IAF upgrading Patriot missile defense system

Upgrades will include the installation of new software as well as hardware changes to the radar system that accompanies the system.

The air force has approved a set of upgrades for its Patriot missile Defence system that will boost its interception capabilities, IAF sources say.
The upgrades will include the installation of new software as well as hardware changes to the radar system that accompanies the system, which Israel first received from the United States ahead of the First Gulf War in 1991.
The upgrades will enable the IAF to one day receive PAC-3 missiles, a more advanced version of the interceptor currently used by Israel that is already in service in the United States.
The PAC-3 is believed to be capable of intercepting most of Syria's missiles. It is an improved version of the PAC-2 in terms of coverage and lethality.

The PAC-3 has an interceptor missile that uses a hit-to-kill system rather than an exploding warhead used by the PAC-2. The PAC-3 missile is also smaller, so using it 16 missile could be fired from Israel’s current launchers instead of just four PAC- 2 interceptors.

“The upgrades will see improvements in the system’s ability to detect and interceptmissiles that could not have intercepted before,” an IAF source said.

The Patriot serves as Israel’s defense system against medium-range missiles, while the Iron Dome anti-rocket system is used against short-range ones and the Arrow-2 is designed to intercept long-range ballistic missiles.

The IAF plans to replace the Patriot with the David’s Sling, a missile system under development by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and the Massachusetts-based Raytheon Company to defend against Iranian missiles such as the M600, Zelzal, Fajr and Fateh 110 that Hezbollah in Lebanon has, as well as against other missiles with ranges between 70 and 300 kilometers.
The IAF plans to establish a battalion that will operate the David’s Sling in the near future, so it will be ready to receive the missile defensesystem in 2012 when it is expected to become operational.

David’s Sling uses an interceptor called Stunner, fitted into a launcher that can hold 16 missiles. It works together with an advanced phased-array radar made by Israel Aerospace Industries.


Source : http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=228624

Aircraft carrier INS Viraat in Kochi for maintenance work

 Kochi (PTI): INS Viraat, India's sole aircraft carrier, is here for annual maintenance work, estimated to cost around Rs 30 crore.

Underwater cleaning and painting work besides checking of underwater fittings are among the works being carried out. No major structural changes are being done now, officials said.
Depending on the progress of the work, the vessel is likely to be here for a few months, its commander Captain R Hari Kumar told reporters on board the unique warship, docked at the Ernakulam wharf.

When asked about the competence of the over 50-year-old ship when compared to similar vessels of other navies, he said, "When we had done exercises we have found she has delivered. We cannot compare to the US Navy. Very few countries have aircraft carriers. This is old. But it is the capability that matters. Aircraft carrier gives vital capability."

The fixed wing aircraft onboard are the Sea Harrier fighters of the INAS 300 Squadron popularly called 'White Tigers' and these are the only fighters in the world capable of vertical/short take off and landing.

The vessel, which has 150 officers and 1,500 sailors and can carry about 24 aircraft, will soon complete 25 years of service with the Indian Navy.

"It has a fair amount of life. Due to its progressive upgradation, it could be (used) around upto 2018," Captain Hari Kumar, who is the first Keralite to commander the ship, said.

India commences work on 2nd N-submarine

New Delhi: Construction of India’s second nuclear submarine has begun at a classified facility in Visakhapatnam, a newspaper reported on Sunday.

This project was launched just 24 months after India’s first nuclear submarine INS Arihant was commissioned.

“The second programme took far lesser time than Arihant to reach the shipyard from the drawing board. This time we had a clear plan and we had learned a lot from our mistakes,” top sources told the daily. 

Though exact details of the submarine’s progress have not been made public yet, it is learnt that fabrication of the hull and body has begun. The reactor is being constructed with Russia’s help.

The project is expected to be ready for sea trials by 2015. By that time India would have a Russian submarine and INS Arihant deployed. The Akula-II class nuclear submarine K-152 Nerpa, to be renamed INS Chakra, will be handed over to Indian Navy by Russian Navy in November-December on a 10-year lease.

Eurofighter Working to Strengthen Strategic Partnership with Japan

Reflecting the strong commitment to deepen the strategic partnership with Japan, the Supervisory Board of Eurofighter GmbH will for the first time hold a board meeting in Tokyo.

Senior executives from Eurofighter partner companies (BAE Systems, Alenia Aeronautica, and Cassidian in Spain and Germany) are visiting Japan from 5 July to 8 July to discuss the status of the Eurofighter Typhoon F-X campaign and strategic next steps, and to hold talks with Ambassadors of the four consortium member-nations – the U.K., Germany, Italy and Spain.

Eurofighter, its partner companies and the four member-nations are working to strengthen industrial and technological relations with Japan. All four partner countries are supporting and are committed to the Eurofighter F-X campaign, which is being led by the U.K. government and BAE Systems.

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