November 2013 - World Wide Defense

Poland orders more Leopard 2s from Germany

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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Poland is to receive an additional 119 Leopard 2 main battle tanks, plus around 220 additional vehicles and equipment, under a contract signed with Germany on 22 November.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Worth EUR187 million (USD253 million), the contract was signed by Polish Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak and his German counterpart Thomas de Maizière in Poznan, Poland, and provides for the transfer of the vehicles from ex-German stocks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The order covers 105 Leopard 2A5 and 14 Leopard 2A4 MBTS, plus related vehicles to fully equip an armoured brigade, including: 18 Bergepanzer 2 armoured recovery vehicles (ARVs), 120 Daimler-Benz DB 1017 A 4x4 medium trucks, 40 Unimog U 1300/L 4x4 light trucks and 40 Mercedes-Benz MB 250 4x4 light all-terrain vehicles.</span></div>
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Poland orders more Leopard 2s from Germany

Poland orders more Leopard 2s from Germany

Poland is to receive an additional 119 Leopard 2 main battle tanks, plus around 220 additional vehicles and equipment, under a contract s...

Indosneian Leopard 2 contract

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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Indonesia has acquired 103 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks (MBTs), 42 upgraded Marder 1A3 infantry fighting vehicles, and 11 armoured recovery and engineering vehicles from surplus German Army stocks, Rheinmetall Defence confirmed in a 13 November statement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The statement said that Rheinmetall would supply the vehicles, "logistical support, and ammunition worth roughly EUR216 million [USD290 million]" under a contract signed in December 2012, which "now comes into full force following the successful completion of all legal formalities".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Indonesia approached Germany to purchase the Leopard MBTs in August 2012, but approval of the bid was delayed because of political opposition in Berlin, which cited concerns over Indonesia's human rights record. These concerns also lay behind a preceding Dutch government decision to veto a similar bid from Jakarta in 2012 to purchase surplus Royal Netherlands Army Leopard MBTs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two Leopard 2A4s and two Marder IFVs were reportedly shipped to Indonesia early to take part in Armed Forces Day celebrations on 5 October.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once in service with the Indonesian Army (the Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Darat, TNI-AD), the materiel purchased from Germany will be supported through an industrial arrangement signed by Rheinmetall and the Indonesian Ministry of Defence in 2012. The deal will see the German company transfer undisclosed technologies to Indonesian state-owned land systems specialist PT Pindad (Persero) and the TNI-AD's Ordnance Depot and Signal Corps.</span></div>

Indosneian Leopard 2 contract

Indosneian Leopard 2 contract

Indonesia has acquired 103 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks (MBTs), 42 upgraded Marder 1A3 infantry fighting vehicles, and 11 armoured recover...

Morocco set to receive its FREMM frigate

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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Royal Moroccan Navy will take delivery of its FREMM (Frégate Européenne Multi-Missions) multi-mission frigate on 25 November, <i>IHS Jane's</i> has learned.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Mohammed VI</i> will be handed over at French shipbuilding and systems house DCNS's shipyard in Brest, after a build and trials programme which began once a contract came into effect in August 2008. The ship was launched in September 2011 at the DCNS Lorient yard.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>IHS Jane's</i> understands that the anti-submarine warfare-focused vessel will also be used to patrol Morocco's maritime domain and participate in combined operations with NATO and other navies. The arrival of <i>Mohammed VI</i> arguably will make the Royal Moroccan Navy one of the most capable in Africa, adding to a combat fleet currently consisting of three Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding Ship Integrated Geometrical Modularity Approach (SIGMA) frigates, two STX France-built Floréal frigates, one Raidco Marine offshore patrol vessel, and one Bazan-built Descubierta corvette.</span></div>

Morocco set to receive its FREMM frigate

Morocco set to receive its FREMM frigate

The Royal Moroccan Navy will take delivery of its FREMM (Frégate Européenne Multi-Missions) multi-mission frigate on 25 November, IHS Jane...

ASTROS 2020 Joins Brazilian Army

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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Brazilian Army's Logistic Command received its first five launching vehicles (Universal Multiple Launcher: AV-LMU) of the ASTROS Mk 6 (Artillery Saturation Rocket System) multiple launch rocket system (MLRS), a key part of Brazil's ASTROS 2020 project.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The equipment was delivered as 'pre-delivery inspection' vehicles and final delivery is slated for early 2014, a Brazilian Army spokesperson told IHS Jane's.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ultimately, the ASTROS 2020 MLRS is meant to give Brazil's army a high-precision, long-range fire support asset that could notionally bolster deterrence along Brazil's massive borders.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first partially equipped battery will be inducted in February 2014 and be outfitted with six AV-LMUs, one ammunition resupply vehicle (AV-RMD), one battalion-level command-and-control vehicle (AV-VCC: for co-ordination of three batteries), and one meteorological mobile station (AV-MET), the spokesperson added.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The systems will be operated by a Missiles and Rockets Group to be established in Formosa, State of Goiás, where the three batteries of ASTROS II Mk 3s are based and operated by the 6st Multiple Launchers Rockets Group, which will be renamed as 6st Missiles and Rockets Group. Deliveries are expected to conclude in 2018.</span></div>

ASTROS 2020 Joins Brazilian Army

ASTROS 2020 Joins Brazilian Army

The Brazilian Army's Logistic Command received its first five launching vehicles (Universal Multiple Launcher: AV-LMU) of the ASTROS Mk...

U.S Navy Second New Carrier

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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Key Points</span></h3>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lead ship <i>Gerald R Ford</i> (CVN 78) is tracking to cost around USD12.9 billion</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The USN is planning to procure second-in-class <i>John F Kennedy</i> (CVN 79) for USD11.3 billion</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A 3-D computer-aided product tool may help shipbuilders reduce costs on Ford-class carrier construction</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As the US Navy's (USN's) new Ford-class aircraft carrier programme prepares for lead ship launch in mid-November, a 3-D computer-aided modelling tool may hold the key to helping shipbuilders cut costs and save time constructing future carriers.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYonajd2lS_xbnfmhAgPFNgFJHTkCdgAJ7jdzOamkbRmZV0otVPhwmDzq2XZlaKNWvBg_JOqWvH_D9lzjXbNHZdLH4zwYNOX1UE7QZIpEKPuiLloGqsULjJdfeC3XW4GAZGA3wp_jUf9Uy/s1600/147864-main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYonajd2lS_xbnfmhAgPFNgFJHTkCdgAJ7jdzOamkbRmZV0otVPhwmDzq2XZlaKNWvBg_JOqWvH_D9lzjXbNHZdLH4zwYNOX1UE7QZIpEKPuiLloGqsULjJdfeC3XW4GAZGA3wp_jUf9Uy/s320/147864-main.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), the division of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) building the USN's new first-of-class <i>Gerald R Ford</i> (CVN 78), officials told <i>IHS Jane's</i>that achieving cost savings and efficiencies on subsequent Ford-class ships involves the assembly of larger-size units and a greater degree of outfitting of those units earlier in the construction process.</span></div>

U.S Navy Second New Carrier

U.S Navy Second New Carrier

Key Points Lead ship Gerald R Ford (CVN 78) is tracking to cost around USD12.9 billion The USN is planning to procure second-in-class...

Iran launches new submarine

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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Iran has launched a new class of submarine that has never been seen before, satellite imagery obtained by <i>IHS Jane's</i> reveals.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrhxg37wt-ZSb7MYHM8zYbKw4rCIyBXhuRIxpknbUc_tDeeEd9TEobcNhnDDeixbgOeo3d-C18BopJDwWbb-aZZZtUuAGrWn0ImKaZEvQKykjV3j-w8yUXdwBtxmdrtexGsjK5HaA-ipG/s1600/Iranian_satellite_imagery_-_main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrhxg37wt-ZSb7MYHM8zYbKw4rCIyBXhuRIxpknbUc_tDeeEd9TEobcNhnDDeixbgOeo3d-C18BopJDwWbb-aZZZtUuAGrWn0ImKaZEvQKykjV3j-w8yUXdwBtxmdrtexGsjK5HaA-ipG/s400/Iranian_satellite_imagery_-_main.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the boats can clearly be seen in the water at the Bostanu shipyard on the Strait of Hormuz in Astrium imagery taken on 27 October. It measures 40.5 m long and 4 m wide at the waterline.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A second can be seen under construction at the Bandar Anzali Naval Base on the Caspian Sea on 17 September. It is partially shrouded by scaffolding, but is approximately 48 m long and 6 m wide.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Senior Iranian officials have previously said that it is building a new class of 500 tonne submarines called the Fateh, although the timeline appears to have slipped repeatedly. In April, Deputy Defence Minister for Industrial and Research Affairs Mohammad Eslami said: "The first Iranian 500 tonne submarine will be unveiled by 31 Mordad [22 August 2013]."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Iran may now be planning to unveil the new submarines during its Navy Day, which is held on 28 November to mark a naval victory over Iraq in 1980.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The launch of the Fateh-class represents a major milestone for Iran's naval industry. The largest submarine previously produced by Iran was the 29 m Ghadir class. While the Ghadir was widely presumed to be based on a North Korean design, the new Fateh class is significantly bigger than the largest submarine known to be produced by the North Koreans: the 39 m K-300 (Sang-O II) class</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px;">.</span></div>

Iran launches new submarine

Iran launches new submarine

Iran has launched a new class of submarine that has never been seen before, satellite imagery obtained by IHS Jane's reveals. One...

China Fighter jets tail U.S and Japan fighter jet.

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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">China launched two fighter planes Friday to investigate flights by a dozen U.S. and Japanese reconnaissance and military planes in its new maritime air defense zone over the East China Sea, state media said.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">China responded on Thursday to growing international defiance of its new air-defense zone in the East China Sea both by sending advanced fighter jets to the area and trying to play down any threat of military retaliation—underlining the confusion and escalated tension over territorial disputes in East Asia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The announcement by China's air force that it had sent fighters and an early warning aircraft to patrol the zone came just a few hours after Japan and South Korea, following the U.S. lead, said their military aircraft had flown into the zone without notifying Beijing over the past few days, and would continue to do so.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The United States and other countries have warned that the new zone could boost chances for miscalculations, accidents and conflicts, though analysts believe Beijing's move is not intended to spark any aerial confrontations but rather a long-term strategy to solidify claims to disputed territory by simply marking the area as its own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The State Department said Wednesday it is advising U.S. airlines to take necessary steps to operate safely in China's newly declared air defense zone in the East China Sea, a day after two American B-52 bombers flew through the contested airspace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters at a daily press briefing that the U.S. is attempting to determine whether China's new air defense zone rule requiring foreign aircraft to identify themselves applies to commercial airlines, Reuters reported.</span></div>

China Fighter jets tail U.S and Japan fighter jet.

China Fighter jets tail U.S and Japan fighter jet.

China launched two fighter planes Friday to investigate flights by a dozen U.S. and Japanese reconnaissance and military planes in its new ...

US B-52s Fly over China's 'Air Defense Zone'

Two B-52 bombers from Guam flew recently through China’s newly expanded air defense zone during a training flight that had been planned for a year, a Defense official told Air Force Times on Tuesday.<br />
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The Wall Street Journal first reported the two bombers flew over the Senkaku Islands about 7 p.m. Monday without getting permission ahead of time from China, which announced days earlier that it was expanding its Air Defense Identification Zone to include the island chain.<br />
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The bombers were not armed and Chinese aircraft did not attempt to intercept the B-52s during the aircraft, said the defense official, who was not authorized to discuss the matter. The flight was described as a routine training mission.<br />
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The U.S. government has been alarmed by China’s decision to expand the air defense zone, which requires that aircraft flying in the East China Sea report their flight plans to China beforehand.<br />
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“We are very concerned about this escalatory development which increases regional tensions and affects U.S. interests and those of our allies,” National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said in an email. “We have conveyed our strong concerns to China and are coordinating closely with allies and partners in the region.”<br />
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An American carrier battle group and a flotilla of Japanese warships will arrive Wednesday near a vast stretch of ocean claimed by China in what is shaping up as a test of how Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the U.S. will stand up to the challenge.<br />
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China has been laying claim to nearly 1 million square miles of ocean known as the East China Sea, insisting that the sea’s energy resources and fisheries belong to China. Much of the ocean territory it claims is hundreds of miles from its shore, including waters off the coasts of Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.<br />
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On Saturday China went further than ever, announcing it had designated much of the sea as an air-defense zone it controls. The zone includes the Japan-held Senkaku Islands, a string of uninhabited islets that China calls the Diaoyus. The Chinese Defense Ministry said the zone was created to “guard against potential air threats.”<br />
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“China has been pushing and testing Abe since he took office and for the most part he has been passing,” said Brad Glosserman, executive director of the Pacific Forum Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank in Honolulu.<br />
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“This is a very dumb, very risky move by China,” he said. “If the People’s Liberation Army tries to interfere (with the U.S.-Japan exercise), there will be real problems.”<br />
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The challenge represents a test for Abe, a conservative party prime minister elected in 2012 who has vowed to shift Japan’s deferential military posture to a more muscular stance that recognizes its right to defend itself.<br />
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On Tuesday, Abe directly confronted China, stating he would not recognize the Chinese air zone over the East China Sea or any of its claims to the Senkakus.<br />
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“We will take steps against any attempt to change the status quo by use of force as we are determined to defend the country’s sea and airspace,” Abe said.<br />
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Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the Chinese action represents a “destabilizing attempt to alter the status quo” and “will not in any way change how the United States conducts military operations in the region.”<br />
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To that end, the U.S. Navy arrived in force Tuesday off the coast of Japan for a complex exercise in which Japanese naval ships and U.S. fighter jets, warships and submarines will practice scenarios for a possible attack on Japan.<br />
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Sailing into the waters southeast of Okinawa on Tuesday to prepare for a long-planned exercise was the aircraft carrier George Washington, guided-missile cruiser Antietam, guided-missile destroyers Curtis Wilbur, Lassen, McCampbell, Mustin, maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft and a Navy submarine.<br />
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China issued a protest with Japan and the U.S. government over the exercises and opposition to China’s self-claimed right to an air-defense zone over the sea. Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said Japan’s complaint about the zone is “absolutely groundless and unacceptable,” according to Japan’s Kyodo news service.<br />
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Yang said Japan has “no right to make irresponsible remarks” on the sea’s airspace, portions of which have been jointly administered by Japan and the United States for decades. Yujun also urged the United States to “not take sides.”<br />
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Earlier this year, Japan scrambled fighter jets when Chinese planes flew near the Senkaku islands, a rich fishing ground annexed by Japan in 1895 and purchased by the legislature in 2012. Chinese interceptor aircraft conducted the first flights into the zone after it went into force at 10 a.m. on Saturday.<br />
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The Chinese moves have inflamed Japan and worried other nations that say they may now need to inform China when their commercial flights are heading over the East China Sea. It also has U.S. allies concerned that China is becoming more aggressive against them since the installation a year ago of Xi Jinping as leader of the Communist regime.<br />
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But Hagel reaffirmed the U.S. military commitment to the 1952 U.S.-Japan Mutual Defense Treaty that commits Washington to intervene in defense of Japan if there is an attack on Japanese-administered territory. And Abe has backed up his belief that Japan must modify its stance held since World War II that Japan’s defense can be outsourced entirely to the United States.<br />
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Abe has been pressing for Japan to raise its readiness and play a bigger role in global security since he came to power in December 2012 and won a majority for his Liberal Democratic Party in the upper house of the Japan legislature in July.<br />
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Defense spending in Japan has seen its largest increase in 22 years, says Kyodo. The spending has zeroed in on boosting Japan’s capabilities to defend against amphibious assaults.<br />
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But Abe has yet to garner the votes to change Japan’s constitution so its defense forces can project the full military powers of a sovereign state. The constitution, written by the U.S. military after the defeat of Japan in WWII, restrains what Japan can do militarily.<br />
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The U.S. military retains bases in Japan, primarily in Okinawa, and exercises between the two militaries have grown in size and complexity in recent years.<br />
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Although precise locations have not been announced for the latest exercise, specific training events — which will include land-based patrol planes and other aircraft — are supposed to take place across large stretches of Japanese and international airspace, including parts of the East China Sea.<br />
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China’s Ministry of National Defense announced that any foreign aircraft entering its newly drafted “East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone” must file a flight plan with Chinese authorities, stay in two-way radio contact and follow other instructions.<br />
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Failure to do so will result in “defensive emergency measures” by China’s armed forces, according to the statement.<br />
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It is not clear why China chose to announce the new air restrictions now, said Narushige Michishita, Director of the Security and International Studies Program at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo. Whether Jinping approved of it or the military demanded it is unknown, Michishita said.<br />
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“It is a scary scenario,” Michishita said. “What happens next is up to China.”

US B-52s Fly over China's 'Air Defense Zone'

US B-52s Fly over China's 'Air Defense Zone'

Two B-52 bombers from Guam flew recently through China’s newly expanded air defense zone during a training flight that had been planned for ...

Pakistan Inducted Armed Drone

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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pakistan today inducted into service two indigenous UAVs, one of which appears to be armed. The military has long sought the ability to strike targets more quickly after identification.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A press release by the military’s Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR) media branch stated Pakistan had inducted its first fleet of “indigenously developed Strategic Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), namely Burraq and Shahpar UAV Systems” for the Army and the <a href="http://worldwidedefense.blogspot.com/search/label/Airforces">Air Force</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The ceremony was attended by the outgoing Army chief, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani; and retired Lt. Gen. Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, director General Strategic Plans Division (SPD), which overseas all aspects of Pakistan’s national deterrent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kayani was quoted as saying the UAVs would “substantially enhance” the military’s real time target acquisition capabilities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">According to Mansoor Ahmed from Quaid-e-Azam University’s Department of Defence and Strategic Studies, who specializes in Pakistan’s national deterrent and delivery program, the presence of Kidwai does not mean the UAVs have any non-conventional application.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“The [National Engineering and Scientific Commission ] comes under SPD, so he would be there,” he said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">NESCOM is a civilian run research-and-development organization that has designed a number of defense systems for the Pakistani military, including the Babur cruise and Shaheen ballistic missiles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While the press release provided no other information, an accompanying photograph showed a model of a canard pusher UAV that appeared to be armed with two under-wing missiles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shahpar is a tactical canard pusher UAV that was developed by the Advance Engineering and Research Organisation, which is part of the state-owned Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS) conglomerate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was revealed to the public for the first time during IDEAS2012, Pakistan’s biannual defense exhibition, in November last year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was claimed to be an autonomous UAV with an endurance of seven hours and which could relay data in real time out to a range of 250 kilometers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Observers have said the Burraq appears to be a Pakistani variant or development of the Chinese Rainbow CH-3 UCAV, but little else is known beyond speculation based on the CH-3’s specifications.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Former Pakistan <a href="http://worldwidedefense.blogspot.com/search/label/Airforces">Air Force</a> pilot Kaiser Tufail said additional information will be difficult to obtain for now because sources will be “wary about leaking what is considered confidential stuff.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reports that Pakistan was developing an armed UAV named Burraq date back to 2009. Analyst Usman Shabbir of the Pakistan Military Consortium think tank said he first became aware of the existence of the Burraq some years ago when it was still in the design stages with NESCOM.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The two may be related, but he believes Burraq is armed and Shahpar unarmed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Shahpar can carry about a 50-kilogram payload and has around eight hours endurance. Burraq, based on CH-3 specs, would carry around a 100-kilogram payload and 12 hours endurance,” he said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The given payload of the CH-3 is a pair of AR-1 missiles, or a pair of FT-5 small diameter bombs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The ability of Pakistan to field an armed UAV has great benefits when faced with time-sensitive targets, he said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“It is important in a sense that it greatly cuts the gap from detection to shoot,” he said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Adding, “Earlier, once you detected something and wanted it taken out you had to pass on the imagery to higher ups, who had to approve and allocate resources like aircraft and by the time the aircraft got there the bad guys were long gone. Now detect, make decision, shoot and go home — all in same loop.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He does not believe there is any real significance in the systems being named for use with both the Army and the <a href="http://worldwidedefense.blogspot.com/search/label/Airforces">Air Force</a>, however, as “both have been operating their own UAV squadrons for a while now.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“The Army has been using German EMT Luna X-2000 and the British [Meggitt] Banshee UAVs, while PAF as we know has a lot of faith in the Italian [Selex] Falco,” he added.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Luna was also ordered by the Pakistan Navy in June 2012.</span></div>
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Pakistan Inducted Armed Drone

Pakistan Inducted Armed Drone

Pakistan today inducted into service two indigenous UAVs, one of which appears to be armed. The military has long sought the ability to st...

China's New Air Defense Zone

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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">China is establishing new  Air defense zone in the sea .Japan say it will take this issue in the the UN  and will try to not develop the Air defense zone in the area of the Japan </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What appears to be a crisis in the ma<span style="text-align: center;">king, China’s Ministry of National Defense (MOD) has established the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) effective as of 10 a.m. on Nov. 23.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The zone covers the disputed Diaoyu/Senkaku Islets claimed by China, Japan, and Taiwan. The islets are under the administrative control of Japan. China has been flying unmanned aerial vehicles into the area of the islets and Japan has threatened to shoot them down.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIjNHElExCAGDbPrqprGF8phqlOo38FWSbahfBiqPG36Z_tqk202KoaYD2unvudeMNQ9xc27hL1on9MqZmQhdEKmasbs6EsXhnOb0kIotAL1I35zNYeGt9GziHUEPBysY7QLSDW-hHRyDi/s1600/uugukjl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIjNHElExCAGDbPrqprGF8phqlOo38FWSbahfBiqPG36Z_tqk202KoaYD2unvudeMNQ9xc27hL1on9MqZmQhdEKmasbs6EsXhnOb0kIotAL1I35zNYeGt9GziHUEPBysY7QLSDW-hHRyDi/s400/uugukjl.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">China launched two aerial patrols, one Tu-154 and one Y-8, over the area the day of the announcement and Japan deployed two F-15 fighters to intercept.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">China’s ADIZ overlaps Japan ADIZ by approximately half, causing concern the overlap could start a war.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Chinese ADIZ also overlaps Taiwan (Republic of China/ROC). According to a Nov. 24 statement by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taiwan will “adhere to the principles set forth in the East China Sea Peace Initiative [set forth by President Ma Ying-jeou on Aug 5), with the aim of resolving disputes peacefully, while taking appropriate measures to ensure the safety of ROC airspace.” Ma’s five-point peace initiative urges all “parties to refrain from antagonistic actions; not abandon dialogue; observe international law; resolve disputes through peaceful means; and form a mechanism for exploring and developing resources on a cooperative basis.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">US Secretary of State John Kerry issued a statement on Nov. 23 urging China not to impose a “unilateral action” that “constitutes an attempt to change the status quo in the East China Sea.” Further, the US is “deeply concerned” about the announcement and “escalatory action will only increase tensions in the region and create risks of an incident.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Below is a collection of Chinese MOD press releases since the announcement:</span></div>
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MOD Press Release:</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Ministry of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China, in accordance with the Statement by the Government of the People’s Republic of China on Establishing the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone, now announces the Aircraft Identification Rules for the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone as follows:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First, aircraft flying in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone must abide by these rules.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Second, aircraft flying in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone must provide the following means of identification:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>1. Flight plan identification. </b>Aircraft flying in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone should report the flight plans to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China or the Civil Aviation Administration of China.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>2. Radio identification.</b> Aircraft flying in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone must maintain the two-way radio communications, and respond in a timely and accurate manner to the identification inquiries from the administrative organ of the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone or the unit authorized by the organ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>3. Transponder identification.</b> Aircraft flying in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone, if equipped with the secondary radar transponder, should keep the transponder working throughout the entire course.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>4. Logo identification. </b>Aircraft flying in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone must clearly mark their nationalities and the logo of their registration identification in accordance with related international treaties.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Third, aircraft flying in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone should follow the instructions of the administrative organ of the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone or the unit authorized by the organ. China’s armed forces will adopt defensive emergency measures to respond to aircraft that do not cooperate in the identification or refuse to follow the instructions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fourth, the Ministry of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China is the administrative organ of the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fifth, the Ministry of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China is responsible for the explanation of these rules.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sixth, these rules will come into force at 10 a.m. Nov. 23, 2013.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
MOD Press Release:</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The zone is being established in accordance with the Law of the People’s Republic of China on National Defense (March 14, 1997), the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Civil Aviation (October 30, 1995) and the Basic Rules on Flight of the People’s Republic of China (July 27, 2001).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The zone includes the airspace within the area enclosed by China’s outer limit of the territorial sea and the following six points: 33º11’N and 121º47’E, 33º11’N and 125º00’E, 31º00’N and 128º20’E, 25º38’N and 125º00’E, 24º45’N and 123º00’E, 26º44’N and 120º58’E.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
MOD Q&A</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Nov. 23, China’s Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun took questions from the media on the issue:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Following is the full text released by the MOD:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Q: </b>Why does the Chinese government decide to establish the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone? Is it related to the current situation in the region?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>A: </b>Air Defense Identification Zone is an area of air space established by a coastal state beyond its territorial airspace to timely identify, monitor, control and react to aircraft entering this zone with potential air threats. It allows early-warning time and provides air security.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Following the international practice, the Chinese government sets up the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone with the aim of safeguarding state sovereignty, territorial land and air security, and maintaining flight order. This is a necessary measure taken by China in exercising its self-defense right. It is not directed against any specific country or target. It does not affect the freedom of over-flight in the related airspace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Q: </b>What is the basis for China to establish the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>A:</b> The setup of East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone by the Chinese government is not only based on adequate legitimate reference, but also in accordance with current international practice. Since the 1950s, more than 20 countries including some major countries and China’s neighboring countries have successively established Air Defense Identification Zones. Chinese government’s relevant behavior is in line with the UN Charter and other international laws and customs. China’s domestic laws and regulations such as the Law of the PRC on National Defense, the Law of PRC on Civil Aviation and Basic Rules on Flight have also clearly stipulated on the maintenance of territorial land and air security and flight order.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Q: </b>How is the coverage of the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone defined? Why is the boundary of the Zone only 130 km away from some country’ territory?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>A: </b>The coverage of the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone is defined by China’s need for air defense and maintaining flight order.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Actually the easternmost point of the Zone is so close to China that combat aircraft can soon reach China’s territorial airspace from the point. Therefore it is necessary for China to identify any aircraft from this point to assess its intentions and examine its identities so as to allow enough early-warning time for responsive measures in maintaining air security. In addition, some country established Air Defense Identification Zone as early as in 1969. The shortest distance from their zone to the Chinese mainland is also 130 km.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Q: </b>What responding measures will the Chinese side take when foreign aircraft enter the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>A: </b>Announcement of the Aircraft Identification Rules for the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone of the People’s Republic of China has made specific rules on the identification of aircraft in related airspace. In the face of air threats and unidentified flying objects coming from the sea, the Chinese side will identify, monitor, control and react depending on different situations. We hope that all parties concerned work actively with the Chinese side to jointly maintain flight safety.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What needs to be specified is that the Chinese side has always respected the freedom of over-flight in accordance with international law. The establishment of the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone does not change the legal nature of related airspace. Normal flights by international airliners in the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone will not be affected in any way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Q: </b>Will China establish other Air Defense Identification Zones?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>A:</b> China will establish other Air Defense Identification Zones at the right moment after necessary preparations are completed.</span></div>
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China's New Air Defense Zone

China's New Air Defense Zone

China is establishing new Air defense zone in the sea .Japan say it will take this issue in the the UN and will try to not develop the A...

Iranian Nuke Deal Seeing

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Congressional Republicans and Israeli officials are voicing their strong opposition to the six-month “first st<a href="http://worldwidedefense.blogspot.com/search/label/Iran"> Iranian</a> government last night, calling the deal dangerous and saying it doesn't go far enough in dismantling the <a href="http://worldwidedefense.blogspot.com/search/label/Iran"> Iranian</a> nuclear program.</div>
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Iran and USA are talking on the nuclear program-me . USA is trying to stop the Iran nuclear program-me as it will effect the world peace</div>
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Speaking on ABC News on Sunday morning, Republican Sen. Sax by Chambliss said “nothing in the details that I have seen thus from moves us in the direction” of stopping the <a href="http://worldwidedefense.blogspot.com/search/label/Iran"> Iranian</a> uranium enrichment program. “They’re going to continue to enrich uranium” he said.</div>
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Despite statements from US President Barack Obama and US Secretary of State John Kerry that the interim deal makes an <a href="http://worldwidedefense.blogspot.com/search/label/Iran"> Iranian</a> bomb less likely, Chambliss added: “I just don’t see this movement in the direction of preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon at all,” since the current deal expires in six months if no longer-term deal can be reached.</div>
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While the agreement calls for the US to loosen some economic sanctions on the<a href="http://worldwidedefense.blogspot.com/search/label/Iran"> Iranian</a> economy, Chambliss insisted current sanctions are working and “now is the time to tighten those sanctions and get a long-term deal” on dismantling the <a href="http://worldwidedefense.blogspot.com/search/label/Iran"> Iranian</a> enrichment program.</div>
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And despite Obama’s pleas to Congress to leave further sanctions alone for the moment in order to let diplomacy work, Chambliss said, “You’re going to see a strong movement in the United States Senate toward tightening sanctions” in the coming days.</div>
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Announced late Saturday night after intensive negotiations in Geneva, the Non-Proliferation Treaty [NPT] signed by Iran and the “P5+1” <i>—</i>the United States, France, Britain, Germany, China and Russia — is limited to the next six months, during which time the two sides will work to hammer out a more comprehensive accord. The document prohibits Iran from installing or starting new centrifuges, and demands the country halt work at its plutonium reactor while submitting to inspections by international nuclear inspection teams.</div>
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The deal also calls for Iran to leave inoperable about half of the centrifuges installed at its Natanz facility and three-quarters of installed centrifuges at Fordow to ensure the plants cannot enrich uranium.</div>
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In return, the United States will temporarily halt some economic sanctions against Iran worth about $6 billion or $7 billion, according to the White House.</div>
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“The relief Iran gets under this agreement is insignificant, economically” a White House official insisted Saturday night, adding they are “limited, temporary, targeted, and reversible” if the Iranians do not adhere to the terms of the agreement.</div>
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The White House insisted no sanctions targeted at Iran’s sponsorship of terrorist groups, or targeting its support for the regime in Syria, would change.</div>
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Obama hailed the temporary deal as marking<i> “</i>the first time in nearly a decade we have halted the progress of the<a href="http://worldwidedefense.blogspot.com/search/label/Iran"> Iranian</a>  nuclear program, and key parts of the program will be rolled back.”</div>
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As with any negotiated deal, different interpretations of the written text emerged almost immediately.</div>
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In a press conference in Geneva after the deal was announced,<a href="http://worldwidedefense.blogspot.com/search/label/Iran"> Iranian</a>  Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif insisted “people should stop threatening to use force because that option is no longer on the table” and the agreement recognizes the “inalienable right” of Iran to be able to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.</div>
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Kerry, who rushed to Geneva on Friday to take part in negotiations, shot back minutes later: “This first step does not say that Iran has a right to enrichment.”</div>
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A senior Obama administration official backed up the Kerry’s comments, saying flatly “The document does not say anything about recognizing the right to enrich uranium. We do not recognize their right to enrich uranium.”</div>
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On Sunday morning, Kerry backed up those comments, telling ABC News “There is no right to enrich. We do not recognize the right to enrich.”</div>
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“Under the terms of this agreement there will be a negotiation over whether or not” Iranians can pursue future enrichments. “They could only do that by mutual agreement, and nothing is agreed on until everything is agreed on ... they could only gain that capacity only if they live up to all the terms” he added.</div>
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House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., released a statement on the agreement Sunday morning, reading the deal in the same way as the <a href="http://worldwidedefense.blogspot.com/search/label/Iran"> Iranian</a> government .</div>
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The agreement “explicitly and dangerously recognizes that Iran will be allowed to enrich uranium” Cantor said. “It is clear why the Iranians are claiming this deal recognizes their right to enrich,” he added.</div>
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Cantor lines up behind growing Republican calls for more sanctions as well, stating that “loosening sanctions and recognizing Iran’s enrichment program is a mistake, and will not stop Iran’s march toward nuclear capability.”</div>
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South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham tweeted Saturday night that “unless the agreement requires dismantling of the <a href="http://worldwidedefense.blogspot.com/search/label/Iran"> Iranian</a>centrifuges, we really haven’t gained anything.”</div>
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<strong>John T. Bennett contributed to this report.</strong></div>

Iranian Nuke Deal Seeing

Iranian Nuke Deal Seeing

Congressional Republicans and Israeli officials are voicing their strong opposition to the six-month “first st Iranian government la...

Israel wants Stronger Military Ties with Russia

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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Israel, increasingly confounded by Washington’s Mideast policy, is mulling ways to enhance security cooperation with Moscow without jeopardizing its pre-eminent partnership with the US.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Acknowledging a shared frustration with Saudi Arabia and other US allies in the gulf over Washington’s perceived wavering on Iran and diminishing regional influence, Israeli officials are seeking to cultivate additional sources of support for its diplomatic and security agenda.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“The Americans have a lot of problems and challenges around the world that they need to solve and they have problems at home. We need to understand them and how that affects our place in the global arena,” said Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An outspoken and controversial political ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Lieberman was reinstated as Israel’s chief diplomat after being cleared last week of longstanding corruption charges. Speaking Nov. 20 as Netanyahu traveled to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Lieberman said Israel should strengthen ties with other powers as a means of advancing critical security interests in the region.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Israel’s foreign policy for decades has focused on one direction — toward Washington. But my policy is multi-directional,” the Moldovan-born, Russian-speaking minister told a gathering in Sderot near Israel’s border with Gaza.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While expressing gratitude for traditional US support, Lieberman alluded to growing anger with Washington over its willingness to ease sanctions against Iran without a clear commitment from Tehran to dismantle its nuclear program.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Our foreign policy needs to focus on finding allies and not just complaining and saying, ‘Come support us,’ ” he said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since clashing publicly with Washington over what it perceives as a precipitous rush to conclude a nuclear disarmament deal that fails to satisfy Israel’s security concerns, Israel has intensified diplomacy with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany involved in ongoing so-called P5+1 talks in Geneva.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Prior to Netanyahu’s Nov. 20-21 visit to Moscow, he hosted French President François Hollande in a high-profile state visit profuse with praise for Paris’ insistence on greater concessions from Tehran in exchange for preliminary sanctions relief.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But Israeli officials say diplomatic outreach is principally focused on Moscow, which Jerusalem views as the ultimate source of leverage on Iran in the P5+1 talks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After more than four hours at the Kremlin, Netanyahu used words normally reserved for Israel’s relations with Washington. Speaking to reporters here Nov. 20, Netanyahu emphasized shared values, common interests and his personal “friendship” with Putin, which are steadily resulting in “closer, warmer, more intimate and productive” bilateral ties.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While Israel is under no illusions that Moscow will significantly alter its stance toward Tehran, it aims to augment its capacity to influence the scope and timing of arms sales to Iran and Syria.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Specifically, Israel hopes to forestall for as long as possible Russian deliveries of S-300 long-range air defense systems that would significantly complicate potential Israeli strikes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In interviews here, Israeli sources said S-300 sales to Iran and Syria were a major agenda item at the Netanyahu-Putin talks. Sources declined to provide details, yet indicated Russia will continue to wait to implement contracts signed nearly seven years ago with both countries.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In joint public remarks at the Kremlin, Netanyahu admitted that Israel and Russia “don’t always agree.” Nevertheless, he insisted, “On the main things, we have a partnership.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the issue of Iran, Putin remained publicly noncommittal about Russia’s willingness to harden its stance in the P5+1 talks. He stood poker-faced as Netanyahu insisted that both countries share a common goal in not wanting to see Iran with nuclear weapons, and that lessons from a recent Moscow-led agreement to rid Syria of chemical weapons should be applied in a nuclear disarmament deal with Iran.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Israel’s attitude is that the international community must stand by positions expressed in the UN Security Council. Namely, to cease all enrichment, to remove all enriched material, to dismantle the centrifuges and to halt construction at Arak,” Netanyahu said, referring to Iran’s heavy water reactor and research complex suspected of supporting a separate plutonium track toward nuclear weapons.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No Substitute for the US</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Israeli initiatives aimed at strengthening security cooperation with Moscow will be pursued with extreme caution so as not to jeopardize ties with Washington, which officials insist has been, is and will remain Israel’s closest friend and ally.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“There is no substitute to the United States,” Netanyahu spokesman Mark Regev told Defense News.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That said, Israel has agreed to cultivate cooperation in aviation, space, pharmaceutical, agricultural and energy sectors, and is considering expanded defense and dual-use exports to Russia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Speaking to reporters following his meeting with Netanyahu, Putin said the two leaders “made plans for the future development of our relations.” He noted that in 2012, bilateral trade reached $3 billion and increased by 29 percent in the first eight months this year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“This may not be an outstanding figure, but it is a positive trend in spite of global economic problems,” Putin said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Russian leader cited an intergovernmental commission “working actively” to broaden cooperation associated with the export of natural gas from Israel’s offshore energy sites. He also flagged the successful Sept. 1 launch of the Israeli-built Amos-4 communications satellite by a Russian Zenit launch vehicle and “common plans” to cooperate in joint development of two additional space vehicles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An official here later explained that Putin was referring to Russian participation in Space IL, a nonprofit Israeli organization competing for a $30 million Google Lunar X-Prize to land a small unmanned spacecraft on the moon. As for energy cooperation, a source said Netanyahu invited Russia’s Gazprom to Israel to explore Russian proposals associated with maritime shipping of liquefied natural gas culled from Israel’s strategic offshore sites.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Despite resistance by some Israeli agencies to opening Israel’s energy market to Russia, an Israeli source accompanying Netanyahu noted that changes in the world are prompting a rethinking of its multilateral ties.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Our ties with the US are strong and steadfast and persistent. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t open other avenues with other countries, like Russia, when there is a convergence of interests,” the source said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As for expanded defense trade with Russia, sources said any easing of existing export restrictions would have to involve consultations with Washington and end-use assurances from Moscow that prospective arms transfers would not find their way into the hands of Israel’s enemies in the region.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Israel and Russia are implementing an estimated $400 million deal to provide Searcher and Birdeye UAVs produced by state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries. Concluded in late 2010, the deal allows Israeli-produced kits to be assembled in Russia by state-owned Oboronprom Russian Industrial Corp</span></div>

Israel wants Stronger Military Ties with Russia

Israel wants Stronger Military Ties with Russia

Israel, increasingly confounded by Washington’s Mideast policy, is mulling ways to enhance security cooperation with Moscow without jeopa...

S. Korea To Buy 40 F-35s

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<span style="line-height: 24px;">The S.Korea has decided to buys 40 F-35s to response to the nuclear developments of N.Korea.This aircraft will boost the </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/.http://worldwidedefense.blogspot.com/search/label/Airforces" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">Air Force</a> <span style="line-height: 24px;">of the Korea .The joined chief of staff says on Friday. </span></div>
</span><span style="font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 24px;">The jet contest was nullified in September when the country’s arms procurement agency voted down a bid by Boeing to supply 60 F-15 Silent Eagle aircraft, citing the “4.5-generation” jet’s lack of radar-evading stealth capability.</span></div>
</span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
“The next-generation fighter is a key asset of the ‘kill chain’ system to respond to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threat that has become a reality,” JCS spokesman Eom Hyo-shik said in a briefing.</div>
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The kill chain refers to a proactive defense system being develo</div>
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ped by the South Korea military. It is to be used in preemptively detecting and striking North Korean main targets by using various tools, such as strike fighters and missiles, should the North show signs of attacks.</div>
</span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
“We need fighter aircraft fitted with the state-of-the-art stealth technology and electronic warfare capability in order to secretly penetrate into the North’s airspace and strike key targets,” the spokesman said. “By securing those aircraft, we can deter North Korea’s provocation more effectively.”</div>
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The number of jets to be bought fell to 40 from the initial F-X III plan of 60 in order to meet the budget requirements as well as help fill the projected fighter jet vacuum over the next decade.</div>
</span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
The aircraft are expected to be delivered to the South Korean <a href="http://www.blogger.com/.http://worldwidedefense.blogspot.com/search/label/Airforces" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Air Force</a> from 2018 to 2021 if a contract is signed next year, officials said</div>
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S. Korea To Buy 40 F-35s

S. Korea To Buy 40 F-35s

The S.Korea has decided to buys 40 F-35s to response to the nuclear developments of N.Korea.This ai...

Iran says ‘no progress’ in nuclear talks so far

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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Iran and world powers locked horns in an intense second day of nuclear talks Thursday, with Tehran saying “no progress” was made towards clinching a long-awaited breakthrough deal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Both sides, seeking to end the standoff over Iran’s nuclear programme after a decade of rising tensions, stressed however that the talks in Geneva were detailed, serious and constructive.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Speculation swirled that US Secretary of State John Kerry and other top diplomats were gearing up to fly to Switzerland to join the talks for the second time in two weeks but this was not confirmed.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Raising the pressure, US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said in Washington that lawmakers would move to impose new sanctions on Iran in December if there is no deal.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The United States, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany — the so-called P5+1 — want Iran to freeze parts of its nuclear programme for six months in return for relief from painful sanctions.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This hoped-for “first phase” deal would ease tensions while Iran and the six powers hammer out a final accord to put an end to fears that Tehran is seeking to build an atomic bomb.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Iran’s delegation chief said after meetings lasting a total of four and a half hours between Foreign Minister Mohammad Jarad Zarif and P5+1 head negotiator Catherine Ashton that “no progress” had been made in narrowing differences.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Abbas Araqchi, quoted by the Mehr news agency, did not elaborate, but a European source gave a more upbeat assessment.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“We are making progress. There fewer points in brackets (in the draft agreement),” the source said.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“But obviously the remaining issues are the hardest ones… Tomorrow (Friday) will be important.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Numerous attempts to resolve the nuclear impasse have failed over the last decade, but the election this year of relative moderate Rouhani as Iranian president has raised hopes that this time a deal can be struck.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The proposed accord includes suspending uranium enrichment to 20 percent purity — close to weapons-grade — as well as measures reducing uranium stockpiles and tighter UN inspections.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For Israel, which refuses to rule out military action against Iran, the proposal does not go far enough.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants the complete and permanent dismantling of all of Iran’s nuclear facilities.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Yesterday, Iran’s supreme leader, (Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei, said ‘death to America, death to Israel’, he said that Jews are not human beings,” Netanyahu said in Moscow.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ashton’s spokesman, declining to comment in detail, said that the talks, due to resume at 0800 GMT had so far been “useful” and “very good”.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“It has been very detailed it has been very substantial,” Michael Mann said.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Similar talks two weeks ago came close to succeeding, prompting Kerry and other foreign ministers to jet into Geneva ready to sign a deal.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But they failed to reach an agreement after France insisted that the proposed deal did not go far enough in securing guarantees on Iran’s uranium enrichment.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Thursday that the text being debated with the Iranians was “supported by all six” world powers.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">US Senate warns of new sanctions</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Western powers say that the relief from painful sanctions that Iran would get in a deal would be minor, and that the main oil and banking sanctions would stay during this period.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">US President Barack Obama’s administration has leaned heavily on Congress to hold fire on new sanctions legislation in order to give the negotiations a chance to succeed.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But US Senator Reid said that while he supported Obama’s “diplomatic effort”, shortly after the Thanksgiving recess next month he would act on a new bipartisan sanctions bill if the nuclear talks do not bear fruit.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If Rouhani, meanwhile, fails to secure quick and substantial relief from the sanctions, he risks losing the support of arch-conservatives and the supreme leader, experts say.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A sticking point is Iran’s insistence that its “right” to enrich uranium is recognised by the P5+1, even though this is not explicitly set out in the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Enrichment is a dual-use activity, it can be used for peaceful purposes or for making weapons fuel,” Mark Hibbs from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace told AFP.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“If at this stage of the negotiations the powers acknowledge Iran has a ‘right to enrich’, Iran can pocket that right and from there on refuse to accept any limitations on its enrichment programme on that basis.”</span></div>

Iran says ‘no progress’ in nuclear talks so far

Iran says ‘no progress’ in nuclear talks so far

Iran and world powers locked horns in an intense second day of nuclear talks Thursday, with Tehran saying “no progress” was made towards ...

China Tests Stealth Combat Drone

<div style="line-height: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">China has tested its first stealth combat drone, state media said Friday, citing online photos of an aircraft resembling a shrunken US B2 bomber and hailing the advance toward Western-level technology.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The test flight of the “Sharp Sword” unmanned aircraft is another step in China’s years-long military build-up, with its defence spending now the second highest in the world and growing by double-digit percentages each year.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It comes weeks after Tokyo said a drone had flown near East China Sea islands claimed by both it and Beijing, ratcheting tensions between the rivals up another notch.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.defencetalk.com/china-tests-first-stealth-combat-drone-media-49717/" style="background-color: white; color: #154a7f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; outline: none; text-decoration: none;" title="China tests first stealth combat drone: media"><img alt="China tests first stealth combat drone: media" class="Thumbnail thumbnail post-cover" src="http://www.defencetalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/ku-china-stealth-combat-drone-310x174.jpg" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(185, 197, 201); height: 250px; margin: 0px 0px 7px; padding: 5px; vertical-align: middle; width: 370px;" width="370" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“The successful flight shows the nation has again narrowed the air-power disparity between itself and Western nations,” the China Daily newspaper said, adding the flight made China the “fourth power… capable of putting a stealth drone into the sky”.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Images posted online showed a sleek grey delta-wing aircraft apparently powered by a jet engine and resembling an American combat drone.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Beijing is steadily building its military muscle and unveiled its first stealth fighter, the J-20, in early 2011, though it is not expected to enter service until 2018.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">China’s first aircraft carrier — refurbished vessel purchased from Ukraine and named the Liaoning — went into service in Sept 2012, but is not expected to be fully operational for several years.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Sharp Sword might be intended for eventual use with the aircraft carrier and for “long endurance” surveillance missions, said Rick Fisher, a senior fellow at the US-based think tank International Assessment and Strategy Center.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“This demonstrates the enormous investment that China is making toward building a world class level of military power,” he said in an email.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This type of aircraft “will greatly complicate the defence” of other countries, including Japan and the US, he added.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A drone was at the centre of a recent spat between Beijing and Tokyo, whose dispute over islands known as Diaoyu in Chinese and Senkaku in Japanese has raised concerns of conflict.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An unidentified unmanned aircraft flew near the islands in September, where China routinely conducts maritime patrols, prompting Japan to scramble fighter jets.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The aircraft came from the northwest and returned in that direction, a Japanese defence official said.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tokyo later threatened to shoot down any such aircraft, a move that Beijing warned would amount to an “act of war”.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chinese state media widely reported the new aircraft in close detail, although they said the test-flight was first revealed by ordinary Internet users on a popular military web forum cjdby.net.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chinese authorities quickly censor any news or images exposed online by citizens that they deem sensitive, so it is unlikely they did not approve the reports.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">State broadcaster CCTV, citing eyewitnesses, said on its international channel that the test flight lasted 20 minutes on Thursday afternoon in the southwestern city of Chengdu.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The flight “implies that China has made the leap from drones to combat drones”, it said, calling it the move of “major significance”.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hong Kong-based military expert Andrei Chang said that by producing a heavy combat drone China had achieved a milestone claimed by few countries, but added that the aircraft’s design appeared “a little bit naive”.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unlike the American version, the engine appeared to be exposed, which would reduce its stealth capabilities, said Chang, editor of the Kanwa Defence Review Monthly, adding that China did not have “enough experience” in the field.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The aircraft was developed by two subsidiaries of Aviation Industry Corp of China, the country’s top aircraft manufacturer, the China Daily said.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>

China Tests Stealth Combat Drone

China Tests Stealth Combat Drone

China has tested its first stealth combat drone, state media said Friday, citing online photos of an aircraft resembling a shrunken US B2 b...

Dubai Airshow Closes Early Because of Storm

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<a href="http://cmsimg.defensenews.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=M5&Date=20131121&Category=DEFREG04&ArtNo=311210008&Ref=AR&MaxW=640&Border=0&Dubai-Airshow-Closes-Early-Storm-Collapses-Roof-Floods-Main-Hall" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="UAE-DUBAI-AVIATION-SHOW" border="0" height="276" src="http://cmsimg.defensenews.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=M5&Date=20131121&Category=DEFREG04&ArtNo=311210008&Ref=AR&MaxW=640&Border=0&Dubai-Airshow-Closes-Early-Storm-Collapses-Roof-Floods-Main-Hall" style="border: 0px;" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #2c2c2c; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 24px;">The Dubai Airshow has shut down after stormy weather hit the city on Thursday morning, causing a roof collapse and flooding at the venue’s main exhibition hall.</span></h6>
<h6 style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: normal; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 9px 0px 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2c2c2c; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Organizers say the show, which began on Sunday and was supposed to run through Thursday, will not reopen and warned the public, exhibitors and contractors to steer clear of the venue</span></span></h6>
<h6 style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: normal; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 9px 0px 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2c2c2c; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">“I have seen many emergency services there ushering people out and debris from the collapse,” one witness said.</span></span></h6>
<h6 style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: normal; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 9px 0px 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2c2c2c; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">“The entrance was ... flooded. The collapse was in the center of the hall, and we were only allowed to pick up our stuff and leave,” one exhibitor said.</span></span></h6>
<h6 style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: normal; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 9px 0px 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2c2c2c; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Witnesses have reported the roof also collapsed in one of the chalets located on the static display section.</span></span></h6>
<h6 style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-weight: normal; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 9px 0px 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2c2c2c; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">According to emergency services, the site has been closed off to the public and “the situation will be reassessed by noon.”</span></span></h6>

Dubai Airshow Closes Early Because of Storm

Dubai Airshow Closes Early Because of Storm

The Dubai Airshow has shut down after stormy weather hit the city on Thursday morning, causing a roof collapse and flooding at the...

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