Armour plating will protect the crew from 14.5 mm projectiles.

Its mobility will rely on track systems.

The winning company is expected to fund 20 per cent of the

financing costs. As none of the private companies have experience

in armoured vehicles the Indian authorities have allowed them

to call upon foreign expertise. Nevertheless in production, 50 per

cent of FICV value must be Indian. The first FICV should leave

production lines in 2018. It is expected that the FICV will be

produced in several versions including a command post, launcher

of anti-aerial missiles or for the electronic wars of the future.

It’s interesting to note that no protection against mines or IEDs

is required in either of the two future tank programs or the

FICV. That shows that India wants the future vehicles to

defend its borders where such threats are not envisioned,

in contrast to the more expeditionary style of Western

armies. For internal operations however, India has

MRAP-style vehicles. A number of Indian manufactur-

ers have several mine protected transport models on the

market: Mahindra, Tata and Ashok Leyland.

Despite an avowed political will, Gulf countries are

still not able to carry out development programs for

major armoured vehicles such as tanks or infantry com-

bat vehicles. Their armed forces are therefore required to

call on imported models. When it comes to

tanks, the situation is contrasted. Saudi Arabia

has a fleet of 315 M1A2 Abrams bought a few

years after the first Gulf war. It was also the

launch customer of the A2 version of the Amer-

ican tank. But the country still owns a complete

brigade - the 4th - of old French tanks AMX-

30, whose uncertain state makes any operational

deployment difficult. They were expected to be

replaced by Leclerc as early as the end of the 90s,

but French and Saudi parties didn’t manage to

reach a commercial agreement. Many countries proposed to replace

the AMX-30s. Pakistan has the Al Khalid; the United States is of-

fering an additional batch of M-1A1; the Russians have the T-90.

Many countries proposed to replace the AMX-30s. Pakistan has the

Al Khalid; the United States is offering an additional batch of M-

1A1; the Russians have the T-90. Many countries proposed to re-

place the AMX-30s. Finally Spain did too and tries to keep on

manufacturing the KMW licensed Leopard 2A7, after the Spanish

army received its last tank. . It wouldn’t be surprising if China and

South Korea try to disrupt the game by proposing the MBT2000

and the K2. Kuwait is the other regional user of M-1A2 Abrams

obtained in the same period as Saudi Arabia. These tanks are used

alongside 150 M84 bought from the former Yugoslavia twenty years

ago. Kuwait has been thinking for a long time about modernising

its M84 that crews known for being ‘rustic’ and their light logistic

burden, in contrast to the M1 tanks which are fuel-greedy and whom

the ATG 1500 turbine which remains fragile.

The Saudi Shibl is inspired by the FrenchPanhard VBL. Its main missions are re-connaissance, patrol, internal security,border control and general support.

The combat proven Nexter VBCI is actively promoted in the Gulf region and is well known for its high level of protection and mobility.

Armoured Vehicles

revue26

Iraq is the last buyer of M1 tanks, in the A1 version. These

tanks come from American army stocks, after undergoing a deep

overhauling operation before delivery to Baghdad. The Iraqi army

owned an large fleet of Russian tanks bought before the 2003 war.

But the losses in battle, and the abandonment of what remained

drove Iraq to renew his fleet of tanks. The first 140 M1A1 are just

the start of the operation.

The United Arab Emirates owns surely one of the most beautiful

modern tank fleets because it consists of a very advanced version of

388 Leclerc. It is worth remembering that the French army had to

wait for the S21 version to have a tank which performs as well as

EAU. The strategic approach of France and EAU favors the ex-

change of technical information. The UAE army is informed of de-

velopments in France during the modernization program of French

Leclerc tanks, foreseen

in the Scorpion pro-

gram. That could lead

to new evolutions to

EAU decided by top

military brass. The

more are produced,

the lower the produc-

tion costs, making it

advantageous for both

armies.

Finally it is Qatar whose tank equipment is ageing: the Emi-

rate still counts on thirty AMX-30 tanks to defend its territory.

The Qatar tankmen used their AMX-30 tanks in battle with suc-

cess during the first Gulf war, from which they draw a legitimate

pride. But the replacement of these tanks nevertheless is becom-

ing urgent. For some time there has been talk of replacing them

with second hand French Leclerc tanks because France had de-

cided to shrink down to 256 its initial 406 tanks fleet. That would

have covered Qatar needs estimated to be around forty tanks. But

Qatar also is being solicited even by companies supplying

its big Saudi neighbour. Qatar has always been clear in its equip-

The Rheinmetall Fuchs con-tract in the UAE was the firstAFV business allowed by Ger-many in the Arabic countries.Since that , German industryhas been very active in the re-gion.

Patria scored first in the intense struggling between 8x8 AFVmanufacturers to capture the Gulf market. A dozen of 120mortar carriers have been purchased by the UAE Army.

To fill the gap between now and the production of thefuture Indian MBT, India has decided to manufacturethousands of T90s under Russian licence. T72s and T90sare the core of Indian armour corps.

www.esdpa-org.eu

revue 27

ment choices, giving priority until now to the internal security of

its territory and the control of its maritime and land borders.

These programs have now started, and the time to pay attention

to tanks and conventional armoured vehicles is soon to come.

To the south, the Sultan of Oman owns a mixed fleet of Chal-

lenger 2 and M60. Its more recent acquisition in armoured vehi-

cles is the purchase in Italy of a dozen Centauro with turrets of

120 mm. These heavy wheeled vehicles will equip the Guard.

The renewal of infantry combat vehicle fleets in the Gulf has

triggered a debate of "wheels versus tracks". The appearance of

the last generation of powerful 8x8 of more than twenty five tons

with high tactical mobility seduced a number of final users in the

region. Most of the European builders - GDLS Europe, Patria,

Nexter and FNSS - have made spot trials or demonstrations, or

are about to do it. The challenge is to replace the BMP3 with

EAU, the AMX10P in Saudi Arabia and in Qatar, the BMP in

Iraq and numerous M113 that equip a number of armies. But an-

other market is developing locally and gaining in importance -

the one that equips the Guards. That is happening in Kuwait,

Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman. The 8X8 formula suits the spe-

cific needs of the special missions units that control the borders,

protect sensitive sites and can intervene fast.

This doesn’t prevent manufacturers of tracks armoured vehicles

from playing their own game. FNSS is very active in Saudi Arabia

to gain a market for the new ACV. The Turkish company has al-

ready won a number of good contracts in EAU with the AIFV, a

version of the M113 made under license in the suburbs of Ankara.

The AIFV family equip the Turkish army and Malaysian forces.

FNSS has also won maintenance contracts for the Saudi M113

of the MODA. BAE is on a very aggressive commercial offensive

to sell the Armadillo in the Gulf. Derived from the CV90, the

Armadillo can be derived in many versions, from a strongly pro-

tected VTT to the light tank with a turret of 120 mm. BAE has

a strong local presence thanks to aeronautic contracts. Other more

specialized armoured vehicles have been purchased such as the re-

connaissance Fuchs, NBC and the AMV mortars to EAU, or the

VBL Mk2 in Kuwait.

All Gulf countries have started acquisition programs for light ar-

moured 4x4 vehicles of different tonnages as supplementary equip-

ment for armies and Guards, and main equipment for police forces

and internal security units. These simply designed vehicles are also

being developed locally such as the Nimr of Jordan-UAE or the

Saudi Al Shibl. Most Gulf countries have adopted laws requiring

industrial and technological offsets. This industrial politics is de-

signed to allow them to develop an armament industry which would

allow them to a certain extent to reduce foreign purchases. ,

The Pars is a family of 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 armored vehicles.FNSS tries to catch the Gulf market with the 8x8 version.Oman is a first target.

The Turkish FNSS company has been successful on the exportmarket since it received contracts in the UAE and carries onpromoting its AIFV in the region.

Iraq is the launch customer of the Ukrainian BTR4, heir of along line of Soviet-era APCs.

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revue 29

A t the same time, strategic realities such as Iran’s alleged development of nuclear

weapons are prompting several nations to ensure that they have modern combat

aircraft available, should the uneasy peace in the region degenerate into war.

With such threats in mind, a number of counties are in the market for new planes including

Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Israel and Kuwait. Meanwhile, other nations such as Turkey,

are seeking to become involved in new combat aircraft programmes.

Saudi Arabia has embarked on a massive enhancement programme for the combat capabil-

ities of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF). To achieve this it has turned to its traditional combat

aircraft supplier countries in the form of Britain and the US. Saudi Arabia has become the

launch customer for the Eurofighter Typhoon in the Middle East and has ordered 72 aircraft,

24 of which were diverted from the Royal Air Force’s Tranche-2 Typhoon order. Local assembly

Fighter and missile markets in the middle East

The Middle East combat aircraft market is enjoying goodhealth. A buoyant oil price along with ageing fleets are

combining to encourage governments across the regionto replace their legacy combat aircraft, and to invest innew platforms and technologies that promise yet more

potent offensive and defensive capabilities.

By Thomas Withington / ESDPA • UK

The United Arab Emirates Air Force(UAEAF) purchased 55 F-16E and 25 F-

16F Block 60 aircraft from LockheedMartin. The Block 60 was the first time

that the US had exported an AESAradar, in this case the Northrop Grum-man AN/APG-80. (Photo: US Air Force)

Fighter Aircraft

revue30

of the balance of 48 airframes will be performed in the Kingdom,

and future Typhoon orders are strongly expected from Riyadh.

In terms of air weapons the Saudi Typhoon order was signifi-

cant in that it saw the selection of the Diehl BGT Defence IRIS-

T air-to-air missile by the RSAF to meet close combat

requirements. The RSAF also ordered a substantial package of air

weapons from MBDA as a part of the Typhoon acquisition pro-

gramme. In the future the RSAF might acquire an enhanced ver-

sion of MBDA’s Meteor radar-guided beyond visual range

air-to-air missile for the Typhoon.

The Meteor essentially provides the user with a long-range, ram-

jet-powered weapon with a range of circa 100 km at speeds of Mach

Four. The missile’s target is destroyed using a fragmentation war-

head that can either detonate on impact or in proximity; this helps

to ensure the destruction of highly mobile targets. In terms of plat-

forms, Meteor has been earmarked for the Eurofighter Typhoon,

Dassault Rafale and Saab Gripen. A modified version for the Lock-

heed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has also been mooted.

The next stage in the RSAF enhancement programme is to re-

place the current F-15C/D fleet of some 78 aircraft that is in serv-

ice with four squadrons and to modernise the capabilities of the

existing F-15S fleet that currently numbers 70 aircraft. On 20 Oc-

tober the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified

the US Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) with

an estimated value of $29.432 billion. The replacement for the

RSAF F-15C/D fleet will be 84 Boeing F-15SA aircraft. This

Saudi order will secure the future of F-15 production post-2012.

The RSAF F-15SA aircraft will be powered by General Elec-

tric F-110-GE-129 engines and will be equipped with the

Raytheon AN/APG-65(V)3 Active Electronically Scanned

Array (AESA) radar. The proposed F-15SA sale includes an

enormous weapons package including AIM-9X and AIM-120C-

7 missiles, Harpoon, HARM, JDAM and numerous other sys-

tems. The upgrade of the existing RSAF F-15S fleet to the

F-15SA configuration is not included in the DSCA notification,

although the radars for the upgrade are part of the notification.

Along with the F-15, the United States Air Force’s (USAF)

other legacy fighter is the Lockheed Martin/General Dynamics

F-16 Fighting Falcon. Despite work moving forward on the

company’s F-35 programme, the F-16 design continues to sell,

and the aircraft has enjoyed healthy orders from the Middle East.

The decision by Saudi Arabia to acquire 72 Eurofighter Ty-phoon aircraft was an important breakthrough in the ex-port marketplace for this European aircraft. Typhoon isalso a contender for programmes in Oman and Qatar.

The United Arab Emirates(UAE) has long been a majorcustomer for French defenceequipment, as evidenced bythese Dassault Mirage 2000-9aircraft. The Mirage fleet is oncourse to be replaced by an en-hanced version of the DassaultRafale.

www.esdpa-org.eu

revue 31

For example Iraq, which has a requirement for 18 aircraft, could

eventually order almost 100 by the end of next decade. It was re-

ported in September that Baghdad had been offered 18 Fighting

Falcons in a deal worth up to €3 billion ($4.2 billion) by the

DSCA.

These F-16 aircraft for Iraq would be designated as the F-

16IQ, and would be configured to operate legacy weaponry such

as Raytheon’s AIM-9L/M-8/9 Sidewinder short-range and

AIM-7M-F1/H Sparrow medium-range AAMs, together with

AGM-65D/G/H/K Maverick IR-guided air-to-ground missiles.

The F-16IQ would also be delivered with the Northrop Grum-

man mechanically-scanned APG-68(V)9 radar. Other sales

prospects for the F-16 include Oman and Qatar, although this is

thought to be one market where the Dassault Rafale (see below)

may have strong prospects.

The F-16 has sold particularly well around the region with

Bahrain flying 33 F-16C/D examples, Jordan flying 54

F16C/D/AM/BM models and Oman twelve F-16C/D aircraft.

However, by far the biggest F-16 fleets in the Middle East are to

be found in Turkey and Israel. Turkey flies up to 210 F-16C/D

Block 30/40/50/52 aircraft with Israel operating circa 170 F-

16A/B/C/I examples, of which 104 are F-16A/B models. These

particular aircraft are expected to be gradually phased out in the

coming years, with the F-35Is acting as their replacement.

Despite the expected entry into service of the F-35 (see below),

the popularity of the F-16 shows no sign of diminishing. Although

the aircraft’s production was approved in 1976, assembly continues

at Lockheed Martin facilities in Fort Worth, Texas. This will en-

able production to run until at least 2013 if not beyond.

Other F-16 customers around the region include the United

Arab Emirates (UAE) which purchased 80 F-16E/F Block 60 air-

craft. The UAE’s aircraft represent an important advancement in

the Viper design as they are equipped with the Northrop Grum-

man APG-80 AESA radar, along with conformal fuel tanks to im-

prove the aircraft’s range, and the Northrop Grumman Falcon

Edge self-protection system, including the company’s AN/ALQ-

165 jammer, and also a Radar Warning Receiver (RWR). The air-

craft’s forward-looking infrared system is built into the fuselage,

while its MIL-STD-1773 fibre optic data bus offers up to 1,000

times the data handling speed of the previous MIL-STD-1553

system. These F-16s supplement the 68 or so Dassault Mirage-

2000-9 aircraft that the UAE has in service.

Beyond its purchase of F-16s, the UAE is thought to be a par-

ticularly strong sales prospect for the Dassault Rafale. The com-

pany, and French defence firms in general, had a high profile at

the 2009 Dubai air show. The fact that the UAE has operated the

The MBDA Meteor long-range air-to-air missile will be integrated with European combat aircraft such as the Rafale, Gripen and Typhoon, as wellas with the F-35 eventually. Its 100 km range and end-game performanceoffer decisive advantages in air combat. (Photo: MBDA)

The Royal Saudi Air Force intends to replace its fleet ofsome 78 F-15C/D aircraft with 84 new Boeing F-15SAaircraft. In addition, the existing fleet of some 70 F-15Saircraft will be upgraded to the F-15SA configuration.(Photo: US Air Force)

Fighter Aircraft

revue32

Mirage 2000 could make the Rafale a natural successor for the

country’s air force, given the experience it has garnered in oper-

ating a French combat aircraft.

However, the story on the UAE’s acquisition of its next combat

aircraft is not a foregone conclusion. On 21st September 2010, it

was reported that the government had requested information re-

garding Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Hornet. In terms of exports of

fourth-generation, and so-called ‘4.5 generation’ combat aircraft

from the United States, the Hornet has failed so far to make

major inroads into the Gulf region; particularly in comparison to

the F-16 which has been widely sold and, to a lesser extent, the

F-15 which has won customers in Israel and Saudi Arabia.

To date, the only nation that has purchased the Hornet in the

region is Kuwait. A sale to the UAE would be an important mile-

stone for the F/A-18E/F programme; and mark a second

foothold for the jet in the Middle East. The UAE has around

€7.5 billion ($10 billion) to spend on new combat aircraft. Nev-

ertheless, it is unclear whether the UAE inquiry vis-à-vis the

F/A-18E/F is a genuine attempt to obtain information on the

Hornet, or is instead part of a strategy to drive a harder bargain

with Paris regarding the Rafale.

France has certainly been working hard to secure a Rafale pur-

chase and has promised modifications to the aircraft to this effect,

including the installation of a more capable AESA radar, further

improvements to the aircraft’s Thales Spectra self-defence system

and also enhancements to the engines. Fighter aircraft purchases

are eminently political actions, not only based on the aircraft that

the air force believes is most capable for the task that it must per-

form, but can also mirror the long-term strategic vision of the

purchasing government.

Since 1995, France and the UAE have enjoyed close defence

cooperation following the signature of a defence cooperation

agreement by the two nations that year. This cooperation has

steadily deepened with the opening of a military base by France

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revue 33

in the country, which was inaugurated by President Nicolas

Sarkozy on 26th May 2008. This has, in turn, yielded the estab-

lishment of an air base, known as ‘Base Aérienne 10 Al Dhafra’

(along with an army and naval base) in Abu Dhabi. This facility

can accommodate up to six aircraft, and France routinely rotates

three Dassault Mirage 2000 aircraft through the base.

Beyond the Rafale and the F-16, Lockheed Martin’s latest of-

fering, the F-35, looks set to make its initial foray into the Middle

East region via Israel which plans to acquire around 75 F-35I,

the local variant of the F-35A/B/C aircraft, as a replacement for

its current F-16 fleet (see above). That said, there is no absolute

final figure as regards the number of F-35s that the Israelis will

purchase. This is unlikely to be de-

cided until the Israeli Air and

Space Force, which will operate the

aircraft, has a full comprehension

of the abilities of the aircraft.

The initial Israeli purchase will

cover 20 US configuration F-35

aircraft. Subsequent orders will in-

clude local modifications, such as

the wherewithal to accommodate

the Rafael Advanced Defense Sys-

tems Python infra-red guided

AAM and the Derby beyond visual

range air-to-air weapon (and their

successor systems that are under

development). Reports in mid-

November spoke of Israel being

offered an additional 20 F-35s as

part of a so-called ‘persuasion package’ aimed at convincing the

government of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to call a halt

to the construction of further settlements in the West Bank.

After its victory in Saudi Arabia, the Eurofighter Typhoon is

working towards winning the fighter competition in Oman,

which is expected to initially acquire up to twelve new combat

aircraft. Any Typhoon purchase will replace the SEPECAT

Jaguar GR3A ground attack aircraft, of which 15 are in service.

The Typhoon had seemed a definite favourite for the Omani re-

quirement, however, the chance of this airframe being

purchased by Muscat seemed to have diminished somewhat fol-

lowing the news in August that the country had requested a po-

tential sale of 18 F-16C/D Block 50/52 aircraft at a cost of

around €2.6 billion ($3.5 billion).

That said, at the time BAE Systems reported that discussions

with the Omani government were continuing regarding the pro-

curement of Typhoon airframes,

which could be achieved by the of-

fload of some of the aircraft ear-

marked for the RAF under the

Tranche-2 or Tranche-3A produc-

tion runs, in a similar fashion to the

procurement of the Saudi aircraft.

Nevertheless, should the F-16 sale

be concluded, this could take the F-

16 inventory in Oman to 30 air-

craft. Any transfer of these aircraft

is also expected to include the

Northrop Grumman APG-68(V)9

radar and an ITT Advanced In-

tegrated Electronic Warfare

Suite.

Apart from the UAE, the Das-

sault Rafale is also a contender for

a number of other fighter requirements in the Middle East. In the

short term, Kuwait appears to be another good regional prospect.

The country’s air force has undergone a major recapitalisation since

the successful expulsion of Iraq during Operation Desert Storm in

The MBDA MICA air-to-air missile has been highly suc-cessful in the Middle East. The missile also forms the basisfor the VL MICA air defence system for ground and navalapplications that has already been ordered by four coun-tries. (Photo: M. Hans/MBDA)

Fighter Aircraft

revue34

1991. Since then, investment has flowed into new combat aircraft,

namely the Boeing/McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C/D Hornet – the

primary combat system of the Kuwait Air Force.

The acquisition of the Rafale would represent an important

augmentation of Kuwait’s air defence and ground attack capabil-

ities. However, in a surprise move not dissimilar to Oman’s vis-

à-vis the Eurofighter Typhoon (see above), it was revealed in July

that the Kuwaiti government had approached Boeing to obtain

information regarding evolved version of the F-15. Nevertheless,

Dassault’s offering still seems to have significant potential in ful-

filling Kuwait’s requirement.

Furthermore, Kuwait and the UAE are not the only possible

Gulf region sales prospects for the Rafale; the aircraft also has a

strong chance regarding the acquisition of a new combat aircraft

by Qatar. The country’s air force is an enthusiastic operator of

French fast jets. Two air force units operate legacy Dassault de-

signs including the 6th Close Support Squadron flying around six

Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet-E trainer/light attack aircraft, and

the 7th Air Superiority Squadron using twelve Mirage 2000-5

planes. The Eurofighter Typhoon, the Saab Gripen, the F-16 and

the F/A-18E/F are also contenders for the Qatar requirement.

Russian fighters have not seen widespread use in the Middle

East region, although there are of course some exceptions. For

example, Yemen operates around 44 MiG-29SMT/UBT combat

aircraft that are upgraded versions of the original ‘vanilla’ MiG-

29s. They feature spine-mounted fuel tanks that can provide the

aircraft with a range of 2,100 km, while in the cockpit large mul-

tifunctional displays have been fitted along with Hands-On-

Throttle-And-Stick (HOTAS) controls. Other improvements

were rolled out across the aircraft include Klimov RD-33 engines

and the Phazotron Zhuk-ME radar.

The plane’s striking power also had a corresponding increase

via the weapons load-out being upgraded to 4,500 kg; spread

across seven underwing and ventral hardpoints. Unconfirmed re-

ports have circulated discussing the purchase of the MiG-29 by

Syria on behalf of Iran. The latter nation is thought to operate

around 86 MiG-29A and five MiG-29UB fighters and trainers;

with Syria flying a total of around 60 MiG-29A/SMT/UB types.

Syria is expected to receive five MiG-31E combat aircraft, al-

though the sale does not have appeared to have been concluded

yet. If, and when, Syria does obtain these aircraft, it will introduce

an exceptionally fast air superiority fighter into the region.

The MiG-31E is powered by a pair of Soloviev D-30F6 turbo-

fans, and these can take the aircraft to a speed of Mach 2.83,

despite its 46,200 kg maximum take-off weight. In fact, the

MiG-31E has been designed from the ground up as an air

defence platform.

This is illustrated by its representative weapons load which can

include up to four Vympel R-33 long-range or six Vympel R-37

very-long-range semi-active radar homing AAMs. The aircraft’s four

The Dassault Rafale is in service with the French Air Force andFrench Navy, and is competing for contracts in the Middle East,Asia and Latin America. Aircraft capabilities will be improved bythe addition of new systems such as a Thales AESA radar.

Qatari Air Force Dassault Mirage 2000-5

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revue 35

underwing hardpoints can accommodate a pair of Vympel R-40 -

active radar homing AAMs; plus four Vympel R-60 IR-guided mis-

siles; the same number of Vympel R-73 short-range IR guided

AAMs and Vympel R-77 medium-range active radar-guided

weapons.

Historically, the countries in the Middle East region have

tended to purchase combat aircraft from either the United States

or Europe and, to a lesser extent, from the former Soviet Union

and Russia. However, Turkey may soon commence participation

in a new combat aircraft programme. As reported this November,

Ankara has discussed participation in South Korea’s KF-X fighter

programme. The KF-X initiative, which is being led by Korea

Aerospace Industries, is aimed at yielding around 120 fighters

which could equip the Republic of Korea Air Force with an esti-

mated price tag of €5.8 billion ($8 billion), and a target unit cost

of around €37 million ($50 million).

Sharing the development of the aircraft is seen by Seoul as one

method by which such costs could be further reduced. So far, ad-

ditional development capital has been secured from Indonesia. In

July 2010, Indonesia agreed to provide 20 percent of the aircraft’s

development costs, and will purchase around 50 examples for its

own air force once production is complete. Turkey’s participation

would bring important additional funds to the KF-X programme.

It would also enable Ankara to deepen its experience in state-of-

the-art military aircraft technology, and help such expertise to

flow back into its domestic military aircraft industry.

Announced by President Kim Dae-jung in 2001, the KF-X

programme was intended to develop a stealthy single-seat, twin-

engine fighter aircraft that would be available by 2020. In total, 60

percent of aircraft development funding will come from the Ko-

rean government, with the balance obtained by foreign partici-

pants. South Korea also possesses just over 60 percent of the

necessary technology for the aircraft, hence the need to reach out

to foreign partners to make good this shortfall.

The market for new combat aircraft and weapons in the Middle

East will be watched very closely over the next decade. Although

the numbers of aircraft due to be acquired by the states discussed

above are arguably not at the same level as those to be acquired by

India and Brazil, by far the largest combat aircraft competitions

ongoing today, they are nevertheless very important.

These acquisitions represent what may be some of the last sales

of legacy combat aircraft remaining on the production line before

the F-35 enters the marketplace. Once this aircraft is available, it

will remain to be seen whether some of the manufacturers dis-

cussed above will stay in the fighter aircraft business, or will in-

stead announce their withdrawal, perhaps choosing to concentrate

on the production of civil aircraft and the maintenance, repair and

overhaul of the legacy planes that they have sold around the world.

Or perhaps the F-35, already plagued by delays and cost overruns,

might find itself to be less of a transformational combat aircraft

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revue 37

he region is important because it is at the heart of world hydrocarbon produc-

tion and through its outlet, the 54-kilometre (29 nautical mile) Strait of Hor-

muz, passes a daily average of 15 tankers carrying up to 17 billion barrels (2.3

billion tonnes) of crude oil. This represents 40% of the world's seaborne oil shipments, and

20% of all world shipments.

Iran represents the primary threat to strategic stability in the Gulf area. With its revolutionary

rhetoric and frequent threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, along with its nuclear weapon am-

bitions, Iran represents a major challenge to the regional status quo. There is nothing new in

this though, in 1971 the Shah seized the key islands of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser

Tunbs in the western approaches of the Strait from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and these

are now heavily fortified, reportedly with surface-to-surface missiles in cave positions.

Iran is the dominant regional naval power using a mixture of platforms acquired both by

the Shah and the revolutionary Islamic Republic. It is its underwater capabilities that are the

greatest source of concern, with three Project 877 Kilo class diesel-electric submarines, re-

garded as among the world’s best in terms of low acoustic signature. These are capable of op-

erating not only in the Gulf but also outside it; they have a range of some 6,000 nautical miles,

and can carry advanced torpedoes, mines and possibly even the Shkval underwater rocket.

Recent events off Korea have highlighted another threat. It is believed that a North Korean

mini-submarine sunk a South Korean corvette in March 2010 and Pyongyang is known to have

assisted Tehran in the development of a mini-sub class based upon the Yonos design, but known

as to the Iranians as Qadir. These 123-tonne boats have two 533 mm (21 inch) torpedo tubes

and their weapons could sink or do severe damage to most large surface vessels. At least six are

One Gulf – eight navies

The Persian Gulf is one of the most important waterways inthe world, providing home waters for eight navies and

visiting waters for almost as many foreign ones.

By Ted Hooton / ESDPA • UK

The Royal Saudi Navy acquiredthree Al-Riyadh class frigatesfrom DCNS under the Sawari IIprogramme. An expanded ver-sion of the La Fayette class with adisplacement of 4,725 tonnes,these units are equipped with theAster 15, Exocet and Oto Melaraguns. (Photo: DCNS)

Iranian naval capabilities are a mixed picture, especially in terms of sur-face warfare. Its primary units are the Alvand class frigates (Vosper Mk5design), including one built in Iran. The lack of effective air defence capa-bilities makes these units vulnerable.

Naval Technology

revue38

on order, but it is unclear how effective they will be, although in

the confused acoustic conditions of the Gulf they might prove dif-

ficult to detect even for well-equipped ships with alert crews.

Tehran has recently completed a copy of the Vosper Mark 5

class frigate, designated Alvand class, acquired by the Shah some

40 years ago. These ships have received the Exocet-like Chinese

C-802 anti-ship missile, but like most surface combatants in the

region they lack adequate anti-air warfare capabilities, indeed

during 1988 one was sunk by air attack and another severely dam-

aged but later repaired. There are two US-built Bayandor (PF

103) class corvettes, but they are little more than offshore patrol

boats, with their hull-mounted sonars reportedly removed.

Like many of the region’s navies Tehran has opted for a fleet

of fast attack craft armed with the C-802, with 10 Chinese-built

Thondior (Huangdong) class and 10 Kaman (Combattante III)

class (three more of the latter are in the Caspian Sea). In addition

there are six US-built patrol boats, with the three Parvin (PM-

71) class possibly having been converted to fast attack craft

through the addition of two C-802 launchers each.

There are some 56 coastal patrol boats and about 100 fast inshore

attack craft (FIAC), such as Boghammers, armed with heavy ma-

chine guns, RPG-7 Light Anti-Tank Weapons (LAW), 106mm

recoilless rifles and unguided rocket launchers. They are operated

by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) or Pasdaran

and a great deal is made of this threat, although intense patrolling

has been shown to keep the threat in check. But the Tanker War

showed that while bringing fear to unarmed merchantmen they had

little operational effect, indeed during the Tanker War, of the 45

ships (2,031,098 gross registered tons) attacked by the IRGC in

1988, no ships were sunk and only two bulk carriers (44,864 grt)

were so badly damaged that they were scrapped, at a time when it

was often cheaper to scrap ships then repair them.

Like many regional navies Iran has a transport force based

upon amphibious warfare vessels including four Hengam class

large landing ships, three Iran Hormuz tank landing ships and

15 smaller landing craft including six hovercraft. Some of these

vessels, as well as IRGC-operated dhows, could be used to lay

mines as happened with mixed results in 1988. The latter opera-

tion damaged some ships, including a US Navy frigate, but

brought down the wrath of the US Navy which dealt severe blows

to the Iranian Navy.

Finding BalanceIraq provided the balance to Iranian power in the Gulf, until Sad-

dam Hussein’s double defeat by US-led coalitions. Saddam once

had grand plans for the Iraqi Navy but they were thwarted, and

his successors have opted for a small force that can protect the

nation’s economic and coastal interests in terms of offshore re-

www.esdpa-org.eu

revue 39

sources. The new Iraqi Navy is expected to take

over maritime security in two years after being

trained by the British-led Coalition Naval Ad-

visory and Training Team.

The last of four Fincantieri-built Fateh class

offshore patrol vessels acquired under a €80 mil-

lion contract signed in September 2006 have now

been delivered. These are Saettia Mark 4 or Di-

ciotti vessels with a displacement of 391 tonnes

and are augmented by seven inshore patrol boats;

five Chinese designed Predators and two others of

Italian origin. In addition, two Offshore Support

Vessels (OSV) have been ordered from River-

Hawk Fast Sea Frames under a $70.14 million

contract with the first scheduled for delivery in

September 2011.

Baghdad also has some 50 smaller craft, half of which were do-

nated by the UAE. Swiftships have begun delivering 15 Model

35PB1208 E-1455 coastal patrol boats (CPB), with the pro-

gramme to be completed by the summer of 2011. They are a de-

velopment of a Swiftships’ 35-metre design patrol boat design and

are powered by three MTU 16V2000 diesels.

Iraq may have more ambitious naval plans though. The Sad-

dam regime ordered four Lupo class frigates, six Assad class

corvettes and an underway replenishment ship in 1981, but these

fell foul of international embargo imposed during the Iran-Iraq

War, the tanker stranded in Alexandria and all but two Assads

being sold off. These remained under Iraq command at La Spezia

in Italy, but Baghdad has now signed an agreement with Fin-

cantieri to refurbish them at the Muggiano yard and send them

to the Gulf. No time scale is available and there are doubts about

Iraq’s ability to man these vessels.

Saudi ArabiaThe other major regional naval power in the Gulf is Saudi Arabia,

with the Eastern Fleet being based at Al Jubail. The fleet operates

four US-built Badr class general-purpose corvettes, which spend

little time at sea, and seven Al Siddiq class fast attack craft. The

latter are typical of this type of vessel in Gulf waters, operating

anti-ship missiles (Harpoon in this case) and a 76 mm Oto Melara

gun and are vulnerable to air attack.

Saudi Arabia is known to be interested in boosting its fleet of

major surface combatants and is considering both the US Littoral

Combat Ship or the Franco-Italian Frégate Européennes Multi-

Missions (FREMM), designed by DCNS, but it is

known to be seeking a design with better anti-air war-

fare capability. DCNS has a long-term relationship

with Saudi Arabia due to the Sawari 1 (four frigates)

and Sawari 2 (three frigates) programmes. DCNS built

the Sawari 2 frigates to the highly successful La Fayette

design and today DCNS provides support and other

services to the Royal Saudi Navy (RSN).

The Eastern Fleet has almost all of the RSN mine

countermeasures force. Three US-built Addriyah (MSC

322) class coastal minesweepers/hunters and three Al

Jawf (Sandown) class minehunters are deployed in the

Gulf, and would undoubtedly form the bulk of the region’s shield

against mines, although the Addriyahs are mostly used as patrol

craft. These will augment Halter type coastal patrol boats (of which

Under Project Khareef. the Royal Navy of Oman is to receivethree new corvettes built by BAE Systems. These are well-

equipped units featuring the MBDA VL Mica air defence sys-tem, MM40 Exocet Block 3 missiles and an Oto Melara 76 mm

gun, with Thales providing the electronic warfare system.(Photo: BAE Systems)

A suspected Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) smallcraft manoeuvres close to US Navy warships transiting theStrait of Hormuz in 2008. IRGC naval assets present an asym-metric threat to navies in the Gulf. (Photo: US Navy)

Naval Technology

the Royal Saudi Navy has 17) and Simonneau class inshore patrol

boats, with 38 operated by both fleets. There are also four LCU 1610

class utility landing craft.

Omani ExpansionThe Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) is widely regarded as the best

Arab navy and operates in both the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

It has two Qahir (Vosper Thornycroft Vigilance) class corvettes

with Exocet anti-ship missiles and Crotale surface-to-air missiles,

giving these ships an unusually effective anti-air warfare shield.

They are good multi-role ships with Thales Underwater Systems

Active Towed Array Sonar (ATAS) and can operate an embarked

Sea Lynx helicopter. Mention should also be made of Al

Mabrukah, although officially rated as a corvette; this is a multi-

role vessel, formerly a royal yacht that acts as a training vessel and

part-time hydrographic research ship.

Under Project Khareef the RNO will add three new corvettes

that are being built by BAE Systems (originally VT Shipbuild-

ing), with the first two units, Al Shamikh and Al Rahmani, hav-

ing been completed. Like the Qahirs these will also have a good

anti-air warfare capability, with their MBDA Mica VL system

having a range of 20 kilometres, but they have no anti-submarine

capability. They will also receive the MBDA Exocet MM40

Block 3 with enhanced littoral operations capability and in-

creased range (180 kilometres). It was recently revealed that

Thales has won a contract to supply these corvettes with Vigile

400 electronic warfare systems, while existing patrol boats will

receive the Vigile 200 system.

The small surface combatant force consists of four Dhofar class

fast attack craft (with Exocet), four Seeb (Vosper 25) class patrol

boats and three Al Bushra class patrol boats. The first will be re-

placed under the Al Ofouq programme by four 75 metre offshore

patrol vessels for which Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding

(DSNS), Singapore Technologies Marine (STM) and India’s Goa

Shipyard were short-listed in the early summer of 2010. Oman also

operates a landing ship logistic and three medium landing craft.

UAE AmbitionAlso with both feet in separate waters is the United Arab Emi-

rates (UAE) Navy. In late October they opened a new naval base

in the emirate of Fujairah near the Strait of Hormuz and on the

Gulf of Oman.

The UAE has an ambitious building programme aided by

some of the best construction facilities in the region at Abu

Dhabi Shipbuilding (ADSB). The yard is currently building five

Baynunah class 915 tonne corvettes, with the lead ship being

built by French yard Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie

(CMN) for delivery in 2011. These will be formidable vessels

with the Exocet MM40 Block 3, RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow

Missiles (ESSM) with an 18 kilometre range, augmented by

RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) with 9.6 kilometre

range.

Abdul Rahim Al-Fadel is one of a class of four Lürssen built TNC 45 fast attack craft inservice with Bahrain; in addition Lürssen provided two 62-metre Al-Manama classcorvettes. There is also a single Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG 7) class frigate in service.

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revue 41

The Kortenaer class frigate formerly in service has been sold as

a yacht leaving the fleet with a range of German Friedrich Lürssen

built surface combatants. These include two Muray Jib (MGB 62)

class corvettes, two Mubarraz (TNC 38) and six Ban Yas (TNC

45) class fast attack craft armed with Exocet MM40 Block 2 mis-

siles. The corvettes, like the Omani Qahirs, have Crotale surface-

to-air missiles, and also operate Alouette III helicopters from a

hanger with a lift to the flight deck! There are also six Vosper-built

Ardhana class large patrol craft that the Baynunahs will replace.

Also under construction by Fincantieri

are three or four corvettes. One 88.4

metre ship, the Abu Dhabi, is based upon

the Comandante class offshore patrol ves-

sels but adapted for anti-submarine war-

fare and Fincantieri have an option for a

second. Their prime sensor will be the

Thales Underwater Systems Combined Active and Passive Towed

Array Sonar (CAPTAS) Nano low-frequency active variable

depth sonar. A contract was signed in August 2009 and she is

scheduled for delivery in 2012.

The Abu Dhabi and two 55-metre Al Falaj 2 class ships (with

options on another two), will both feature extensive ‘stealth’ shap-

ing to reduce their radar signature. They will both feature Italian

electronics and, probably, the Exocet MM 40 Block 3 but there

is no information on any air defence capability. Work on the Al

Falaj began in November 2010 and they are also scheduled for

delivery in 2012.

The UAE has a small mine counter-measures force based upon

two Frankenthal (MJ 322) class coastal minehunters which were

surplus German ships acquired in 2006, reportedly with Pinguin

3B remotely operated vehicles. Coastal defence is important to the

UAE and for moving troops it operates seven tank landing craft,

12 Ghannatha (Transportbåt 2000) fast transports and five utility

landing craft. Some of the Ghannathas, of which nine were built

by ADSB, are being armed with Patria Nemo 120 mm mortars,

with others receiving a 27 mm Rheinmetall gun. ADSB and

Swede Ship Marine (the de-

signers) will build 12 modi-

fied versions of the design

with MBDA Marte Mark

2/N surface-to-surface mis-

siles and a 27 mm gun.

The importance of coastal

protection was illustrated in

March 2010 when UAE and

Saudi patrol boats clashed in

the Gulf. The clash occurred

in disputed waters on the

Saudi, Abu Dhabi and Qatar

maritime border with the

Saudi vessel surrendering

after two of its crew were in-

jured. Both sides have tried to

play down the incident but

there are clearly issues in the

area to be resolved.

Qatari CapabilityNeighbouring Qatar and the two

other Gulf navies are all forces fo-

cused upon anti-surface warfare. The

most modern ships in Qatar are the

four 13-year-old Barzan (Vosper

Thornycroft Vita) class fast attack

craft, which augment three Damsah (Combattante III) class

ships, all armed with Exocet MM40 Block 2. However, the

Barzans will be upgraded over the next few years with Exocet

MM40 Block 3 for which the Qatar Navy is the fourth Arab cus-

tomer.

There are also three Damen Polycat 1450 coastal patrol boats

and these are to be joined by six new vessels to patrol Qatar's

EEZ conduct counter-piracy operations and search-and-rescue

missions. They will be built at a new yard at Ras Laffan estab-

lished by Nakilat-Damen Shipyards Qatar This is a joint venture

between the Damen Shipyards Group and the Qatar Gas Trans-

The Royal Navy of Oman operates four Dhofaror Province class 56-metre fast attack craft,originally built by Vosper Thornycroft. They areequipped with MBDA MM40 Exocet missiles anda 76 mm Oto Melara gun. Oman has investedsignificant funds in its naval capabilities in re-cent years. (Photo: DND Canada)

Naval Technology

revue42

port Company (Nakilat) with the new vessels being of at least

two different types, based upon Damen designs, with the first unit

due for delivery in early 2012.

Bahraini Capability Bahrain, which lies further up the coast, operates an Oliver Haz-

ard Perry (FFG 7) class frigate, the Sabha, which theoretically

gives the navy a substantial anti-air warfare capability with its

Standard SM-1 missile system having a 38 kilometre range, but

the operational condition of this ship is uncertain. Like the UAE,

Bahrain has relied upon Friedrich Lürssen built surface combat-

ants with two Al Manama (MGB 62) class corvettes, with similar

helicopter arrangement to the UAE ships but using a Eurocopter

Bo 105, and four Lürssen Ahmad El Fateh (TNC 45) fast attack

craft, these ships having Exocet MM 40 Block 2 missiles.

Lürssen also provided two Al Riffa (FPB 38) class patrol boats

and there are also two Swiftships’ Al Jirim (FPB 20) class boats.

Other units include six utility landing craft, the latest from

ADSB, that will provide a second in February 2011.

Kuwaiti CapabilityIn the north of the Gulf is Kuwait, which has always had a force

of surface combatants. Most of its eight fast attack craft were sunk

flying Iraqi colours during Operation Desert Storm leaving two

Lürssen-built craft, the Istiqlal (FPB 57) and the Al Sanbouk

(TNC 45) both of which were refitted by the builder a few years

ago. These were joined about a decade ago by eight CMN Um

Al Maradim (Combattante I) class fast attack craft with MBDA

Sea Skua missiles while there is also a utility transport, the

Al Dorrar.

Kuwait has a requirement for two ‘Fast Missile Strike Craft’,

but progress is glacial. This requirement replaced one for what

were officially described as ‘offshore patrol craft’ but in reality they

were actually 57-72 metre corvettes. This programme now seems

to have sunk without trace.

An order has been placed for 10 Modified Mark V patrol boats

from US Marine Inc. The Mark V is used by the US Special

Forces but the Kuwaiti vessels, which will be delivered by 2013,

will have a higher superstructure and will be used as interceptors.

US yards will also provide two diving support vessels, with Swift-

ships providing two Nautilus class ships. In addition two Tsaplya

or Murena (Project 12061E) class air-cushion landing craft have

been ordered from Russia with their cost being offset against the

current Russian debt to Kuwait.

The capabilities of the Gulf navies vary widely and, ultimately,

the security of the world’s energy resources rests on some 30 for-

eign warships that operate in regional waters. The prime one is

the US Navy with the Fifth Fleet’s well-balanced force of some

20 ships including a carrier battle group, up to four fleet nuclear

submarines and minehunters. Some 20 French, British and Italian

ships also operate in and around the Gulf. The importance of

which is underlined by the establishment in late October 2010

of the headquarters for the French Navy’s Indian Ocean com-

mand (Alindien) in Abu Dhabi. ,

Maskan (P3717) is one of a class of eight Um Al Maradim classfast attack craft built for Kuwait based on the Combattante 1design by CMN. A requirement exists to purchase two new‘Fast Missile Strike Craft’ with little progress seen thus far.

www.esdpa-org.eu

revue 43

his is the case, for example, of a variant of the well- known Minimi. Originally

designed for development into a 5.56 mm NATO (5.56 x 45 mm) and 7.62

mm NATO (7.62 x 51 mm) product, this automatic weapon from Belgium’s

FN (Fabrique Nationale) in Herstal, eventually hit the market as an LMG or Light Machine

Gun, firing 5.56 mm NATO ordinance. Then, more recently and following a competition run

by USSOCOM, FN Herstal developed and presented a Minimi 7.62 mm NATO weapon,

combining the endurance of a GPMG with the light weight of an LMG. After an in-depth

evaluation, this is the weapon selected by US special forces as the Mk-48 Mod 0.

To meet logistical necessities, the 7.62 mm NATO Minimi has kept a large number of parts

that are common with the original 5.56 mm NATO Minimi. Gas operated, this is a weapon

fitted with a hydraulic buffer in the butt stock that stabilizes the firing rate and reduces recoil.

Using a gun barrel that can quickly be exchanged and with a folding carrying handle, this

GPMG is equipped with a Picatinny MIL-STD 1913 rail located on top of the chamber box

GPMG & HMG: from “old favourites” to new releases

MG-3, MAG, M-60, PK/PKM, Browning M2 HB, NVS,Kord, LW50M. Many things have changed since the first

GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun) or HMG (HeavyMachine Gun) entered into service with mechanized in-

fantry units. And yet, except for a few new products, mostof the models currently in service were developed many

decades ago or, in the best of cases, are modernized deriv -atives of this weapon category’s “old favorites”.

By Jean-Pierre Husson / ESDPA • Italy

The GAU-17 or Minigun in 7.62mm NATO is able to provide for-midable fire support with its rateof fire of 4,000 rounds.

Land Forces

revue44

so as to allow the fitting of a daylight and/or nighttime

aiming system. Like its “little sister”, it comes with me-

chanical aiming mechanisms as standard (handlebars

under the tunnel and adjustable elevation up to 1,000 me-

ters in 100 meter increments) and a metal bipod that can

be folded back for carrying or when shooting from the hip.

Among the options provided for, the weapon can accept a

telescopic stock, one that is easily interchangeable with the

standard fixed stock and a hand guard with the RIS (Rail

Interface System) built-in for fitting additional aiming ac-

cessories and/or a front handle. As a GPMG, the Minimi

7.62 mm NATO can be mounted on an FN 360° tripod,

also used by the FN Minimi LMG and the FN MAG

GPMG (other mounting lug models are available, especially for

mounting on tactical vehicles). The weapon measures 1,050 mm

in overall length and weighs 8 kg, and fires at a rate of

approximately 750 rounds a minute.

Now, as an aside, let us remember that the MAG, first put for-

ward by FN Herstal more than a half a century ago, remains with

the Heckler and Koch MG3 (to which we also owe the HK21E

and HK-11E models in 7.62 mm NATO) the most widely used

GPMG in western armies. This is even the case with the US

forces, where it supplanted the equally famous Vietnam War era

M60 and its more recent derivatives, the M60E3 and M60E4.

Designated M240B by the US military, the Belgian GPMG con-

tinues to be unanimously praised by US Army and Marine Corps

combat units, which appreciate both its variable rate of fire and

its intrinsic precision, along with its operational reliability and its

effectiveness as a “heavy support fire” weapon when mounted on

a tripod. In practice, the MAG/M240B has only received one

complaint from US users during recent operations in Iraq and

Afghanistan and this does not actually relate to the gun itself but

rather to the accessories that equip the US version: first of all, the

Assistant Gunner’s bipod is considered too heavy, then the mu-

nitions boxes do not fit the regulation MOLLE rucksacks (US

servicemen use the MAG/M240B, and the Minimi/SAW M249

for that matter, most often fitted with the M145 MGO/Machine

Gun Optic daylight sight that is effective up to 1,200 meters).

New on the Eastern FrontSimilar approaches are not really exceptional but rather a constant

on the part of manufacturers who tend to readapt existing models

to meet new operational requirements or to develop new ones

To meet the requirements of USSOCOM,FN Herstal developed a version of theMinimi in the 7.62 mm NATO calibre. Thiswas adopted by US Special OperationsForces as the Mk48 Mod 0.

The Lightweight .50 Machine Gun(LW50MG), also known as the

XM806, will be produced by Gen-eral Dynamics and is destined the

replace the legendary BrowningM2HB in the US military.

www.esdpa-org.eu

that are most often based on weapons that have already largely

proven themselves in the field. This is the case, for example, of

Bulgarian maker Arsenal, responsible for a complete new family

of automatic fire support weapons derived from the Kalashnikov

system, like the LMG and LMG-F arms offered in the three cal-

ibers of reference (5.45 x 39 mm, 5.56 mm NATO and 7.62 x 39

mm). These guns are no more no less than the indigenous versions

of the Russian RPK and RP-74 weapons, and the MG-1MS,

originally chambered for powerful 7.62 x 54 mm R munitions

but which is now also offered in 7.62 mm NATO caliber to meet

the demands of export markets. Just like in the case of the two

models mentioned above, this is in substance a Bulgarian variant

of the Pecheneg PKP, developed and produced by Russian maker

TsNIITochMash, itself an evolution of the famous PKM (Pule-

ment Kalashnikova Modrnizirovannyi).

The new GPMG from the Kazanlak company comes with a

650 mm barrel, partially ribbed for better heat dispersion when fir-

ing sustained bursts and specifically chrome/molybdenum treated

to increase its operational service life (to in excess of 30,000 rounds

according to the manufacturer). This weapon also stands out by its

design, which includes a metal carrying handle located laterally so

as not to interfere with the sighting line and a bipod, also made of

metal, that is attached to the cylinder forming the gas actuation

mechanism located under the barrel. The skeleton-like stock is also

original in that it is made from high- resistance synthetic material

and not from wood as was the case of previous versions of the

PKM and its indigenous variants, including those from Bulgaria.

That said, the way it works remains unchanged: it is based on gas

recovery and a rotary bolt, as is the case of the 100 or 200 cartridge

belt feed system. As a multipurpose machine gun, the MG-1MS,

which is provided with an adjustable elevation setting using a cur-

sor and “U” shaped sight notch, can be used with a bipod or tripod

mounted in its “heavy” configuration. The weapon has an overall

length of 1,145 mm and weighs approx. 8.2 kg with a bipod (in

the tripod mounted version, the total weight is upped to 12.5 kg),

and its rate of fire is 600-650 rounds per minute.

The programme timetable for theLW50MG calls for the delivery ofthe first production examples ofthis new HMG during 2011.

The Rheinmetall RGM.50 is in the development phase and it incorporates the ability to switchbetween one type of ammunition and another from the same ammunition feed.

Land Forces

revue46

A number of new GPMG models have also been prepared in

China during the past few years, including the Type 88 or QJY88

depending on local designation. Intended to replace the Type 67

that became obsolete in the PLA (People’s Liberation Army),

this new model is characterized first and foremost by its caliber:

5.8 x 42 mm. This is, in fact, the new Chinese ammunition de-

veloped for the bullpup configuration of the QBZ-95 (Qing

Buqiang Zu for light rifle family) assault rifle and the light ma-

chine gun from the same arms system, namely the QBB-

95/QBB-97. Operating on the gas recovery principle, the Type

88 is fitted with a quick change 600 mm barrel, a carrying handle

located on the right-hand side of the gun, a hollowed-out stock

made from polymer and a conventional, permanently attached

bipod (the Type 88 can of course be tripod- mounted in a “heavy”

configuration). Fed with disintegrating link ammunition belts

comprising 200 rounds (with ammunition only being fed into the

left hand side of the breech), the Type 88 measures 1,150 mm in

overall length and weighs along the lines of 11.8 kg (the weapon’s

total weight rises to around 16 kg with the tripod). Regarding

the new 5.8 x 42 mm cartridge, we should note that it measures

61 mm in overall length and that it comprises a steel shell case,

lacquered a dark brown color using phenolic type resins, in a “bot-

tle” type shape with a throat and an acute cylindrical-ogival pro-

jectile weighing 4.2 grams with a steel core sheathed in

tombak-plated steel.

The Chinese industry is even more prolific when it comes to

HMGs with no fewer than three different models or derivatives

in the 12.7 mm caliber, which have come to be added in later

The Pecheng system offered by TsNIITocMash is a development of the celebratedPulement Kalashnikova Modrnizirovannyi, otherwise known as the PKM.

The revue is the official publication of EuropeÊs finest defence and security journalists. To become a part of this prestigousedition, whether as a journalist or supporter, visit www.esdpa-org.eu.

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www.esdpa-org.eu

revue 47

years to the Type 77, the

local and modernized ver-

sion of the legendary Russ-

ian DShK (Degtyarov

Shpagin Krupnokalibernyj).

These comprise the Type

85, which is offered in two

12.7 mm nominal calibers,

i.e. 12.7 x 108 mm and 12.7

x 99 mm NATO standard

for export markets (the

chambered variant for the

.50 Browning is called W-

95); the V-85 version,

which is practically the

same as the preceding ver-

sion but with a far more

contained weight (the

weapon without its tripod

weighs in at 18 kg com-

pared with 24 for the Type

85); and the Type 86, locally

known as the QJG-89, another “lightweight” HMG version as

its weight is around the 17.5 kg mark without a tripod. All of

these models, which fire only in “full auto” mode and are of course

provided with quickly interchangeable barrels, can be fitted with

daylight/nighttime aiming systems to complement the mechan-

ical sighting mechanisms fitted as standard.

Another Asian-made

HMG is the CIS (Singa-

pore Technologies Cinetic)

.50BGM, from the same

makers as the Ultimax

LMG using 5.56 mm

NATO rounds. The CIS .50

BGM operating system is

actually based on that of the

Ultimax, namely gas recov-

ery and a rotary bolt with a

CR (Constant Recoil)

mechanism for reducing the

recoil effect. Another speci-

ficity of this weapon, devel-

oped to replace the

Browning M2HB in service

with the Singapore Armed

Forces: the double ammuni-

tion feed system for feeding

the gun from the left or the

right hand side using two

belts of 100 round M15 type ammunition with disintegrating links,

thereby making it possible to choose the kind of munitions to use

depending on the tactical needs of the time, whether standard ball

rounds or Armor Piercing SLAP type rounds. With a barrel that

is 1,140 mm in length and easily interchangeable, the CIS .50

BGM measures 1,670 mm overall and weighs some 30 kg.

Offered by Yugoimport SDPR and produced by Zastava, the M87 is a Serbian modernisedversion of the Russian NVS HMG.

The Russian Kord (Konstrukysija Oruzheinikov Degtyarovtsev)HMG, or 6P50 in the Russian military designation, presents analternative to the NVS HMG in the same calibre.

Land Forces

revue48

Another model of HMG is offered by Yugoimport SDPR and

manufactured by the Serbian Zastava industrial concern. This

weapon is the M87, the latest heavy machine gun from this fa-

mous manufacturer located at Kragujevac. Chambered for 12.7 x

108 mm caliber ammunition, this weapon is actually the im-

proved Balkan version of the Russian NVS machine gun that re-

placed the legendary DShK 38/DShKM (“NVS” are the initials

of Niktin, Volkov and Sokolov, the three Russian engineers who

designed it many years ago).

Remarkably machined thanks especially to the use of numer-

ically controlled machine tools, the M87 is a superbly effective

HMG that comes with the reliability to face all situations, even

under the most adverse usage conditions. Able to fire only in au-

tomatic mode, here is another gas-operated weapon that uses a

rotating bolt locking system and 60 round ammunition belts

(standard ammunition box). Among other features, the gun fea-

tures a 1,100 mm barrel with cold-hammered outer finish and

chrome plated interior to guarantee a long service life, a gas reg-

ulation mechanism, well-designed mechanical sighting devices

that are also well-protected from impact, a mechanism for eject-

ing empty shell cases forward and a highly original skeleton-type

stock design fitted to the land version (an infantry support

weapon). In addition to being tripod mounted for use on the

ground, the M87 can also be mounted on a variety of vehicles

and armor, or on a naval gun mounting for use on surface units

of all sizes, like many other GPMG/HMG systems. For anti-air-

craft use, the Serbian manufacturer recommends using the M87

equipped with a PANS 127 M93 aiming system and for land tar-

gets, using the ZNS

127 M93 optical sight

with x 2.8 enlarge-

ment. Measuring

1,560 mm in overall

length and weighing

25 kg, the M87 has an

effective range of

2,000 meters against

land targets (1,500

meters in anti aircraft

use) and fires at a rate

of 700-800 rounds per

minute.

Better known than

the Zastava M87 is

the new Russian Kord

( K o n s t r u k y s i j a

Oruzheinikov Degt-

yarovtsev) HMG, ref-

erenced as 6P50 in the

Russian military

nomenclature. It too

presents a host of very

interesting mechanical and ergonomic features. Offered as a sub-

stitute or alternative to the NVS, this 12.7 x 108 mm automatic

weapon is gas operated with a rotating bolt lock, and is fitted

with, among other things, an interchangeable barrel with a re-

markably effective muzzle brake (available in two different ver-

sions) that contributes to reducing the recoil effect, a short

hollowed-out stock mounted on a cylindrical beam attached to

the gun frame, and mechanical sighting devices that can be cou-

pled with daytime/nighttime sighting optics using a mounting

rail located on the left hand side of the gun. The Kord is normally

fed from the right (although a left-hand feed is available as an

option) using 50 round strips mounted on non-disintegrating

links of the same type as those used by the NVS. In addition to

a conventional 6T7 type tripod mount, the Russian manufacturer

Even with the arrival of new generation HMGs, the legendaryBrowning M2HB is expected to remain in service for manyyears.

www.esdpa-org.eu

revue 49

has provided for the Kord to be installed on

a type 6T19 bipod so as to interfere as little

as possible with the mobility of infantry

units in the field, especially during urban

combat operations. Weighing 25 kg without

a mount (the 6T7 tripod and the 6T19

bipod weigh in at 16 and 7 kg respectively)

for an overall length of 1,980 mm, the Kord

fires at a rate of 650-750 rounds per minute.

Now, although most of the very latest

GPMG and HMG offers come from East-

ern Europe and Asia, the very latest thing

in Heavy Machine Guns comes from the

United States with their “new entry”, the

XM-806, due to enter service, barring un-

foreseen delays, in 2011.

The Very Latest HMGAchieving a lighter-weight weapon, one that is more compact

and more accurate for increased lethality, appears to be the com-

mon guideline of the two major lightweight weapons programs

currently underway in the United States, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia,

under the auspices of the Program Executive Office (PEO) Sol-

dier: the first concerns the XM-25 grenade launcher and the

other is known as the LW50MG (Lightweight .50 Machine

Gun), relating to a new .50 BMG (12.7 x 99 mm NATO stan-

dard) machine gun, intended to progressively replace the Brown-

ing M2 with the US forces. Development and production of this

new heavy machine gun, the XM-806, was entrusted to General

Dynamics in May 2008 as part of a $9 million development con-

tract. The LW50MG program schedule calls for the first standard

weapons to be delivered to US forces starting in 2011, with pri-

ority given to light infantry units like the 82nd Airborne Division

and 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division, as well as to special

operations units assigned to USSOCOM.

Derived from another M2 HB (Heavy Barrel) replacement

program that initially led to the XM-312 (a 12.7 mm machine

gun) and the XM-307 (a 25 mm automatic grenade launcher)

prototypes, the LW50MG program resulted in perfecting and

producing the new XM-806 which, when compared with the leg-

endary Browning M2 HB, stands out thanks to a far more con-

tained weight (a total of 28 kg, i.e. 18 kg for the gun and 10 kg

for the tripod, compared with 38 kg for the first gun alone), a

slightly shorter overall length (1,562 mm instead of 1,653 mm)

as well as a reduced number of components and moving parts

(128 instead of 256), thereby ensuring better operational relia-

bility while simplifying weapon stripping, cleaning and reassem-

bly operations. As regards precision, and therefore lethality, this

has been improved by significantly reducing both weapon recoil

(by some 60%) and the firing rate (265 rounds per minute instead

of the 500 rounds per minute achieved by the Browning M2).

Further, the chamber box is equipped with a Picatinny rail for

fitting a modified version of the Elcan M-145 optical sight al-

ready used on the MAG/M-240B GPMG. Fed with M9 am-

munition belts that are compatible with the Browning M2 (with

loading from either the right or the left) and able to fire the full

range of .50 caliber BGM munitions (standard M33, MK211,

API, M903 SLAP, etc.), this new machine gun is also equipped

with a quick barrel replacement system that does not require any

adjustment. ,

Iraqi troops on patrol armed withthe celebrated PKM, one of the So-viet-origin GPMGs that are widelyused around the world.

www.esdpa-org.eu

revue 51

he programme began mid-2006 with an initial procurement of Mastiff, and

while very much a learning curve for all involved, this delivered a much-needed,

life-saving and capability enhancing product. These vehicles provided a totally

new capability to troops on the ground and their procurement, which mirrors that of the US

MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) programme, is one that is now being duplicated

by most armed forces that have, or may have, deployed forces in Afghanistan.

In military procurement terms, the UK programme has been both imaginative and inno-

vative, yet remains a programme that has, to a large extent, been overlooked by mainstream

media. And that is because it’s a ‘good news’ story, and as we all know, good news is almost as

bad as no news…

Mastiff is a UK-specific version of the Force Protection Cougar, a mine protected vehicle

that has its design origins in South Africa, the home of Casspir, the benchmark design in

mine-protected vehicles.

Taming the TalibanOR dog’s life

Since 2006 and in answer to the deteriorating security situ-ation in Afghanistan and, at the time, Iraq, the British

Army has been procuring two new heavy protected patrolvehicles, Mastiff and Ridgback.

By Shaun Connors / ESDPA • UK

As part of the £108 Talismanprogramme an order for 24Mastiff 2 was announced inNovember 2008.Talisman pro-vides troops with a specialistroute proving and clearing ca-pability aimed primarily atcombating the increased use ofmines and improvised explo-sive devices (IEDs) by insur-gents.

Armoured Vehicles

The UK

story has

origins that

stretch back to 2002 when eight very early Cougar vehicles were

ordered from Technical Solutions Group (TSG) for EOD (Ex-

plosive Ordnance Disposal) roles. It would, however, be the US

military that would ultimately pioneer the use of mine protected

vehicles in Afghanistan and Iraq. The US Army had been using

Force Protection’s Buffalo (forever immortalised as Bonecrusher

in the original Transformers movie) for specialist route clearance

roles from July 2003, but with an initial deployment in October

2004, it would be the US Marines that first used the Cougar.

Cougar supplemented armoured HMMWVs that were proving

as vulnerable to attack as the UK’s armoured Land Rovers. Tech-

nical Solutions Group is a Force Protection legacy company.

By January 2007 Force Protection had supplied US armed

forces with around 400 Cougar in both 4x4 and 6x6 configura-

tions, and 90 Buffalo 6x6 vehicles. According to the company, at

that time these had totalled in excess of two million combat hours

and had survived at least 2,000 blast attacks. Following this initial

success, in January 2007 the US Marines placed the first limited

orders under

the MRAP

(Mine Resist-

ant Ambush

Protected) ve-

hicle pro-

gramme. By

early 2010 the

MRAP pro-

gram had

grown expo-

nentially and

a p p ro a c h i n g

18,000 vehicles

had been or-

dered under

this USMC program, around 3,500 of these being Cougar. A fur-

ther 1,000 MRAP-type vehicles had been ordered by the US

Army directly, and in excess of 8,000 lighter more mobile

MATVs (MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle) had been ordered from

Oshkosh.

The UK’s $62.6 million order for 108 Cougar 6x6 vehicles was

announced on July 24th 2006, the order including associated

spares, field service support, and technical manuals. Deliveries to

the UK began in late November 2006, the first vehicles were de-

ployed in December 2006, and the final vehicles were delivered

by May 2007.

Prior to deployment these vehicles were extensively modified

and brought up to a theatre entry standard (TES), initially in

RAF Akrotiri Cyprus, and later in the UK by NP Aerospace of

Coventry. Modifications included a substantial revision of pro-

tection, this including a bar armour fit and the installation of clas-

In total, UK forces have ordered 342 Mastiff, 157 Ridgback, 125Wolfhound, 30 Cougar and 14 Buffalo. The first order (for 106Mastiff) was placed in 2006, the most recent orders (announcedJune/July 2010) call for an additional 28 Mastiff-derivedWolfhound and 13 Mastiff in the latest Mastiff 3 configuration.

Compared to Mastiff 1 and 2 deliveries,Mastiff 3 features a number of automotiveand ergonomic enhancements. Automo-tively these include the uprating of the CATC7 engine from 330 to 375 hp, the use of asix- and not five-speed Allison automatictransmission, and braking system upgrades.

The US Army began using Force Protection’s Buffalo (forever immortalised asBonecrusher in the original Transformersmovie) for specialist route clearance roles inJuly 2003. As part of the talisman pro-gramme, the UK MoD ordered 14 Buffalos.

www.esdpa-org.eu

revue 53

sified IED countermeasure systems. The UK-specific

Bowman communications system was installed, as

were cameras to enhance crew situational awareness.

Four of the 108 vehicles delivered were converted to

battlefield ambulance configuration.

There were some teething problems with these early

vehicles, and it is these and not the speed with which

Mastiff was delivered, or the overwhelming support it

immediately received from those that used it, that the

mainstream media attempted to capitalise on. The pri-

mary issue with early Mastiffs (now known as Mastiff

1) was related to springs and suspension. The increased

weight of the UK armour package when combined with

the appalling terrain in Afghanistan caused problems,

primarily with the multileaf springs on the front Mar-

mon Herrington 18,000 lb rated drive axle. A fix was quickly en-

gineered in an upgraded taper-leaf spring and upgraded spring

hangers, however, by this stage the primary cause of concern had

shifted to axles. More importantly, a lack of them.

The initial Mastiff spares package included 40 axles, which by

any previous standard of procurement was generous. However,

such was the unprecedented ferocity of Taliban attacks on the

Mastiff fleet that within months of their initial deployment the

entire initial spares stock of axles had been fitted to battle dam-

aged vehicles. Replacement axles were in short supply (the US

military having similar problems) and as American law clearly

states that US forces must take priority for spares in such a situ-

ation, that is exactly what happened.

In addition to the spring issue, initial deployment, which had

been a breakneck speed operation, highlighted other areas that

required attention. Under Project Winkle, the bulk of the original

108 vehicles were upgrade to become Mastiff 1.5, with the final

new vehicles leaving NP Aerospace to the Mastiff 1.5 build stan-

dard. A small number of Mastiff 1 remain, but these have the sus-

pension upgrade, and will probably be upgraded to Mastiff 1.5

build standard in due course.

The primary differences between the original Mastiff 1 and

the upgraded Mastiff 1.5 are UK-spec brakes and lights, recovery

modifications and some armour modifications, the latter includ-

ing an extension of the bar armour to wrap around the front of

the vehicle.

Such was the success of Mastiff

that the British Army announced a

second order in February 2008. This

$115 million order called for 174

vehicles, including 25 in ambulance

The Mastiff is a sizeable vehicle, this being an issue for use inbuilt up or urban areas. To address this problem, the first of157 20-tonne Ridgback 4x4 urban patrol vehicles ordered for$94 million mid-2007 were delivered to Afghanistan early-May 2009. Ridgback is around 8-tonnes lighter than Mastiffbut has the same levels of protection as the larger vehicle,but being a shorter (seven-seat opposed to ten-seat) two-axle 4x4 design is optimised for semi-urban operations.

In February 2008 the BritishArmy ordered 174 Mastiff 2 ve-

hicles to the tune of $115 mil-lion. 25 ambulance configured

vehicles were included in thecontract.

Armoured Vehicles

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configuration. Unlike the initial vehicles that were shipped from

the US with an almost complete interior, to make conversion

work here in the UK far easier and efficient, these later vehicles

are shipped as essentially bare hulls.

These vehicles are known as Mastiff 2. They feature the Mastiff

1.5 upgrades, plus a selection of other enhancements including

heavier duty 22,000 lb rated axles and associated springs, a larger

400 A alternator (for more electrical power), revised thermal and

infrared camera equipment, and a selection of other classified

enhancements.

Stowage capacity has increased and been extensively revised

to eliminate loose items. Seating revisions have been made, crew

capacity increasing to 2 + 8 from Mastiff 1/1.5’s 2 + 6 (plus an

occasional 7th). Seating has also improved, and is now purpose-

designed blast attenuating seats

that fold up when not in use to

provide more operator space.

Time had also allowed for a

vastly improved operator training

programme here in the UK to be

established, this on purpose devel-

oped terrain at the Defence School

of Transport (DST). Time and ac-

cumulated experience also allowed

for the installation of a far more ro-

bust spares and support infrastruc-

ture, both here in the UK and on

deployed operations. Highlighting

the spares and support subject would

be a $12 million US and £4 million

UK spares packages that included

the purchase of 500 axles.

The first Mastiff 2 vehicles arrived in Afghanistan early April,

and by mid-May and having been brought up to full operational

status with the in-theatre addition of specialist equipment, were

first deployed operationally in mid-May. All troop carrying and

ambulance variants have now been delivered, and on schedule.

Almost immediately these new vehicles were targeted by the

Taliban, and while few details have been released, a spate of

IED/blast attacks ensued on these new-to-theatre vehicles. All

attacks on Mastiff have resulted in no fatalities to the occupants,

and it is understood that the vast majority of damaged vehicles

have been returned to service following repairs in-theatre.

A success it may have been, but Mastiff is a sizeable vehicle.

At around 7.5 m long, 2.7 m wide, and tipping the scales at in

excess of 28-tonnes when combat laden, it can have mobility is-

sues in the appalling Afghan ter-

rain. The introduction of mobility

chains for the tyres has helped in

this area tremendously, however,

little can be done to alleviate the

overall size of the vehicle, this

being an issue for use in built up

or urban areas.

To address this problem, the

first of 157 20-tonne Ridgback

4x4 urban patrol vehicles ordered

for $94 million mid-2007 were

delivered to Afghanistan early-

May 2009. Ridgback is the UK

version of the Force Protection

Cougar 4x4, and again, conversion

work here in the UK is carried out

by NP Aerospace.

Under Project Winkle the bulk of theoriginal 108 Mastiff 1 vehicles were up-grade to become Mastiff 1.5, with thefinal new vehicles leaving NP Aero-space to the Mastiff 1.5 build standard.A small number of Mastiff 1 remain, butthese have the suspension upgrade,and will probably be upgraded to Mas-tiff 1.5 build standard in due course.

The UK MoD is currently evaluating various options toenhance the mobility of the Ridgback, these includingthe fitting of Oshkosh TAK-4 fully independent suspen-sion as fitted to Oshkosh MTVR, LVSR, MATV, and beingfitted/ retro-fitted to around 2,600 US MRAPs, including

over 2,000 Cougars.

platoon from the 1ST Battalion Royal Welsh who survived multiple blasts from improvised explosive de-vices (IEDs) whilst on patrol in Afghanistan spoke of their admiration for the Mastiff armoured vehiclethat saved their lives at the UKÊs DVD show in June 2010.

The men, from 10 Platoon D Company, were travelling in the Mastiff while clearing routes of IEDs in the Babajidistrict of central Helmand, when they drove over the devices in two separate incidents.

Platoon Commander Lieutenant Mark Lewis, who survived both explosions, said: „My first strike in my Mastiff wasby an IED which was made up of around 50 kg of explosives and the vehicle was blown across the road. I was topcover at the time and blown out of the turret but stopped from landing in the nearby field by the cam net. Once thedust settled I could hear the lads in the cabin. I dropped down fearing the worst, not knowing what I would see next.Thankfully they were ok, with only minor injuries and the next day we were all back out on patrol.‰

Lieutenant Lewis and his men were back on duty the next day in another area of the province which was knownto have IEDs.

Lt Lewis, who is 26-years-old and from Swansea, South Wales, continued: „I was more than happy to go out againin the Mastiff after the first explosion because I knew that it would keep me safe. This time I was out with my platoonwhich was split into two separate Mastiffs. The area we were in was known to have IEDs and as we were calling infor support we came under fire. As we were manovering my Mastiff to get into a better position we were hit by oneof the IEDs. It wasnÊt particularly nice getting hit but at the end of the day the Mastiff did its job and took the brunt ofthe explosion which saved our lives.‰

Lance Corporal Kristian Orton, who is 29 and from Barry, South Wales, was providing top cover for the secondMastiff when he saw his comrades take a hit, said:

„I man the 50 cal gun on the Mastiff so if anything happens you are the initial response because you will be thefirst to see it. It wasnÊt particularly nice seeing the lads take a hit but I knew that they would be ok. I feel safe in theMastiff because I know firsthand that it can withstand the impact of an IED – they are an invaluable tool to those onthe front line.‰

Fusilier Danny Hughes, who is 19-years-old and from Elsmere Port, Cheshire, was driving the vehicle during thesecond blast. He said: This is a good bit of kit. When we hit the device we were all shocked but we soon realised thateverybody was ok and we just got out and got on with our job. We are confident in the protection that this vehiclegives us against IEDs and we are all living proof that it works.‰

All men have since returned from Afghanistan to their hometowns in Wales after finishing their tour of duty in April.

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revue 55

Ridgback is around 8-tonnes lighter than Mastiff but has the

same levels of protection as the larger vehicle, but being a shorter

(seven-seat opposed to ten-seat) two-axle 4x4 design is optimised

for semi-urban operations. The two vehicle types feature an 85%

commonality of mechanical parts, rear axles/suspension being the

main area that lacks commonality.

The MoD is currently evaluating various options to enhance the

mobility of Ridgback, these including the fitting of Oshkosh TAK-

4 fully independent suspension as fitted to Oshkosh MTVR,

LVSR, MATV, and being retro-fitted to around 2,500 US MRAPs,

including over 2,000 Cougars.

The UK MoD has also procured 15 Cougar 4x4 and 15 Cougar

6x6 vehicles directly from the USMC, these are referred to as

Cougar Training Vehicles (CTV) and were delivered during 2009.

The procurement of Mastiff was an immediate success, saving

the lives of British troops almost from day one, plus forcing the Tal-

iban to rethink their tactics. The MoD cannot be specific for reasons

of operational security, but non-MoD sources have suggested that

by mid-2010 there had been no crew fatalities in approaching 200

mine blast, RPG (rocket propelled grenade) and IED (improvised

explosive device) attacks on Mastiff by insurgents.

Further Mastiff purchases have been made, these announced

during October 2008 by the MoD as part of a £700 million UOR

plan to acquire an additional 700 vehicles for operations in

Afghanistan. These additional vehicles were ordered under the

Tactical Support Vehicle (TSV) and Talisman programmes.

Talisman is a £108 million programme to provide troops with

a specialist route proving and clearing capability aimed primarily

at combating the increased use of mines and improvised explosive

devices (IEDs) by insurgents. Talisman is based around three ve-

hicle platforms; the Mastiff heavy protected patrol vehicle, Force

Protection's Buffalo Mine Protected Clearance Vehicle, and

JCB's High Mobility Engineer Excavator (HMEE). An order

for 24 Mastiff 2 for Talisman was announced in November 2008.

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The Tactical Support Vehicle (TSV) project covers three new

types of vehicle including the Wolfhound Tactical Support Vehicle

(TSV) Heavy.

The primary role of the TSV family is support, as by mid-2008

it was becoming clear that the capacity of vehicles in theatre was

not sufficient for the longer, extended missions that were being

undertaken. And while in the case of BAE Systems Viking the

larger STK Warthog is a viable replacement, to simply ‘super-size’

all the vehicle types to be supported by TSV was never a viable

option. A number of factors would have influenced the develop-

ment of the TSV requirement, but ultimately the vehicle choices

will have been made to enhance the all-important tactical mobility

of commanders on the ground, not all of whom will be performing

the same roles/missions, or have the same requirements.

Following detailed contractual negotiations with individual

manufacturers, award announcements for the TSV program were

made by the MoD in April 2009, with Integrated Survivability

Technologies (IST) receiving a £84 million contract for 97

Wolfhound TSV Heavy; IST is a joint venture company formed

by the US-based Force Protection and the UK’s NP Aerospace.

Wolfhound is the heaviest of the TSV family with an approx-

imate 26-tonne GVW. Like Mastiff, Wolfhound is based on the

Cougar 6x6 platform, but configured as a utility flatbed vehicle

that features a new four-seat cab and has a load area that will ac-

cept three standard NATO pallets, or a load of up to 5.4-tonnes.

Wolfhound will provide logistic support to the Mastiff and Ridg-

back heavy protected patrol vehicles in high-risk environments.

The vehicle will also provide specialist support to the Military

Working Dog Support Unit, Royal Engineers and the Royal Ar-

tillery, in the latter case as a tractor/limber for the 105 mm light

gun. First deliveries to theatre occurred late-2010.

Compared to Mastiff 1 and 2 deliveries,

Wolfhound features a number of automo-

tive and ergonomic enhancements. Auto-

motively these include the uprating of the CAT C7 engine from

330 to 375 hp, the use of a six- and not five-speed Allison auto-

matic transmission, and braking system upgrades. Key ergonomic

enhancements include a 198 mm increase in overall height to in-

crease internal headroom and the fitting of opening doors for the

driver and front seat passenger.

In February 2010 it was disclosed that 23 Mastiff had been

ordered in January for a counter IED role, these having the same

automotive and ergonomic enhancements as Wolfhound and to

be known as Mastiff 3.

Early in June, and on a trip to visit British forces in

Afghanistan, prime minister David Cameron announced the pur-

chase of a further 13 Mastiff 3 for use in the counter IED role,

and later in June (at Defence Vehicles Dynamics (DVD)) it was

announced that a further 28 Wolfhound TSVs were to be ac-

quired from IST in a deal worth £20m.

The Mastiff was originally procured as an early UOR, the un-

stated intent then being that at the ‘pending’ conclusions of the

Afghan/Iraqi campaigns that Mastiff (along with any other sim-

ilar UOR vehicles) would probably be left behind and/or gifted

to the Afghan/Iraqi armies.

The numbers and capital investment now involved, along with

the realisation that the type of conflict currently found in

Afghanistan will likely be found elsewhere has seen that initial

train of thought quietly dropped, the aspiration now believed to

be that Mastiff, Ridgback and other similar UOR vehicles mi-

grate from UOR status to mainstream ‘green’ Army.

Some are even suggesting that given the lessons being learned

on current conflicts that a vehicle such as Mastiff/Ridgback could

effectively form part of the troubled procurement that has previ-

ously been known as FRES – Future Rapid Effects System. ,

The Wolfhound is the heaviest of theTactical Support Vehicle (TSV) familywith an approximate 26-tonne GVW.Like the Mastiff, Wolfhound is basedon the Cougar 6x6 platform, but con-figured as a utility flatbed vehiclethat features a new four-seat caband has a load area that will acceptthree standard NATO pallets, or aload of up to 5.4-tonnes. TheWolfhound provides logistic supportto the Mastiff and Ridgback heavyprotected patrol vehicles in high-riskenvironments.

www.esdpa-org.eu

revue 57

Russian Defence Industry in the Second Millennium

Articles by Nikolay Novichkov / ESDPA • Russia

www.esdpa-org.eu

revue 59

artridges with polymer-coated metallic cases are

accepted for service. They feature high resistance

to handling whereas their service life reaches 40

years. There are no counterparts of this coating. The leading man-

ufacturer of efficient equipment for mass production of cartridges

is the Design Bureau of Automatic Lines named after

L.N.Koshkin JSC (Koshkin Design Bureau) based in Klimovsk,

near Moscow. Experts of the Design Bureau have created equip-

ment for applying ecology friendly coatings on metallic cases.

The newly developed manufacturing systems reduce the produc-

tion cost several-fold. According to Nikolai Maslyayev, Koshkin

Design Bureau Director-General, in recent years special attention

has been paid to research and development of cartridges in order

to improve them. Among other newly developed products of the

Design Bureau are plastic clip fillers, 15 pieces in each (ASOP-

15) and an automatic device for vacuum packaging of munitions.

The combat experience in the areas of modern conflicts proved

their efficiency since the package is easy to rip without special

tools and a combatant, using two plastic clips, needs a mere 2-3

seconds to fill the rifle magazine with thirty cartridges.

The state-sponsored armament procurement program for the

period till 2020 sets a task before ammo manufacturers to improve

small arms capabilities by a factor of 2 to 3. New ammo is needed

today for improving the small arms. Such ammo must ensure ef-

fective firing at a long range while having acceptable weight and

size characteristics. At the same time, much of stockpiled ammo

has aged physically and become obsolete. This needs to be recycled.

To this end, the Koshkin Design Bureau has carried out research

and development and produced a process for recycling 5.45, 7.62

and 9 mm cartridges. Also, it came up with dedicated equipment

for recycling, removing and cleaning harmful vaporous compounds

and mercury vapors produced during recycling. The process ensures

disassembly of ammo to components, gathering of powder and

thermal demercerization of detonating caps. The main elements

Russia’s latest ammunitionmanufacturing technologies

A special role in the Russian armed forces re-equip-ment program is given to small arms ammunitions.Instead of costly and scarce non-ferrous metals(brass) used in many countries to manufacture vari-ous types of munitions, Russia has shifted focus onrotary technologies to manufacture cartridge casesfrom steel with corrosion-proof coating.

In association with ammunition plants, the Design Bureau of Automatic Lines named

after L.N.Koshkin JSC is carrying out researchon high-performance ammunition which

essentially improves small arms operationalcapabilities. (Photos: Nikolai Novichkov)

Below: Modern packaging technologies ensurethe cartridges’ 40-year warranty storage life.

Russian Industry

revue60

and materials of cartridges may be reused. The powder is renovated

by secondary treatment. The cases can be reused in hunting and

sporting rounds. The Design Bureau experts have designed auto-

matic devices for disassembling cartridges and destructing bullets.

The devices have received gold medals at the International Defense

Exhibition of Land Forces in Moscow in 2008.

N.Maslyayev believes that the new ammo must be developed

using exclusively modern technologies. Only the latest achieve-

ments in science and technology,

and newest construction materials,

primarily power-intensive

powders, will help create

new types of small arms

that meet requirements of

the day.

The Koshkin Design

Bureau’s products today

draw attention of many

customers. For instance,

over ten countries are interested in building ammo production

plants using Russian technologies. In the first place, this is

Venezuela where construction is underway of a plant with a sched-

uled annual output of 70 million 7.62mm cartridges. The principal

contractor of the plant build program is the Koshkin Design Bu-

reau which is cooperating with ammunition plants of Tula and

Ulyanovsk. Expressly for the Venezuelan plant the Russian experts

have overhauled the engineering documentation of the round.

“This was a difficult job, which was subsequently used for devel-

oping the cartridge manufacturing processes,” N.Maslyayev said.

The modern dedicated equipment installed in Venezuela was

adapted to the difficult weather conditions of that country.

At present, talks are in progress with several Middle East and

African countries over building ammunition plants. Kuwait has

displayed a keen interest in building an ammunition plant based

on Russian technologies. Also, China conducts talks over mod-

ernization of an indigenous ammunition plant with involvement

of the Koshkin Design Bureau.

The restructuring of Russia’s defense industry called for revi-

sion of the civil/defense production ratio. Today it is roughly 70

to 30. Considering Russia’s geopolitical standing and trends on

the domestic and global markets, N.Maslyayev believes this ratio

to be an optimum in ammunition manufacture.

Today, the Koshkin Design Bureau is Russia’s leading ammu-

nition manufacturer. It can build ammunition manufacture facil-

ities based on automatic rotary lines. This makes it strategically

important both for Russia and her allies.

N.Maslyayev believes that in the short and long term the

Koshkin Design Bureau will continue to develop the theory of

rotary engineering and modernization of ammunition manufac-

ture processes. Among other things, the Bureau plans to manu-

facture high technology equipment for ammunition production

and build new munititions manufacturing facilities. The Bureau

envisions enhancing its capability of building up to 50 rotary ma-

chines per year. This will make it possible to supply both Russian

ammunition plants and prospective customers with the latest high

technology ammunition manufacturing equipment. ,

Filling a rifle magazinewith a charged plasticclip takes 1 to 2 seconds.

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revue 63

t present, in association with the Mil Helicopter

Plant of Moscow (MVZ) and Rostvertol JSC,

Rosoboronexport participates in India’s tender to

supply 22 modern rotary wing aircraft. The winner will receive a

contract worth US$ 600 million. This tender aims to select a new

attack helicopter since India’s current fleet of attack helicopters,

comprised of several tens of Mi-25s and Mi-35s, needs updating

because of the expired service life of part of those machines.

India is the fourth largest regular armed force in the world. At

present, its military political leadership seeks to convert the coun-

try’s air force and air defense into a well balanced service capable

of supporting land forces and the navy, striking at vital assets deep

in the enemy’s rear areas and successfully countering modern air

threats. One of the stages leading to achievement of the said goal

is the fitting of Air Force with the latest strike helicopters. This

includes the Mi-28NE ‘Night hunter’ helicopter, currently sup-

plied to the Russian Air Force under the designation Mi-28N.

Jane’s Defence Weekly reports that the Russian Mi-28NE

‘Night hawk’ helicopter and the US AH-64D Apache Longbow

from Boeing remained the sole participants of the tender. Those

helicopters became finalists of the contest after the competing

companies, Eurocopter and Augusta/Westland with their ma-

chines EC-665 Tiger and A129 Mangusta, decided to quit the

tender. The flight trials under the helicopter tender held by the

Indian AF took place in Rajasthan in a desert and in the moun-

tains, i.e. in close to operational conditions.

At present, the Russian Military Technical Cooperation Serv-

ice (FSVTS of Russia) and Rosoboronexport receive many ap-

plications from abroad to supply the Mi-28NE helicopter. The

number of applications for this helicopter grew after October

2009 when Russian President D.Medvedev recommended the

Mi-28N for service with Russian Army.

Engaged with the series production of the Mi-28N, Rostvertol

has a long-term contract with the Russian Defense Ministry to

supply the ‘Night hawk’ to the air force regular fleet. Therefore, de-

spite the many lucrative proposals from abroad, the priority in the

supply of this helicopter is given to the Russian armed forces. In

case of victory, Rosoboronexport is prepared to supply India, as

Mi-28NE to strengthen Russia’s position on the world market

The main item of Russia’s helicopter exports are today Mi-171and Mi-35 type of transport and attack rotary wing aircraft. Atthe same time, the new Mi-28NE night attack helicopter can,in the near term, essentially strengthen Russia’s position on theworld helicopter market,” says Anatoly Isaikin, Rosoboronex-port state arms trade agency Director-General.

The Mi-28 is fitted with asuite of modern weaponsfor use in adverseweather conditions.(Photo: S. Soldatkin)

Russian Industry

revue64

Russia’s exclusive strategic partner, with twenty-two Mi-28NEs.

Under the state’s current arms procurement program the an-

nual production of Mi-28N helicopters at Rostvertol will reach

20 machines by 2015. Their total in service with the Russian AF

must reach 70 machines. Rosvertol is also prepared to manufac-

ture the Mi-28UB combat training version of the machine.

Aviation colonel general Alexander Zelin, the Russian Feder-

ation Air Force Commander, believes that as a result of the supply

of new machines and the modernization of the in-service aircraft,

by the year 2015 the share of modern helicopters in the army avi-

ation will grow to around 40%. “We are pleased that in 2009 de-

liveries began of the new Mi-28N helicopters to the army

aviation,” he said.

In the words of the Commander, the Mi-28N helicopter was

created to enhance the army aviation’s capability, primarily in

terms of survivability and maneuverability. Also, it must improve

its round-the-clock operational capability in all weathers. The he-

licopter’s overall efficiency exceeds that of the existing counter-

parts by 4 to 5 times. Thanks to a number of outstanding

engineering decisions the helicopter outperforms all of its coun-

terparts. During trials the machine demonstrated excellent reli-

ability of all systems. Ninety-five percent of the test flights were

registered as fully operational.

The Mi-28NE’s outstanding survivability is ensured by the wide

spacing of the engines which protect the main reducer and enable

the machine to perform the mission if one of them is damaged. All

the vital systems and subsystems of the aircraft, as well as its crew,

are protected by a reliable armor. This protects against 12.7 to 20

mm rounds. In creating the Mi-28NE, new materials and engi-

neering decisions were used which enhance the helicopter resistance

to combat damages. The helicopter screw blades are made from

composite materials. Even if hit by 12.7 to 20 mm rounds, they en-

able the aircraft to safely complete the flight. The fuel supply system

precludes an explosion or fuel blast. The Mi-28NE features a min-

imum acoustic stealth for land-based detection systems.

The Mi-28NE is fitted with a modern armament suite which

enables the use of airborne weapons in difficult weather condi-

tions. The helicopter armament includes a gun and guided and

unguided missiles. The movable gun system includes the 2A42

30mm caliber cannon. The beam holders are fitted with a suspen-

sion of Ataka (Attack) air-to-ground and Igla (Needle) air-to-

air guided missiles featuring an infrared seeker. Also it has S-8

and S-13 airborne unguided missies.

The Mi-28NE helicopter is fitted with the latest onboard in-

tegrated avionics suite which enables piloting and navigation mis-

sions by day and night in simple and difficult weathers. This

system plus the mapping information make it possible to fly self-

sufficiently in the ground-hugging mode at low altitudes. In

doing so the aircraft can search, detect and identify ground and

air targets, determine their whereabouts and issue designation to

land-based and airborne command posts.

Rosoboronexport experts believe that the requirements made

in the short term by the Indian Defense Ministry with reference

to helicopters are really rigid. Those must be machines fitted with

the latest avionics and armaments. Also, they must be able to per-

form combat missions round the clock. This is exactly what the

Mi-28NE helicopter offers. It can support ground troops by day

and night in all weathers. For this purpose it has unique surviv-

ability, a wide range of modern weapons and defense systems, and

superior flight performance. ,

Mi-28N with external fuel tanks on Mount Elbrus (altitude:5,642 metres). (Photo: U. Vorontsov)

The Mi-28N in flight over the Caucasus Mountains.(Photo: U. Vorontsov)

www.esdpa-org.eu

revue 65

n the eve of the Aero India 2011exhibition, the Russian Center for Analy-

sis of World Arms Trade published information about Russian helicopters

supplied to the Indian market. Those include five Mi-172 civil helicopters

in service with India’s air carriers and 292 military and dual use helicopters. Among them are

Mi-26 (4 machines), Mi-25 (7), Mi-25U (5), Mi-35 (20), Mi-8T (61), Mi-17 (94), Mi-8P

(7), Mi-172 (6), Mi-17-1V (56), Ka-25 (5), Ka-28 (18) and Ka-31 (9).

Overall, according to Rosoboroexport arms export agency, export sales of helicopters in

2010 increased by 30% compared to 2009. Experts point out that Russia remains one of the

leaders in a number of helicopter manufacturing segments whereas a steady demand for Russ-

ian machines proves their high efficiency and reliability.

Rosoboronexport reported that in 2010 helicopter contracts were fulfilled with a total value

of US$ 500 to 600 million. By comparison, 2009 helicopter export sales were US$ 380 million.

Among the contracts were those to supply India with Russian helicopters.

The focus in the variety of Russian helicopters supplied to India was on the Mi-8/Mi-17

family. The first Mi-8s entered service with the Indian Air Forces (IAF) in 1971. Mi-17s did

in 1985. The Russian machines showed themselves to advantage in the Indian-Pakistani con-

flict in Cargill in 1999. Also, they proved a very efficient tool in resupply of India’s armed

forces on the highland Siachen glacier. The helicopters’ primary task in that region is the re-

“Russian Helicopters” expands presence on India’s market

India still remains Russia’s strategic partner in high-technology and arms trade. Even though the list of defenseproducts supplied to India is quite long, the aviation prod-

ucts, helicopters in particular, hold a special place in it.

In the short term, the priority inthe supply of Mi-28N attack heli-copters will be given to the Russ-ian Defense Ministry. By 2015,the annual production of Mi-28N helicopters will reach 20machines. A total of 70 such hel-icopters will serve with the Russ-ian AF. (Photo: RussianHelicopters)

Russian Industry

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supply of Indian army’s posts at an altitude of 3,700-5,300 m

with arms, support equipment, and food. The Mi-8 and Mi-17

helicopters perform missions in difficult mountainous conditions

at extremely low temperatures.

In order to increase the fleet of medium transport helicopters,

the Indian Defense Ministry in 2008 ordered eighty Mi-17V-5s.

A contract to this effect, estimated at US$ 1.2 billion, was signed

in December 2008 during Russian President

Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to India. This order is

being fulfilled by the “Kazan Helicopters” incor-

porated by the “Russian Helicopters” holding com-

pany. The first batch of four Mi-17V-5s was

handed over to the customer in September 2010.

The contract is due to be fulfilled before the end of

2012 by deliveries of several batches.

Mi-17V-5 helicopters for the Indian Defense

Ministry are fitted with new attitude and heading

reference system (AHRS) that had necessitated a

good deal of research and development and opti-

mization of the novelty on a dedicated test machine.

The “Times of India” reports the progress of a program to ac-

quire a new batch of fifty-nine Mi-17-1V medium transport hel-

icopters. The new batch of rotary wing aircraft will replace

in-service obsolescent helicopters due for retirement in the next

few years. The new machines, whose delivery is scheduled to start

in 2011, will partially replace the fleet of aged Mi-8/Mi-17 hel-

icopters, of which India operates 155 units.

The upgraded Ka-226T helicopter powered byArrius-2G1 engines from Turbomeca of Francetakes part in the Indian tender to acquire lightmulti-role helicopters. (Photo: Russian Helicop-ters)

www.esdpa-org.eu

Also, the IAF plans to acquire light multi-role heavy

transport and attack aircraft. Tenders are held for choosing

optimum machines in each class. For instance, in the first

tender the upgraded Russian Ka-226T helicopter powered

by the French-built engine competes against the AS-550

Fennec from Eurocopter. At the final stage of the compe-

tition for the supply of 22 attack helicopters, which started

in 2008, the US-built AH-64D Apache helicopter com-

petes against the Russian Mi-28N night attack helicopter.

Russia’s Mi-26T struggles against the US CH-47 Chinook

for a contract to supply the IAF with fifteen 15 heavy

transport helicopters.

The Ka-226T light multi-role helicopter is used for cor-

porate and private travels as well as for various special mis-

sions, the execution of which is enabled by innovative

dedicated cockpit modules. The co-axial (double rotor)

arrangement of the main rotor gives the Ka-226T high maneu-

verability and stability regardless of the state of atmosphere. This

makes it possible to effectively use the helicopter over water sur-

face, in the mountains or urban conditions, for instance, for in-

stalling complex structures on upper storeys of high-rise buildings.

Series production of the new Ka-226T light helicopter in Rus-

sia may start in 2012. According to helicopter experts, the Ar-

rius-2G2 engines from Turbomeca of

France and the co-axial (double rotor)

carrier system ensure superior lift ca-

pability and flight altitude (up to

7,500 km) and make the machine one

of most environment friendly and

safe in its class.

By now, three upgraded Ka-226T

helicopters have been built. One of

them is powered by Arrius-2G1 en-

gines from Turbomeca of France. The

“Indian” version of the machine is fit-

ted with Western-made avionics

whereas the baseline variant has Russian-made equipment. The

avionics’ open architecture enables the use of any avionics the cus-

tomer desires.

The Ka-226T build program is estimated at more than 2 bil-

lion rubles (about US$ 70 million). The helicopter trials and cer-

tification are scheduled for completion in 2011 whereas in 2012

it is planned to launch series production in Russia. The Ka-226T

production cycle is 8 to 10 months. The Kamov Design Bureau,

incorporated by the “Russian Helicopters” holding company plans

to produce 20 to 30 machines per year. The optimistic forecasts

estimate the annual sales of the machine at 50 units. At present,

the interest in the Ka-226T helicopter is displayed by countries

with a tropical climate and mountainous terrain. In Russia, state

agencies take an interest in it. Today, a total of some twenty Ka-

226 helicopters of various modifications are in service. ,

The Mi-17 medium multi-role helicopter is anupgraded version of the Mi-8. The series pro-duction of three basic versions of the Mi-17 isnow established in Russia. Those are the Mi-172 passenger model, Mi-17-V5 transportmodel for carrying loads in the cabin or at-tached to a sling and Mi-17-1V a multi-rolemodel. (Photo: Russian Helicopters)

On 14 October 2009, the Mi-26T helicopter suc-cessfully airlifted the US CH-47 Chinook helicop-ter that had sustained an emergency landingnear Kandahar, Afghanistan. The airlifting pro-ceeded in difficult climatic conditions over a dis-tance of 110 km. (Photo: Russian Helicopters)

revue 69

The ESPDPA-APESD is working with European government and security organisations, with European Armed Forces and Europeandefence industries.

We publish the ESPDAReview to provide unbiased and factuallycorrect information on defence and security issues in Europe.

And today the ESPDA/APESD membership continues to expandwith defence and security journalists from all over Europe and indeed all over the world playing an active part in our work.

Take the time to peruse this issue and contact us with your input.

revu

eESDPA-APESD

Association de la presse Européenne

de Sécurité et de Défense

ESDPA-APESDEuropean Securityand Defence Press

Association

www.esdpa-org.eu

www.esdpa-org.eu

revue 71

ussia and India have signed a contract on engi-

neering design project of a fifth generation fighter

aircraft. The contract was signed on 21 December

2010 during Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's official visit

to India by the director-general of Rosoboronexport Anatoly

Isaykin, and the president of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

(HAL) Ashok Nayak.

As Alexander Fomin, first deputy director-general of the Fed-

eral Service of Military-Technical Cooperation (FSVTS of Rus-

sia) put it “The relations with India over the fifth-generation

fighter are regulated by a relevant inter-state agreement which,

over time, will pick up various contracts. Those include, among

other things, an engineering design project.”

One of the chief components of Russian-Indian future fighter

is the power assembly. This will be jointly created by Russia’s en-

gine building companies incorporated by the United Engine-

Building Corporation (UEC).

Russia has the required research and engineering expertise for

creating such fifth-generation fighter. For instance, NPO Saturn

Research and Production Association has built, jointly with the En-

gine Building Corporation of Ufa (UMPO), an engine believed to

be a fifth-generation prototype. This is a 117S controlled thrust

vector engine, now undergoing trials on the Su-35 fighter. The 117S

is an in-depth modernization of the AL-31F engine. It has a thrust

of 14,5 tons which exceeds by 2 tons the previous version.

Saturn and UMPO have manufactured a pilot lot of eight

117S engines. Two are for survivability trials. One is for thermal

chamber trials to be carried out at the Central Institute of Air-

craft Engine Engineering (TsIAM). Three engines are for the

Su-35 aircraft, each for special and acceptance trials.

The 117S flight trials began on 19 February 2008. They

showed that the engine has essentially increased the fighter’s

flight range, maneuverability and dynamic performance.

For the first time in the history of Russian military aviation, a

supersonic flight has been made in the maximum operating mode

Russia and India will create 5 generation fighter

The Russian-Indian talks over creating the fifth generationfighter have been in progress for quite some time. However,

the progress made by Russian developers headed by theSukhoi Company seeking to create an advanced airborne

frontline system and its flight trials gave impetus to theRussian-Indian cooperation in this area. In association

with India, based on this system a new export version of the aircraft will be built, referred to as FGFA

(Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft).

The RD-33MK bypass turbofanengine is an in-depth modifica-tion of the RD-33 engine for theMiG-29K/KUB ship-basedfighter and the latest modifica-tion of the MiG-35/MiG-35Dfighter. The full afterburningmode thrust is 9,000 kgf. Themaximum thrust without after-burning is 5,400kgf. The specificfuel consumption is 0.78 kg/kgfper hour. (Photo: NikolaiNovichkov)

Russian Industry

revue72

of the engine without afterburning. This is one of the demands

made today of the fifth generation fighter.

The 117S flight trials program (4++ program) included the

testing of engine activation in the rotation and automatic in-air

switch-on mode. Also the engine was subjected to boosting, gas-

dynamic stability and flying tests. So, to make the first flight, the

117S engine underwent a complete set of pre-flight trials.

The Russian-Indian efforts in creating the fifth generation

fighter are in line with the latest trends that emerged in Russia’s

military technical cooperation with foreign countries. In recent

years, the Western countries have intensified their defense busi-

ness, whereas Russia has reduced its military sales to India. How-

ever, the reduction in sales of end products is offset by

co-development and transfer to India of research and develop-

ment work as well as by creating joint companies for designing,

producing, upgrading and repairing defense products.

Among major projects under which India will have a license

to produce Russian defense equipment is the production of Su-

30MKI multi-role fighter, T-90S main battle tank and AL-55I

aircraft engine. The latter has been developed by NPO Saturn

Research and Production Association expressly for India’s HJT-

36 and HJT-39 training aircraft and RD-33 Series 3 engine for

MiG-29 fighter.

In cooperation with India’s HAL, the Saturn has created Rus-

sia’s first AL-55I engine for a foreign aircraft. The manufacture

of a pilot lot of AL-55I engines, their certification and licensed

production in India is undertaken by NPO Saturn Association

jointly with Ufa-based Engine Building Corporation (UMPO).

Both companies are incorporated by UEC.

By now, three AL-55I engines have been manufactured and

delivered to India for certification trials on the HJT-36 aircraft.

Those have been in progress since May 2009. In 2010-2011 a fur-

ther ten AL-55I engines will be built. Those are going to be in-

stalled on the HJT-36 aircraft. Their service life is 100 hours due

to be subsequently extended to 300 hours and beyond.

Over time, the licensed production of the AL-55I engine, sup-

ported by the Ufa-based Engine Building Corporation, will be

established at the HAL facilities in India. Those will receive man-

ufacturing equipment and component packages in various degrees

of completion.

Under a contract to supply twelve MiG-29K and four MiG-

29KUB fighters India has received RD-33MK engines. Those are

an in-depth modernization of the RD-33 expressly built for a

ship-based fighter used in a very adverse marine environment.

Russia’s UEC group of companies (incorporates Klimov Com-

pany and Chernyshev Machine Building Enterprise of Moscow

AL-55 non-afterburn-ing bypass turbofan engine with maximumthrust of 1,760 kgf, nominal specific fuel con-sumption of 0.71 kg/kgfper hour, 462 mm dia -meter and 1,950 mmlength. (Photo: NikolaiNovichkov)

www.esdpa-org.eu

or MMP Chernyshev Enterprise) also organizes licensed pro-

duction of RD-33 Series 3 aircraft engines at the facilities of

HAL in India. To this end, it supplies manufacturing equipment

and component packages of the RD-33 Series 3 engine. Also, the

Indians have fully received the design documentation for licensed

production of this engine.

Over the last years, the MMP Chernyshev Enterprise has not

only supported the licensed production of the RD-33 Series 3

engines, but also overhauled its Series 1 and 2 versions. Those are

used to power the Indian Air Force’s MiG-29 fighters. The pro-

gram to repair India’s RD-33 Series 1 and 2 engines is due to be

fully completed in 2011.

Under the Russian-Indian contract with HAL, India is building

under license the Su-30MKI aircraft and its components. The In-

dian mass media report that Russia plans to supply 280 component

packages for 140 fighters built under

license by HAL. The work is due to be

fully complete by 2011.

The restoration of the AL-31FP

engines proceeds at the Pune mainte-

nance center.

The UEC affiliated companies also

participate in a program to create for

India three AWACS aircraft. Those

are built around the Il-76TD under

an order from Israel’s Elta Systems

Limited for the Indian Defense Min-

istry (project A-50). The PS-90A-76

engines for AWACS aircraft are built

by the Perm Motor Building Plant.

The latter will provide after-sale war-

ranty servicing and maintenance.

At present, India has a fleet of Il-76 military transport aircraft

fitted with D-30KP engines. Under a contract with the Indian

partners, the NPO Saturn is repairing these engines.

Under an offset agreement to supply via Rosoboronexport

(arms export agency) eighty Mi-17V5 helicopters, the Klimov

Company participates in extra work on overhaul and extension

of service life of the delivered VK-2500 engines.

Overall, the Russian-Indian cooperation in aircraft production

stands on a solid basis given that various types of aircraft are today

the backbone of India’s air force. Experts believe that the cooper-

ative implementation of the Russian-Indian program to create the

fifth generation FGFA fighter will add an impulse to this endeavor

and make it possible to realize the engineering expertise UEC

companies have in the field of aircraft engine manufacture. ,

MiG-29K fighters withRD-33MK engines.(Photo: I. Rudenko)

An engineering prototypefor optimizing the 5th gen-eration engine is the 117Suprated bypass turbofanengine with 14,500 kgfthrust in a special thrustmode, designed service lifeof 4,000 hours and before-first-overhaul period of1,500 hours. (Photo: NikolaiNovichkov)

revue74

uropean nations have defence

and security commitments all

over the world. From

Afghanistan, to the Middle East to Africa

and beyond, whether in active combat,

peacemaking or peacekeeping missions, Eu-

ropean armed forces are playing a global

role. In parallel with this the European de-

fence industry also has a global role sup-

porting the European militaries and also in

meeting the defence needs of nation states

around the world.

These international obligations are an in-

evitable consequence of the development of

Europe, from a collection of nation states

into a global power in its own right through

the European Union (EU). The EU with its

495 million citizens, spread over 27 differ-

ent countries (with more seeking to join), is

an economic powerhouse. But it is far more

than that; it is a home to shared values, cul-

tures and experiences that resonate around

the world.

Yet with the Cold War and the ruinous

conflicts that shaped Europe a distant mem-

ory, many Europeans now fail to understand

the importance of defence. Whether we like

it or not, we live in a world where security

cannot be taken for granted and it is imper-

ative that European states take the measures

necessary to provide for their own defence.

Equally as important, Europe must also have

the ability to discharge its international de-

fence and security obligations.

This growing lack of understanding of

the importance of defence in Europe was

the driving force the led to the establish-

ment of ESDPA/APESD. This association

was formed by a group of defence and se-

curity journalists from all over Europe that

recognised the importance of closing this

gap in understanding. Their shared view

was that it was necessary to promote debate

and take concrete action to give defence and

security issues their rightful place at to the

top of the European agenda.

THE EUROPEAN SECURITY & DEFENCE PRESS ASSOCIATION

LÊASSOCIATION DE LA PRESSE EUROPEENNE DE SECURITE ET DE DEFENSE

To achieve this the association has embarked on a number of initiatives:

• Working with European government and security organisations

• Working with European Armed Forces

• Working with European defence industries

• Publishing ESPDAReview – the association magazine - to provide unbiased

and factually correct information on defence and security issues in Europe

Today the ESPDA/APESD membership continues to expand with defence and se-

curity journalists from all over Europe and indeed all over the world playing an active

part in our work

Pierre Bayle, EADSAnnette Scheck, EADS

Yves Barillé, MBDAAnne-Claude Buatois, RTD

Jérôme Dufour, ThalesMarc Chassillan, Nexter

Nathalie Bakhos, Dassault AviationEmmanuel Gaudez, DCNS

Dr. A. Sivathanu Pillai, BrahMos Aerospace

Dr. Nikolay Novichkov, for the Russian Industries

Acknowledgements

ESDPA-APESDAssociation

de la presse Européenne de Sécurité et de Défense

47, rue Erlanger75016-Paris-France

Association loi du 1er juillet 1901Déclaré à lé préfecture de Paris

Insertion au Journal Officiel du 28 Juin 2008

• ESDPA REVIEW •This issue 1/2011 was realised under

the authority of the ESDPA/APESD

• WINTER 2011 ISSUE •The following members and associates

have teamed for the realization of this issue:Joseph Roukoz, David Saw,

Baharat Verma,Ted Hooton, Mark Huntiller, Tom Withington,

Jean-Pierre Husson, Johnny Keggler

• Special thanks •Pierre Bayle, EADS

Annette Scheck, EADSYves Barillé, MBDA

Anne-Claude Buatois, RTDJérôme Dufour, Thales

Marc Chassillan, Nexter Nathalie Bakhos, Dassault Aviation

Emmanuel Gaudez, DCNSDr. A. Sivathanu Pillai, BrahMos Aero-

spaceDr. Nikolay Novichkov, and the

Russian Industries

all content ©2011 ESDPA-APESD

(ESDPA/APESD)