Oman has signed a $1.28 billion contract for the purchase of the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS). It was selected over a competing offer from Europe's MBDA and included in the contract are ground support equipment, training and technical support.
The short-to-medium range surface-to-air missile defense system is able to defend against a range of aerial threats such as aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles and high precision munitions.
Initially developed by Raytheon in the United States and Norway's Kongsberg to meet Norway's defense needs as its launch customer, it has since been marketed to other countries and has been adopted by the US, Netherlands, Spain and Finland.
The system was the first application of the surface-launched version of the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (SL AMRAAM), but it's also compatible with other surface-launched missiles such as the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM) and the Sidewinder Missiles.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Friday, January 24, 2014
China Building Additional Aircraft Carriers
According to several Chinese media reports, Wang Min, the Communist Party leader of the province Liaoning stated that the port city of Dalian in his province is now building an aircraft carrier for the Chinese Navy with at least two more being planned.
Dalian is the place where the former Varyag or Liaoning, currently China's only aircraft carrier, was refurbished after being bought from the Ukraine. The shipyard is also in the process of building two Type 052D destroyers to become the second shipyard to build the type, next to Shanghai where four Type 052D destroyers are under construction or fitting out.
While the reports are officially unconfirmed, there can be no doubt that China will eventually have additional aircraft carriers next to the Liaoning. China has already developed its own J-15 aircraft, which is roughly similar to an improved Su-33, for service on carriers, not to mention other supporting infrastructure on land.
That kind of heavy investments would not have been made if there was no intent to build their own aircraft carriers. What remains to be seen are in the details, such as how many aircraft carriers are to be build by China, the time schedule for inducting them into service and their exact configuration.
Dalian is the place where the former Varyag or Liaoning, currently China's only aircraft carrier, was refurbished after being bought from the Ukraine. The shipyard is also in the process of building two Type 052D destroyers to become the second shipyard to build the type, next to Shanghai where four Type 052D destroyers are under construction or fitting out.
While the reports are officially unconfirmed, there can be no doubt that China will eventually have additional aircraft carriers next to the Liaoning. China has already developed its own J-15 aircraft, which is roughly similar to an improved Su-33, for service on carriers, not to mention other supporting infrastructure on land.
That kind of heavy investments would not have been made if there was no intent to build their own aircraft carriers. What remains to be seen are in the details, such as how many aircraft carriers are to be build by China, the time schedule for inducting them into service and their exact configuration.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Russia Commissions First Project 885 Yasen Class Nuclear Submarine
The first Project 885 Yasen class (or Graney class) nuclear submarine has finally been commissioned in the Russian Navy, long after it was originally planned to enter service during the nineties. The Severodvinsk was laid down in 1993 with work continuing on and off over the next two decades.
The nineties saw the Russian Navy experience hard times due to financial difficulties which effected the building of new warships, including the Project 885 submarines. However, the improving Russian economy in recent years has allowed Russia to spend more on defense that wasn't possible before.
A total of eight ships are to be build and the next seven will be modified to the improved Project 885M Yasen-M standard. The submarines will be armed among others with the 3M-54 Kalibr and 3M-55 Onyx (Oniks) missile systems.
The P-800 Onyx is finally starting to enter Russian service after export versions of the missile have already done so in other countries years before. The Yakhont has been exported to Syria, Indonesia and Vietnam and the Brahmos is in service in India.
The nineties saw the Russian Navy experience hard times due to financial difficulties which effected the building of new warships, including the Project 885 submarines. However, the improving Russian economy in recent years has allowed Russia to spend more on defense that wasn't possible before.
A total of eight ships are to be build and the next seven will be modified to the improved Project 885M Yasen-M standard. The submarines will be armed among others with the 3M-54 Kalibr and 3M-55 Onyx (Oniks) missile systems.
The P-800 Onyx is finally starting to enter Russian service after export versions of the missile have already done so in other countries years before. The Yakhont has been exported to Syria, Indonesia and Vietnam and the Brahmos is in service in India.
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