Russia loan Venezuela in Purchasing Military Gear

source: defencetalk

Moscow is ready to loan Venezuela $4 billion on purchases of military equipment, Russia's Kommersant newspaper said on Friday citing a diplomatic source.

"Russia is ready to loan money to Venezuela," the source said. "Considering the current election campaign in the country, this loan would mean the opportunity to support our key ally in the region."

Venezuelan Minister of Finance and Planning Jorge Giordani is expected to visit Russia in the near future to discuss the conditions of the loan with Russian officials.

Earlier reports indicated that Caracas may ask Russia for an additional $6.5 billion on the development of infrastructure in the oil-rich Latin American country.

Between 2005 and 2007 Venezuela reached deals to buy $4-billion worth of arms from Russia, including Sukhoi fighter jets, combat helicopters, and guns. Chavez' government also secured a $2.2-billion loan in 2010 to purchase Russian T-72 tanks and S-300 air defense systems.

Israeli N-LOS Spike on South Korean Border

source: defencetalk

South Korea has reached a deal to buy precision-guided missiles from an Israeli company to protect islands near the tense sea border with North Korea, a report said Tuesday.

Yonhap news agency said about 50 Israeli missiles would be deployed on two islands in the Yellow Sea, probably late next year.

"A deal was reached recently to bring in Spike NLOS missiles developed by Israel," a military source was quoted as saying.

The defence ministry refused to confirm the report.

The missile developed by Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense System uses global positioning system (GPS) technology and is capable of hitting North Korean artillery hidden in mountain caves, Yonhap said.

The Spike NLOS, which costs $300,000 per unit, has a range of 25 kilometres (15 miles), it said.

The disputed Yellow Sea border has been a persistent flashpoint. The North shelled a South Korean island last November, killing four people and briefly sparking fears of war.

Since then South Korea has deployed additional troops and weapons on the islands.

Also read: F-16 Taiwanese purchasing list

MBDA C-RAM Laser Weapon System

source : defencetalk


The ability to direct 10 kW laser power over a long distance and reach a target with a high quality beam is a decisive forward step. MBDA Germany has conducted several successful tests with its laser demonstrator. This is evidence of major progress in terms of achieving a C-RAM (Counter Rocket, Artillery, Mortar) laser weapon system. The results also confirm MBDA Germany’s leading position in Europe in this domain.

For the first time, 10 kW laser power reached a moving target located more than two kilometres away while retaining a high quality beam. The tracking of dynamic objects and the effects on the object were demonstrated over a distance of more than 2,300 m and an altitude differential of 1,000 m under real-life environmental conditions.

These results are of major significance. The successful combating of RAM munitions is of major importance for the protection of soldiers in the field. However, this also represents several technical challenges. Defence against RAM munitions is only possible to a limited extent with current cannon systems or missiles. These difficulties arise from the high speed of artillery munitions, the small signatures of mortar munitions, the required combat distance in excess of 1,000 m and the necessary combat velocity. In this respect, laser weapons are exceptionally well suited for use against RAM munitions.

However, since countermeasures against RAM must be carried out within a few seconds, it is necessary to achieve high laser power and a high quality laser beam against a fast moving target at distances of between 1,000 m and 3,000 m. This is the only way to guarantee the protection of a field camp using such a laser weapon.

The experts at MBDA Germany have now proven that their laser demonstrator is already able to deliver high laser power and a high quality laser beam at a moving target over long distances. Currently, it is only possible with the geometric coupling principle that has been patented by MBDA Germany. This therefore lays the groundwork for the development of a C- RAM laser weapon system.

A European consortium led by MBDA Germany has been developing the major aspects of the system in a study being conducted on behalf of the European Defence Agency (EDA) since 2009. Integration investigations with appropriate hardware have also been carried out. The final selection of a platform for the laser weapon system will be made once all the relevant conditions have been established. This process is currently underway in close consultation with users and suppliers.

The successful tests by MBDA Germany have been conducted on behalf of the German Federal Office for Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB) at the latter’s WTD 52 testing site.

MBDA Germany comprises LFK-Lenkflugkörpersysteme GmbH together with its subsidiaries (TDW and Bayern-Chemie). As a part of Europe’s MBDA Group, MBDA Germany employs around 1,300 persons at its sites in Schrobenhausen, Unterschleissheim, Ulm and Aschau am Inn.

With industrial facilities in four European countries and within the USA, in 2010 MBDA achieved a turnover of 2.8 billion euros with an order book of 10.8 billion euros. With more than 90 armed forces customers in the world, MBDA is a world leader in missiles and missile systems. MBDA is jointly held by BAE Systems (37.5%), EADS (37.5%) and Finmeccanica (25%).

also see C-Music