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Daily News
by Gail Helmer
Jane's News Briefs
Friday, September 28, 2001Jane's Defence Weekly
Australia invokes ANZUS Treaty Australia has placed elements of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) at enhanced readiness levels in preparation to provide forces for the US-led Operation 'Infinite Justice' against possible targets within Afghanistan and elsewhere.
CVF teams await decision on next phase
Rival industry teams led by BAE Systems and Thales expect the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) to award second-stage Assessment Phase contracts next month for the UK's £2.7 billion ($3.96 billion) Future Aircraft Carrier (CVF) programme amid suggestions that the prime contract competition may be shortened as part of a revised acquisition strategy.
France increases defence budget
Defence Minister Alain Richard has announced that the French defence budget for 2002 will be E29.3 billion ($26.9 billion), some 1.6% higher than the total for 2001.
Greece postpones plans
The 20 September meeting of Greece's Governmental Council of Defence and Foreign Affairs (KYSEA) postponed anticipated decisions on the Hellenic Army's main battle tank and the Hellenic Air Force's medium transport aircraft programme.
NATO aims to avoid security gap
NATO planners were hurriedly preparing a follow-on security operation in Macedonia as Jane's Defence Weekly went to press, to avoid a gap in protection for international relief workers and observers in the unstable Balkan nation.
NATO asserts air-ground surveillance commitment
Ambassadors from NATO's 19-member states strongly reaffirmed their intention to field an alliance-owned and -operated air-ground surveillance (AGS) capability by 2010, during the first "reinforced" meeting of the North Atlantic Council in 12 years on 18 September.
Sweden confirms NH 90 selection
The Swedish government on 18 September announced its intention to buy 18 NH 90 transport helicopters, taking to 52 the number of the aircraft ordered by the members of the Nordic Standard Helicopter Programme (NSHP).
Pakistan will help US forces
Pakistan's military government has agreed to facilitate US operations against alleged terrorist camps inside Afghanistan on the condition that the Bush administration provide concrete evidence of involvement by Osama Bin Laden in the attacks on US cities before starting the operations.
USA accelerates intelligence sector reforms
Long-planned reforms of the US intelligence community, which have been slow in implementation, will be accelerated in light of the terrorist attacks on the USA, say intelligence and congressional officials.
Russia tackles security threats
Russian officials regard the war against international terrorism declared by US President George Bush as an opportunity to tackle threats to its own security. Any practical support for a US-led coalition is likely to be limited.
Prototype technologies could be useful for strikes
Many analysts agree that if the USA is to gain the initiative in what US officials describe as a different kind of conflict, it will have to leverage a number of technologies that are still in their infancy, but which offer a high potential pay-off.
Jane's Defence Upgrades
Sniper XR selected as Advanced Targeting Pod
The US Air Force (USAF) has selected the Lockheed Martin Sniper XR (Extended Range) system as the winner of its Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) competition, beating bids from Northrop Grumman and Raytheon. The initial contract provides for 168 pods, plus associated equipment, spares and support, with US$16.7 million allocated to the programme so far.
Dutch select Lockheed Martin for Orion CUP
The Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) has chosen the Lockheed Martin solution for its P-3C Orion Capabilities Upkeep Programme (CUP), following an initial letter of acceptance signed by the US and Netherlands governments in June 2001.
Anglo-French 40mm CTWS for Warrior
CTA International, the joint venture company formed between the UK's BAE Systems RO Defence and Giat Industries of France to develop and market the 40mm Case Telescoped Weapon System (CTWS), is working on integrating the system into a new two-man turret for installation on a British Army Warrior mechanised combat vehicle chassis.
CAG blames "apathy" for Indian fighter losses
According to a report issued by India's Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), "apathy" on the part of the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) in acquiring automatic pilot systems for its Jaguar International fighters is to blame for the loss of four aircraft.
UPGRADE OVERVIEW: B-2 Spirit upgrades delayed, politically controversial The US Air Force (USAF) requires an additional US$600million over the US$3.7 billion currently budgeted to fund upgrades to its fleet of Northrop Grumman B-2A Spirit bombers over the life of the current FYDP (Future Years Defense Plan), writes David C Isby.
SHOW REPORT:
Russia seeks foreign defence Markets The fourth Russian International Exhibition of Military Technology and Land Forces Armament (VTTV-Omsk-2001) was recently held in the city of Omsk, Siberia. The exhibition was designed to attract foreign purchasers, now seen as crucial for the survival of much of the Russian defence industry. Jim Kinnear reports on two T-55M upgrades plus the BTR-T and MT-LB M upgrade.
Jane's Navy International
NH 90 comes aboard
A truly multinational platform, variants of the NH 90 helicopter are being produced for maritime and amphibious operations. Joris Janssen Lok examines the programme's progress so far.
Naval communications: new pressures, new paradigm
Gone are the days of semaphore and morse code: today's maritime battlespace demands high-speed, high-bandwidth and reliable comms. Rupert Pengelley looks at developments in naval communications and the future's seaborne Internet.
The asymmetric threat from maritime terrorism
Despite three suicide attacks in the space of a month last year, the naval community is still largely unfamiliar with the threat of maritime terrorism. Taking the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam as a case in point, Dr Rohan Gunaratna reports on the proliferation of this aspect of asymmetric warfare.
New challenges for the alliance
Philip Sen speaks to Vice Admiral Ruurt Klaver, Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN), Deputy Commander-in-Chief NATO East Atlantic and Deputy Commander Allied Naval Forces North (DCINC EASTLANT/NAVNORTH) about present and future issues faced by the Alliance.
Astute award for FAST team
By Richard Scott FAST Training Services Ltd, a 50:50 joint venture between Alenia Marconi Systems (AMS) and CAE Marine Controls, has been awarded a £300 million (US$441m) contract to supply the Astute Class submarines Training Service (ACTS) in a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) deal that could eventually extend out to 40 years.
New partners come aboard CVF teams
By Richard Scott The two potential prime contractors competing for the UK's Future Aircraft Carrier (CVF) programme have both announced additions to their industry teams in the run-up to the anticipated award of second-stage Assessment Phase contracts in October.
Scalp Naval on the launch pad
By Michael J Gething European missile manufacturer MBDA expects to receive funding from the French Ministry of Defence to launch a risk-reduction programme for the Scalp Naval cruise missiles by the end of 2001.
UK examines counters to FIAC threat
By Richard Scott Staff in the UK Ministry of Defence's Directorate Equipment Capability (Above Water Battle-space) - DEC(AWB) - are formulating plans for an improved defensive anti-surface warfare (ASuW) capability to defend UK Royal Navy (RN) warships from littoral surface threats.
Green light for CEC
By Richard Scott The US Navy's (USN's) Co-operative Engagement Capability has passed its critical Operational Evaluation (OPEVAL), paving the way for a Milestone IIII approval to enter full-rate production later this year.
Royal Australian Navy outlines acquisition blueprint
By Ian Bostock The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has outlined its plans for acquisition of new surface ships, submarines and aviation assets in a new 30-year plan - 'Australia's navy for the 21st century' - which will define fleet compositions and future directions.
Jane's Foreign Report
How the West was won
Nato's secretary-general has made some changes THE most remarkable decision yet in the current crisis was that of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, which invoked its mutual security guarantee in Article 5 of its founding treaty in order to express its solidarity with the Americans. Taken literally, this means that Nato could go to war as an alliance. The reality is, however, much more murky. Here are the details of what has really gone on behind the scenes in the alliance's headquarters in Belgium, and what is likely to happen with Nato in the weeks to come.
Fear and hatred in Nigeria
THE latest outbreak of five days of violence in the northern town of Jos in which hundreds may have died, has once again cast doubt on the stability of Nigeria's new democratic dispensation. There is some disagreement as to whether the trouble was mainly religious (Muslims vs Christians) or ethnic (between the Birom people, who are indigenous to Jos, and the Hausa who live there in considerable numbers).
New China
THE prime minister of China, Zhu Rongji, recently threatened to take his anti-corruption drive to the officer corps of the People's Liberation Army. Zhu has already carried out free market reforms and was curtailing the army's vast and wide-ranging business activities. Worries grew about the rise of unemployment and the unpopularity of the government. The president of China, Jiang Zemin, has told the prime minister to 'cool it'. New Russia
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, Russia was this month consolidating its booming economy and President Vladimir Putin was giving an upbeat assessment of his country's prospects. So far, he observed, Russia has remained immune from the global economic slowdown.
New world
Is much of the world about to be caught up in various different kinds of violent protest on behalf of different causes? And is there something the rich and powerful nations could and should do? The answer to both questions is 'yes'. Some good could emerge from the debris of the World Trade Centre if it puts the world on the road to social justice. FOREIGN REPORT explains.
Jane's Intelligence Digest
Extremists and intelligence
Amid widespread domestic criticism of its failure to identify and counter the recent terrorist attacks, US intelligence agencies are coming under increasing pressure to explain their apparent inability to deal with Islamic extremist activity on American soil. The key debate revolves around the question of whether these incidents were in fact preventable. Jane's Intelligence Digest's leading expert on Western intelligence warns that similar failures are all too likely in the future unless there is fundamental reform.
Jane's Intelligence Watch Report and Jane's Terrorism Watch Report
Germany
- A senior law enforcement official on 24 September said that a key to unravelling the plot behind the 11 September suicide hijackings might lie in Germany, where an apparent cell existed in the northern seaport city of Hamburg, New York Times reported on 25 September. Based on the investigators' portraits of the suspected hijackers and their movements before the 11 September attacks, the official said that FBI agents are investigating whether the plot had its origins in Germany and then branched out to hubs in Newark, Boston, Florida and Maryland. One suspected hijacker, Mohamed Atta of Egypt who played a central role in coordinating the plot, lived in Hamburg while studying engineering.
Pakistan - Osama bin Laden
- The Times of India reported on 25 September that in 1999 the Pakistani government of then prime minister Nawaz Sharif had agreed to a joint operation to capture Osama bin Laden. The US government agreed to pay $25 million to help Pakistan's secret services set up special units to help in the mission. US commandos were to be trained at the Parachinar military base near the Afghan border. Local newspapers reported the presence of the Americans, however, and the project was abandoned after Sharif was ousted in a coup led by Gen. Pervez Musharraf in October 1999.
Hungary -Interpol
- The Nation newspaper reported on 25 September that Interpol is setting up a special unit at its headquarters in France to coordinate anti-terrorist efforts. Interpol chief Ronald Noble told attendees from 178 member states at a week long annual general assembly meeting in Budapest that the unit will be called the "September 11 Task Force." Yugoslavia is expected to join the organization during the general assembly meeting.
Indonesia - Laskar Jihad
- The Sydney Morning Herald reported on 25 September that Ustad Ja'far Umar Thalib, commander of Laskar Jihad, has stated that his forces are ready to mount retaliatory attacks if the US attacks Afghanistan. Laskar Jihad has tens of thousands of followers in the Maluku islands; in its campaigns against Christians, thousands have been killed.
United States - Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- The FBI continues its investigations of the 11 September terrorist attacks. The FBI is now seeking 392 people it wants to question and has detained 352 individuals, according to Attorney General John Ashcroft. Ashcroft testified on 24 September before the House Judiciary Committee, urging legislators to pass a five-point legislative package designed to help authorities locate terrorists. Ashcroft noted that the investigation has yielded "324 searches, 103 court orders and 3,410 subpoenas." Ashcroft testified that suspects in the hijacking attacks had attempted to get licenses to transport hazardous materials. The FBI grounded crop-dusting aircraft nationwide for two days for fears that some might be used in biological attacks. Rahul Rawl of Deccan Aviation stated that the FBI has detained at least 49 Indians studying aviation in Florida and Texas. FBI authorities have detained Herbert Villalobos, alias Oscar Diaz, for helping hijackers to obtain Virginia driver's licenses. The FBI released al-Hamzi, a Saudi national studying radiology at the University of Texas Health Science Center, after extensive questioning.
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