SP's MAI December 16-31, 2011

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Biang biang noodles : A viewpoint

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From the

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December 16-31 • 2011

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editor’s DESK SP’s Exclusives

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military Viewpoint

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[By Lt General (Retd) P.C. Katoch] Updates

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AEROSPACE Updates

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Hawk Mk. 132

Unmanned

14

DELENG/2010/34651

INTERNAL security Updates

17

IFSEC India 2011

18

Cyber News

19

TECHNOLOGY

20

Corporate

21

security Breaches 22

To freeze, or not to freeze

Pakistan has received $20 billion as aid from the US. There is pressure on the Obama Administration to put conditions on aid, as terrorist activities continue unabated in Pakistan.

Sp’s MAI

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Lockheed Martin rolls out final F-22 Raptor

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FROM THE

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MILITARY AEROSPACE INTERNAL SECURITY

December 16-31 • 2011

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EDITOR’S DESK SP’S EXCLUSIVES

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MILITARY

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7

Viewpoint

Cover:

[By Lt General (Retd) P.C. Katoch]

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Updates

AEROSPACE

Pakistan has received $20 billion as aid from the US. There is pressure on the Obama Administration to put conditions on aid, as terrorist activities continue unabated in Pakistan.

11

Updates

Hawk Mk. 132

14

Unmanned

INTERNAL SECURITY

DELENG/2010/34651

he final Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor rolled off the assembly line from production facility at Marietta, Georgia, on December 14 and was commemorated with a ceremony recognising contributions from thousands of people associated with the design and construction of the Raptor fleet.

This F-22 Raptor (Lockheed Martin tail number 4195) now moves into production flight check and will deliver to the US Air Force in 2012, completing the operational fleet at 187 jets.

“This event honours the many men and women of Team Raptor who have taken this plane from concept to reality,” said Jeff Babione, Vice President and General Manager for Lockheed Martin’s F-22 programme.

BIANG BIANG NOODLES : A VIEWPOINT

Updates

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IFSEC India 2011

18

Cyber News

19

TECHNOLOGY

20

CORPORATE

21

SECURITY BREACHES

22

1_SP's MAI Cover 22-2011 final.indd 1

To freeze, or not to freeze

Pakistan has received $20 billion as aid from the US. There is pressure on the Obama Administration to put conditions on aid, as terrorist activities continue unabated in Pakistan.

17/12/11 12:50 PM

Cover image: White House

Publisher And Editor-in-Chief

Jayant Baranwal Assistant Group editor

R. Chandrakanth SR Technical Group EditorS

Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey Air Marshal (Retd) V.K. Bhatia Lt General (Retd) Naresh Chand Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor R. Adm (Retd) S.K. Ramsay SPECIAL Contributor

Lt General (Retd) P.C. Katoch SR Copy editor & CORRESPONDENT

Sucheta Das Mohapatra Chairman & Managing Director

Jayant Baranwal planning & business development

Executive Vice President: Rohit Goel ADMIN & COORDINATION

Bharti Sharma Survi Massey

PHOTOGRAPH: Lockheed Martin

design & LAYOUT

“For the last 17 years, regardless of the challenges, they always remained singularly focused, delivering the world’s greatest fighter. Each Raptor – from the first jet to last jet – is a reflection of the dedication, hard work and professionalism of our workforce.”

Operational F-22s are based at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia; Elmendorf AFB, Alaska; Holloman AFB, New Mexico; and Hickam AFB, Hawaii. Air Force F-22 units have deployed to Kadena Air Base, Japan, and Andersen AFB, Guam, as part of rotational deployments designed to enhance security in the Pacific theatre. The Raptor has conducted joint and coalition training both stateside and overseas in locations including the United Arab Emirates.

Lockheed Martin partners with the US Air Force to ensure Raptor availability, performance and reliability, and to enhance the aircraft’s capabilities to keep it ahead of emerging and proliferating threats. SP

2 SP’S MAI Issue 22 • 2011

Senior Art Director: Anoop Kamath Designers: Vimlesh Kumar Yadav, Sonu Bisht

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From the Editor’s Desk

US aid to Pakistan worrisome F

or the United States, Pakistan is an ally and India is a market. This phrase has an ominous ring to it. From an India perspective, the more the US supports Pakistan both financially and militarily, the neighbourhood becomes increasingly vulnerable to instability. India cannot find comfort in the strained US-Pakistan relations in the recent past, post the killing of Osama bin Laden by US forces, as Pakistan has received substantial aid from the former.

Since 2001, the US has allocated some $20 billion in security and economic aid to Pakistan, much of it in the form of reimbursements for assistance in fighting militants. Though US lawmakers have expressed increasing frustration with Pakistan’s efforts in the war, their support continues. Even the latest decision by the Congressional panel to freeze $700 million aid is yet to be approved as the US is seemingly in some kind of a dilemma. Pakistan leadership already has started threatening that any such move by the US will not do any good to the relationship.

What worries India is that Pakistan figures among the top three recipients of US aid in 2012. The US State Department has indicated that Afghanistan tops the list at $3,213.4 million, followed by Israel at $3,075 million and Pakistan at $2,965 million of foreign military financing.

That Pakistan has been a safe-haven for terrorists is known and its track-record in dealing with them is poor. What can be more damning to Pakistan than finding the most dreaded terrorist Osama bin Laden in the military backyard near Islamabad.

Funding Pakistan to its teeth could unsettle the region and India hopes that the US would relook at its assistance.

Moving from the western theatre to the North-east, the Chinese army has been indulging in frequent skirmishes with Indian forces, creating instability over there. In his forthright fortnightly column, Lt General (Retd) P.C. Katoch states that China’s policy of peace and cooperation are akin to biang biang noodles and is based on happiness of her neighbours but beneath this facade of peaceful homilies, China does the exact opposite.

She has deployed numerous lethal conventional and strategic

military assets in Tibet including the recent deployments of DF-21 and staging forward of airborne units and assists insurgencies.

From this issue, we will be regularly carrying certain features which will be special under the head of SP’s Exclusives, written by an ‘insider’. In the current issue, we cover the latest updates on Slybird MAV and LCA Tejas.

Through the MSU-led study, researchers obtained DNA from eight backpacks that had been blown up with pipe bombs inside, and subsequently obtained full DNA profiles that matched all eight volunteers who had carried the backpacks for a week.

The recently concluded IFSEC 2011 focused on homeland security equipment as the market in India is expanding in the face of growing asymmetric threats. The show at Pragati Maidan highlighted the importance of intelligence and surveillance to keep at bay elements that were disruptive. India needs to secure not just her borders but also the hinterland, irrespective of the costs. There is an acceleration in the efforts to secure the country and that is most welcome. SP

Jayant Baranwal

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

Issue 22 • 2011 SP’S MAI 3

Sp’s ExclusiveS [ By SP’s Special Correspondent ]

India’s Slybird MAV update

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he Indian Slybird hand-launched mini unmanned drone is maturing with a series of regular test-flights this year, and the coast clear for the second phase. Designed as a 2-kg all-composite fixed wing unmanned system with an endurance of 1-hour and a 10-km range, scientists developing the drone say they are extremely happy with flight test results and are ready to begin sensor integration for Phase-2 of flights. The drone, being developed for a service ceiling of 14,000 feet (but which has only been tested at 3,000 feet and sea-level so far) is intended for real-time telemetry and video surveillance using miniaturised electro-optic payloads or a daylight/IR video camera. The pro-

gramme team intends to deliver a drone with capabilities and performance similar to the Israeli Elbit Skylark (being partnered

by HAL in India) and the American AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven, demonstrated to the Army at Exercise Yudh Abhyas in 2009. Slybird, first revealed earlier this year at Aero India 2011, is a major thrust area under the NP-MICAV (National Program on Micro Air Vehicles) jointly by DRDO-ADE, CSIR-NAL, IITs, IISc and National Design and Research Forum of the Institution of Engineers. Earlier this year, the National Aerospace Laboratory experimented successfully with a valved pulsejet engine on a miniature version of the Rustom-1 experimental drone. The development of man-portable tactical drones is aimed at the Army and paramilitary forces – both have officially announced their interest in acquiring such a capability. The army and CPMF have both tested Honeywell’s RQ-16 T-Hawk for counterinsurgency and anti-Maoist operations, while the army is being seen as a possibly buyer of the American AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven or Lockheed Martin Desert Hawk, though no decision has been taken yet. SP

Tavor rifle with Indian Army

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fter several stops and starts, including problems with stability and the lack of certain features, the Israel-built IWI Tavor TAR-21 assault rifle is now comfortably in Indian use, inducted and operational in several agencies including the Army para commando units, marine commandos, Rashtriya Rifles, Special Frontier Force and certain paramilitary units. Fitted with an M203-class grenade launcher, the TAR-21 is likely to be ordered in larger numbers shortly. The army has also begun fitting its Tavors with telescopic sights, accessory rails, dual magazine clips, self luminous reflex sight for the under-barrel

Tejas air force version update

PHOTOGRAPHs: NAL, SP Guide Pubns

W

ith final operational clearance for the primary air force version of the indigenously-developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA Tejas) pushed back a year till December 2014, the programme has hit fresh hurdles after over three years of rapid and unhindered testing. A challenging list of performance parameters and operational envelope expansion remain unfinished including lightning tests, crucial all-weather clearance, wake penetration and the full gamut of precision weapon delivery. With the seventh limited series production (LSP-7) aircraft still to fly (delayed by over six months), there are concerns in the IAF. At a recent monitoring meeting, it was decided that no further concessions could be made to performance towards the second initial operational clearance (IOC-2) scheduled for June 2012. Different air force platforms of the Tejas are currently engaged in the entire gamut of tests, including night flying, sensor flights, weapons trials and all-weather tests. The IAF is also concerned that delays in the Tejas air force version (the LCA-Navy has already been delayed by over a year, but finally expected to make its first flight soon) may impact timelines on the Tejas Mk.2.

The latter programme, headed by DRDO’s H. Siddhesha and

4 SP’S MAI Issue 22 • 2011

assisted by a four-man team draws its resources from the core Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) design and development resource base. And since the IAF plans to purchase more Mk.2s (at least 83 aircraft in four squadrons) than the original variant (two squadrons of 40 aircraft), the IAF has recommended that the Mk.2 team be expanded and is offering its own officers to assist. The Tejas Mk.2 is expected to make its first flight around the time that the Mk.1 receives final operational clearance. SP

www.spsmai.com

Sp’s ExclusiveS [ By SP’s Special Correspondent ] its order at six aircraft in the current configuration since thrust performance has been deemed insufficient for effective and safe carrier operations. The LCA Navy Mk.2, powered by the GE F414 turbofan, when operational, will be ordered in larger numbers. SP

Indian Army uses Arjun in largest wargame

T grenade launcher and single eye night vision with head band.

The light-weight fast-point/shoot Israeli weapon is being considered a mainstay design alongside the Belgian FN Herstan F2000 bullpup assault rifle, the latter in use with agencies that include the VVIP Special Protection Group’s counter-assault force that was raised in 2008. SP

LCA Navy first flight

PHOTOGRAPHs: Wikipedia, SP’s Spl. Correspondent

A

fter struggling with serious concerns over weight and landing gear issues, India’s first fighter intended for carrier operations, the LCA-Navy, is to finally make its first flight this month. After 18 months of ground tests and three months since the aircraft was powered on for an engine ground run, the LCA Navy’s inaugural flight is already delayed by well over a year.

Sources at the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) confirm that key concerns with certain control laws pertaining to sink rate, landing gear and weight had been addressed and that the team was confident of a first flight shortly – the hope is before New Year.

The first prototype NP-1, a twin-seat trainer version, has been subjected to substantial engineering and structural changes to its airframe for its specialised profile. Certain deficincies that affected flight performance in simulated studies also cropped up in 2010, necessitating important airframe changes. Also, ab initio development of critical items like arrester hook assemblies, strengthened landing gear and additional leading edge control surfaces have slowed progress. In 2010, the programme team was forced to seek foreign assistance to complete certain work on time (EADS was hired to help audit the LCA Navy’s parameters and consult on landing gear and recovery technology issues).

The Indian Navy, which funds the LCA Navy effort, has capped

he indigenous Arjun main battle tank was an integral part of the Army’s strike corps wargame Sudarshan Shakti that played out over the last few weeks in Rajasthan’s border sectors. With 124 tanks in two regiments, the Army put the squadron of Arjuns through the paces as part of its integrated theatre offensive validation effort. Performing alongside the mainstay T-90S Bhishma and T-72 Ajeya, the Arjun is slowly finding an operational niche within the Army’s arsenal. The troubled programme, delayed for years by non-stop development and user trials, will however see limited scope in its current avatar. The Army is now preparing to test the Arjun Mk early next year, a heavier version of the original and with a host of improvements including a crucial night-fighting capability (through a thermal imaging night sight for the driver), a capability to fire missiles from its primary 120mm gun tube, explosive reactive armour protection and advanced navigation features. The army has placed an in-principle indent for 124 Arjun Mk2s, though this order will only be formalised if the DRDO’s Combat Vehicles R&D Establishment succeeds in carrying out recommended modifications to the Arjun and integrating fresh capabilities, including new advanced electronic equipment. SP

Army looking for new machine guns for Special Forces

I

n the latest of a raft of small-arms acquisition efforts, the Indian Army has announced that it is looking to purchase new general purpose machine guns for its Parachute (Special Forces) battalions to augment and later replace the licence-built Belgian MAG-58 and Soviet-era PKM GPMGs currently in use by the battalions. The weapon needs to be fully interoperable with the current weapons in terms of ammunition compatibility (OFB 7.62 x 51mm rounds, which will have to be demonstrated in trials), with a barrel life of at least 20,000 rounds. The army has stipulated that it requires a 7.62mm x 51mm calibre weapon to serve as both a light and medium machine gun. The army is looking for a weapon with greater range than an LMG and lighter than an MMG, with a maximum effective range of 1,000 metres. As with the two current weapons in service, the army will be looking to use the new GPMGs in multiple modes: as an infantry weapon in different profiles, vehicle mounted and heliborne operations. SP For complete SP’s Exclusive’s, log on to:

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Issue 22 • 2011 SP’S MAI 5

Military Report

US aid to Pakistan:

To freeze or not to freeze is the question

PHOTOGRAPH: White House

T

he United States, of late, has been in a dilemma on how far it can go to support Pakistan, both militarily and financially. The US-Pakistan relationship has come under severe strain. The latest decision of the US Congress to freeze $700 million US aid to Pakistan until it provides some assurances of assistance in the fight against improvised explosive devices (IED) in the region and the subsequent clarification by the State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland that “US has not cut $700 million in aid to Pakistan” is reflective of the dilemma.

The US has indicated that the use of improvised explosive devices by terrorists was hurting US and coalition troops in Afghanistan. Many are made using ammonium nitrate, a common fertilizer shipped across the border from Pakistan.

“The vast majority of the material used to make improvised explosive devices used against US forces in Afghanistan originates from two fertilizer factories inside Pakistan,” Senator John McCain, a Republican, has said in the Senate.

President Barack Obama had earlier in the year said that he was concerned by Pakistan’s military and intelligence community’s ties to “unsavoury characters.” To pressure Pakistan, the US is looking at cutting military aid.

Nuland said: “What we have is something on the defence authorisation bill, which is currently moving in the Congress.

So, if this legislation becomes law, we’ll work with the Government of Pakistan on how we can fulfil the requirements. But, this requires us to maintain a strategic perspective and to be clear with our Congress about the strategy.”

Till date, the United States has allocated some $20 billion in security and economic aid to Pakistan since 2001, much of it in the form of reimbursements for assistance in fighting militants.

But US lawmakers have expressed increasing frustration with Pakistan’s efforts in the war.

Post the May 2 US raid killing Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan the US-Pakistan relationship hit a new low.

Recently, the NATO airstrike killing 24 Pakistani soldiers near

6 SP’S MAI Issue 22 • 2011

the Pakistan-Afghanistan border worsened the relationship.

The Pakistan Prime Minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani warned that Islamabad will not accept “flagrant transgression” of its territory like the last month’s deadly NATO strike which he referred to as the “26/11 attacks”.

Meanwhile, there have been several demands on the part of the US leadership to make US aid to Pakistan conditional. The US wants Pakistan to cooperate in fighting militants such as the Haqqani network which the US believes operate out of Pakistan and battle US troops in Afghanistan. US lawmakers allege that many Afghan bombs are made with fertilizer smuggled by militants across the border from Pakistan into Afghanistan.

Earlier in July, the US had decided to suspend $800 million military aid to Pakistan and India had welcomed the move stating that a heavy presence of arms would have disturbed the equilibrium in the region.

“With reference to the special circumstances between India and Pakistan and how India has consistently taken the view that it is not desirable that this region had to be heavily armed by the US which will upset the equilibrium in the region itself. To that extent India welcomes this step,” External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna had stated.

Despite the ‘straining relationship’, Pakistan figures among the top three recipients of US aid in 2012. The US State Department has indicated that Afghanistan tops the list at $3,213.4 million, followed by Israel at $3,075 million and Pakistan at $2,965 million of foreign military financing. In the case of Pakistan, 80 per cent of the funding is for activities supported by the Economic Support Fund (ESF) and the Pakistan Counter-Insurgency Capability Fund (PCCF).

Pakistan received $4,462 million from the defence budget in FY 2010, which came down to $2,444 million in FY 2011, but increases slightly to $2,965 million in FY 2012. Almost 88 per cent of the US aid to South Central Asia in FY 2012 is requested for Afghanistan and Pakistan. SP www.spsmai.com

military Viewpoint

Biang biang

PHOTOGRAPH: wikipedia

Lt General (Retd) P.C. Katoch

Besides, no matter how economically and militarily strong you are, China needs to understand that antagonising the whole world less North Korea and Pakistan (whom China nuclearised) can backfire

noodles

C

hina says her policy of peace and cooperation, akin to her biang biang noodles, is based on happiness of her neighbours but beneath this facade of peaceful homilies, China does the exact opposite. Her propagandists say she does not claim South China Sea but the South China Sea happens to fall within a line drawn by the Chinese Government in 1947 (a regime she overthrew and does not recognise) linking certain undersea islands/atolls. China is raining biang biang noodles upon neighbours (India, Bhutan, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, Philippines and Japan etc) with scant regard to international law and territorial sensitivities.

Law of the Seas permits ‘innocent passage’ of foreign military aircraft and vessels through the EEZ but China defies the same, inebriated as she is gets with growing comprehensive national power.

China ‘warns’ India for assisting Vietnam in oil exploration in the South China Sea on the plea that it is ‘disputed’ territory but herself occupies over 6,000 square kilometres of Indian territory (Shaksgam Valley) in PoK since 1963 and, is doing several projects in PoK besides iilegally occupying 38,000 square kilometres of Aksai Chin.

She has deployed numerous lethal conventional and strategic military assets in Tibet including the recent deployments of DF-21 and staging forward of airborne units and assists insurgencies in india.

She claims Arunachal Pradesh (90,000 square kilometres) on basis of exploits of Genghis Khan, a Mongol forgetting in 6th century Tibet was a bigger kingdom than China and in the 7th century Tibet had even captured the then capital of China.

Akin to her bot armies invading global cyber space, China has been investing her manpower abroad, surreptitiously employing the PLA in garb of construction workers and businesses, particularly in countries surrounding India, Indian Ocean region, Afghanistan, Central Asian Republics and the like.

While the US was invading Afghanistan, China had already inducted some 15,000 ‘construction workers’ – read part PLA into Afghanistan in 2001. Some two million Chinese are present in Myanmar today, 11,000 in PoK/Pakistan and similar manpower investments/innocent PLA intrusions have been done in Nepal, Bangladesh, Seychelles, Fiji and even in Hambantota Port of Sri Lanka. While China preaches peace, the PLA’s biang biang noodles quietly spread their strategic web. China would do well to reflect what will happen if the PLA goes out of hand like the Pakistani Military/ISI. Besides, no matter how economically and militarily strong you are, China needs to understand that antagonising the whole world less North Korea and Pakistan (whom China nuclearised) can backfire.

In 2005, a Deputy Political Commissar of PLAAF had said, “When a nation grows strong enough, it practises hegemony. The sole purpose of power is to pursue power...

Geography is destiny… When a country begins to rise, it shall first sets itself in an invincible position”.

China would do well to examine whether she has actually set herself in ‘invincible position’. Implosions have occurred/are occurring world over when you suppress your own population and practise ruthlessness under pretext of development. Besides, Chinese economy is inexorably linked to the world economy – holding more than a trillion dollars of US debt (which may even go up) is just one example. Practising the traditional Chinese “Tian Xia” concept which views “all territories” under the skies (heaven) as belonging to the Chinese, may not be practical in the 21st century, especially through the gun barrel. China has too many fault-lines to persist with its bullying stance.

The world may just choose to exploit them. SP The views expressed herein are the personal views of the author.

Issue 22 • 2011 SP’S MAI 7

Military Updates

India-China annual defence dialogue held

T

he 4th India-China annual defence dialogue (ADD) was conducted on December 9, 2011 in Delhi. The Indian side was led by the Defence Secretary, Shashi Kant Sharma and the Chinese by General Ma Xiaotian, Deputy Chief of General Staff, PLA. ADD was established under the provisions of the memorandum of understanding for “Exchanges and Cooperation in the Field of Defence”, signed by the two in May 2006. The annual dialogue has been held alternatively in Beijing and New Delhi since 2006.

The 4th ADD was conducted in an atmosphere of cordiality and both sides were frank and constructive in their approach during the deliberations. They shared regional and global security perceptions and agreed that enhancement of defence exchanges between the armed forces of India and China would contribute to better understanding and mutual trust and confidence building.

They also discussed the programme of defence exchanges during 2012 and agreed that the range and scope of exchanges at various levels would be gradually enhanced.

It was noted that existing confidence building measures on the LAC between both countries were successful in maintaining peace and tranquillity on the borders. It was decided that such measures would continue to be implemented. They agreed that the process of dialogue and communication should be strengthened at various levels to ensure stability in the border areas. The provisions of the 2005 protocol for implementation of CBMs on the LAC should be strictly adhered to by both sides so that peace and tranquility is maintained in the border areas.

It was also noted that the strengthening of the institutional

Ultra-light Howitzer purchase plans

PHOTOGRAPH: PIB

U

ltra-light Howitzer is amongst the equipment that is included in the Artillery Profile 2027 prepared by the Artillery Directorate of Army. The procurement on Single Vendor basis from ST Kinetics, Singapore is sub-judice. The option of procuring the equipment through US Government (FMS route) is also being pursued.

The field evaluation of ultra-light Howitzer comprises three parts viz. user trials, DGQA trials and maintainability trials. Out of these, only user trials of the gun proposed to be procured through US Government have been completed. The performance of the gun can be ascertained only after evaluation of all three trial reports.

The field evaluation trial report of the guns was a confidential document. Four pages of draft field trial report were received in an anonymous envelope by the Army Headquarters. An inquiry in the matter is underway. Detailed instructions exist about security of classified documents. Aberrations, if any, are dealt with as per the relevant rules.

This information was given by Defence Minister A.K. Antony in Parliament. SP 8 SP’S MAI Issue 22 • 2011

mechanism for border discussions, which is expected to be operationalised soon through the establishment of a working level mechanism, would improve communications on important border related issues.

The Chinese delegation also called on the Defence Minister A.K. Antony who expressed his satisfaction at the positive and constructive discussions during the ADD and stated that both sides should work towards increasing mutual trust and confidence, as this was for the benefit of both countries.

He expressed the hope that high level exchanges between the defence establishments of both sides would further nurture the process of dialogue. He extended an invitation to the Chinese Defence Minister to visit India at a mutually convenient time.

The Chinese delegation also called on Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Nirmal Verma at South Block, New Delhi. SP

IDF introduces groundbreaking encrypted communication device

I

n the coming months, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will incorporate a new communication device into operational use. Elbit and IDF have jointly developed the new device called “Elad Yarok” (Green Elad), capable of communicating across radio frequencies as well as encrypted frequencies. The device will be integrated in all IDF units, including the armoured corps, and is expected to enter service this coming April.

While being able communicate with all existing transceivers, Elad Yarok will also allow the transfer of encrypted data over more advanced RPT channels. It is also equipped with a durable touch screen, that coupled with the advanced capabilities, will deliver various data including video and photos, to commanders in the field in real-time.

“This is, in fact, the first time that anyone has been able to connect traditional radio transceivers to more advanced communication devices capable of delivering media. We are the first to successfully develop such military capabilities,” said Deputy Commander at an IDF training base, Lt Colonel Yigal Padel. “The www.spsmai.com

military Updates technology is progressing and the need for alternative avenues of transferring information is growing. We are living in a fast-paced world that moves on a broad spectrum of technology, and everything pertaining to moving information is essential to digitally integrated forces.”

In the meantime, Elad Yarok will streamline the deployment of ground forces because most of its features are automatic, requiring no extra effort to navigate frequencies. “War has become a war of information. If the information arrives faster, the battle moves faster. What used to take two seconds will now take one. In the field, this is critical,” explained Lt Colonel Padel. SP

Elbit Systems offers lightweight weapon stations

E

lbit Systems has announced that it was awarded contracts to supply lightweight weapons stations (LWS) to the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD) and to a European Army.

In Israel, Elbit Systems was awarded a contract valued at approximately $11 million, for development and initial procurement, as part of an upgrade process of the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) lightweight weapons arsenal. The 7.62mm, 12.7mm and 40mm LWS are designed to be installed onboard armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) and are to be supplied over an 18-month period.

Elbit Systems was also awarded a contract, valued at approximately $10 million, to supply a European Army with 12.7mm LWS. The stations are to be installed onboard Pandur 6x6 vehicles and will be supplied over a period of one year.

Bezhalel (Butzi) Machlis, General Manager, Elbit Systems Land and C4I Division, commented: “We are very proud of our selection to provide LWS to these two customers, reinforcing our position as global leading supplier of diverse types of weapon stations. Our solutions for full scale as well as low intensity conflicts, and our vast experience, enable us to provide customers with cutting edge solutions for all kinds of combat vehicle needs, and we hope other customers will follow.” SP

Thailand becomes the tenth SeaFox customer

PHOTOGRAPHS: Elbit Systems, Harris

A

tlas Elektronik has won a new customer for SeaFox with the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) deciding to upgrade its mine-hunting capabilities with the Atlas mine neutralisation drone.

Atlas will supply three mobile SeaFox systems with the corresponding number of SeaFox I units for inspection and training purposes and an initially small number of SeaFox C combat units for mine disposal. Further SeaFox C units are to follow over the next few years. The mobile SeaFox system is a completely autonomous system that allows the deployment of SeaFox vehicles with no dependence on shipboard facilities or equipment. This permits deployment of the SeaFox vehicles from various types of ships at any time, without the need to convert the vessels in any way.

The Royal Thai Navy currently operates four mine countermeasure vessels, all of which are equipped with mine warfare systems made by Atlas. The vessels to be modernised belong to two different ship classes. As the first step, the boats will be fitted with SeaFox units in the form of a mobile SeaFox system. SP

Harris expands RF7800T ISR capabilities

H

arris Corporation is broadening the capabilities of its RF-7800T situational awareness video receiver (SAVR) to address growing requirements for secure wireless digital intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance video at the tactical edge. Harris has integrated the small unmanned aerial systems digital data link (SUAS-DDL) waveform with the RF-7800T video receiver. With SUAS-DDL, the RF-7800T is now able to receive advanced encryption standard (AES) video feeds from multiple small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) simultaneously.

SUAS-DDL, a Department of Defense standard waveform, provides enhanced interoperability between small UAS in the air and video receivers and control stations on the ground. The characteristics of the waveform allow multiple UAS to transmit video on the same frequency. This enables warfighters to monitor intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) video streams covering a wider geographic area, leading to enhanced command and control and operational decision-making.

“The addition of SUAS-DDL adds greater capability to our SAVR video receiver,” said Dana Mehnert, Group President, Harris RF Communications. “Users will be able to switch easily between multiple video and data feeds, providing them with critical real-time information.

Lightweight and portable, the SAVR provides these feeds directly to the individual warfighter.”

The multiband RF-7800T SAVR delivers realtime video feeds from cameras on aircraft or UAS platforms to ground forces. Designed for the dismounted warfighter as well as for fixed and vehicular applications RF-7800T enables feeds to be viewed outside the TOC and while personnel are on the move. The RF-7800T leverages the Falcon III SCA architecture, allowing the product to remain on the cusp of emerging data link standards through software upgrades.

Video feeds from the RF-7800T are easily disseminated over Falcon III radio networks. SP

Issue 22 • 2011 SP’S MAI 9

Military Updates

DRS bags Lockheed Martin contract for US Navy submarine technology upgrade

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RS Technologies announced that its DRS Laurel Technologies business unit, a subcontractor to Lockheed Martin, received an award for a US Navy Submarine technology insertion hardware (TIH) contract that will provide submarine combat and sonar systems designed around commercially available hardware and software.

DRS has been awarded a five-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract with a ceiling value of $691 million from Lockheed Martin to provide the production hardware.

“We have worked very closely with the Lockheed Martin team to meet a very aggressive schedule for the production hardware to support the US Navy’s TIH Upgrade,” says Patrick Marion, Vice President and General Manager of DRS Laurel Technologies.

The Navy’s TIH programme includes design, development and production of hardware for the next two submarine technology insertions planned for Seawolf, SSGN, 688/688i, Virginia class, and future submarine systems and platforms. The US Navy will provide the Royal Australian Navy with similar technology insertions for the Collins class submarines through the foreign military sales programme. SP

Australia chooses Thales Hawkei

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he Australian Defence has selected Hawkei light tactical vehicle design from Thales Australia as the preferred design for LAND 121 Phase 4.

Subject to successful testing of the vehicles, final government approval of the project is expected in 2015, and production work could potentially commence in Australia as early as 2016. Part of Project Overlander, the acquisition of 1,300 modern, protected light tactical vehicles represent a $1.5 billion part of the $7.5 billion project.

The next stage in the programme will include funding for further development and testing of the Hawkei, including the manufacture of prototype vehicles. Thales designed this vehicle specifically to meet Australian specification; the Israeli armour protection expert Plasan has joined as a team member, to provide the protection suite for the vehicle.

Thales Australia is currently manufacturing the Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles at its factory in Bendigo. In order to retain critical skills in Bendigo while the design of the Hawkei is finalised and proven, the production of additional Bushmaster vehicles is being considered. SP

Northrop Grumman delivers EW test systems to Turkey

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PHOTOGRAPHS: Thales, US Navy

orthrop Grumman Corporation has announced the delivery of combat electromagnetic environment simulator (CEESIM) systems and a signal measurement system (SMS) to Aselsan, the Turkish high technology defence electronics company based in Ankara.

In three separate contract awards, Northrop Grumman was selected to provide a CEESIM, an SMS and a Pulseman portable CEESIM Simulator to Aselsan’s Radar, Electronic Warfare and Intelligence Systems Division to support various electronic warfare (EW)-related programmes within Turkey. Aselsan provides EW equipment for use on ground-based, naval, fixed and rotary-wing platforms.

“Together, CEESIM and SMS offer a complete end-to-end electronic warfare testing solution by providing Aselsan the ability to generate a highly realistic simulated environment while measuring how well the EW equipment operates within that environment,” said Joe Downie, President of Northrop Grumman’s Amherst Systems business unit.

“The Northrop Grumman CEESIM system is the most advanced radio frequency (RF) simulator on the market today,” noted Downie. CEESIM generates complex dynamic electromagnetic environments that allow users to test and evaluate the performance of advanced electronic warfare systems including radar warning receivers, electronic countermeasure systems and signal intelligence systems. CEESIM is fully reprogrammable and is able to simulate EW/ radar signals and communication signals.

SMS provides real-time RF measurement and analysis of threat emitters and corresponding system-under-test jammer responses for hardware-in-the-loop, installed system, and open-air training range applications. SP

10 SP’S MAI Issue 22 • 2011

www.spsmai.com

AEROSPACE Updates

Embraer performs first flight of the EMB 145 AEW&C platform developed for India

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mbraer recently performed the maiden flight of the first of three EMB 145 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft ordered by the Indian Government.

The flight was well performed and all planned tests were successfully achieved. It took place at Embraer’s headquarters, in São José do Campos.

“This flight concludes another important phase in this programme and starts the flight test campaign,” said Eduardo Bonini Santos Pinto, Senior Vice President Operations & COO, Embraer Defense and Security. “We are moving toward delivery of the first aircraft during the first half 2012.”

“The flight is a major milestone towards realising the dream of indigenous airborne early warning and control system, which will put India into a select club of countries” said Dr V.K. Saraswat, Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri congratulating Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) scientists and Embraer engineers on this achievement.

Based on the proven Embraer ERJ 145 regional jet, the aircraft features an in-flight refueling system, SATCOM capability,

a significant increase in electrical and cooling capacities, and a comprehensive set of aerodynamic and structural changes.

These improvements will allow the installation of the advanced electronic systems currently being developed by DRDO with Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) as the nodal agency.

Currently, four Embraer Legacy 600 jets are operated by the Indian Air Force for the transportation of Indian VIPs and foreign dignitaries, and a fifth Embraer Legacy 600 is in service with the Border Security Force, under the Ministry of Home Affairs. SP A Declaration of Intent between the Brazilian and Portuguese Ministries of Defense, signed in September 2010, preceded this contract, which emphasises Portugal’s commitment to purchasing KC-390 airplanes.

“The agreement provides an opportunity for boosting the capabilities of the military aviation cluster, so as to generate and develop technological competencies,” said Jacinto Moniz de Bettencourt, EEA President.

“This is a unique opportunity for OGMA to develop its technological and manufacturing capabilities within a high aggregate value military program,” said OGMA President Almir Borges. SP

PHOTOGRAPHs: Embraer, Lockheed Martin

Brazil and Portugal sign defence partnership for KC-390 programme

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mbraer Defense and Security signed a partnership contract with OGMA – Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal and EEA – Empresa de Engenharia Aeronáutica recently for the KC-390 military airlifter and aerial refuelling jet programme.

According to this agreement, Portugal, through EEA, will develop the engineering project for the KC-390’s components, which will be manufactured by Embraer subsidiary OGMA. “Portugal’s participation in the KC-390 programme strengthens our position in the European defence market,” said Luiz Carlos Aguiar, President of Embraer Defense and Security.

Lockheed wins $600 million order for Omani F-16 fighters

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ockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $600 million firm-fixed-price, timeand-material and costplus-fixed-fee contract for a foreign military sales programme that will provide the Government of Oman with following: 12 F-16 C/D Block 50 multirole fighter aircraft (10 C models, two D models), support equipment, technical orders, and integrated logistics support.

Work is expected to be completed by November 30, 2016.

This was a sole-source acquisition. SP Issue 22 • 2011 SP’S MAI 11

AEROSPACE Updates

BAE Systems gets Indian Hawk spares contract

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einforcing BAE Systems’ strong relationship with the Indian Air Force (IAF) and aircraft manufacturer the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the company has recently secured a £59 million contract for the provision of spares and ground support equipment to aid the Hawk training aircraft operations.

This brings the total value of Hawk-related contracts won in India to more than £600 million in the last 18 months. Hawk is manufactured in India under licence by HAL with materials, parts and support services provided by BAE Systems.

Guy Griffiths, BAE Systems’ Group Managing Director, International, said, “The Indian Air Force has one of the largest fleets of Hawks anywhere in the world, and this contract is vital to ensure the continued availability of the fleet. This new order strengthens the robust production platform established by our partner HAL for the aircraft, which remains the benchmark advanced jet trainer in service today.”

Underlining BAE Systems’ growing presence in India, Defence Land Systems India (DLSI), the company’s joint venture with Mahindra & Mahindra, has begun delivery of a small, but strategically important, order from the police in the Eastern state of Jharkhand for the company’s mine protected vehicle. SP

plus ground support segments for mission crew training, mission support and system maintenance. 737-based AEW&C aircraft also are in production for the governments of Australia and Turkey.

Based on the Boeing Next-Generation 737-700 commercial airplane, the 737 AEW&C aircraft is designed to provide airborne-battle-management capability with an advanced multirole electronically scanned radar and 10 state-of-the-art mission crew consoles that are able to track airborne and maritime targets simultaneously. The mission crew can direct offensive and defensive forces while maintaining continuous surveillance of the operational area. SP

Boeing delivers 2nd Peace Eye AEW&C aircraft to Korea

PHOTOGRAPHS: BAE Systems, Boeing, Saab Group

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oeing delivered the second Peace Eye 737 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft to the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) on December 13.

The aircraft was delivered ahead of schedule to ROKAF Base Gimhae, the main operating base for the Peace Eye fleet. Peace Eye No. 2 is the first aircraft in the fleet to be modified into an AEW&C configuration by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) at its facility in Sacheon.

“The quality of KAI’s work has been outstanding. Their commitment to excellence, their focus and their technical expertise were critical to the achievement of this major milestone,” said Randy Price, Peace Eye Program Manager for Boeing.

Two additional Peace Eye aircraft are being modified by KAI in Sacheon and will be delivered to the ROKAF in 2012.

The Peace Eye programme includes four 737 AEW&C aircraft 12 SP’S MAI Issue 22 • 2011

Swiss Air Force to get Swedish jets

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witzerland has chosen the Gripen fighter jet manufactured by Sweden’s Saab group to replace the Air Force’s fleet of US-made F5 Tigers. The government said that it had made its choice on the recommendation of Defence Minister Ueli Maurer.

Parliament has to approve the choice before the order can be placed which is valued at 3.4 billion for 22 aircraft.

The Gripen was in competition with the Rafale, made by the French Dassault company and the Eurofighter of the EADS group.

“In opting for the Saab Gripen, the government chose a fighter jet that meets military requirements while also going for a solution that is financially acceptable for the defence ministry and for the armed forces, in both the medium and long term.” SP www.spsmai.com

AEROSPACE Updates more than 40 years,” said Larry D. Roberts, Senior Vice President for Bell Helicopter’s Commercial Business.

“The Bell 412 is highly reliable and a capable product for our mission needs,” said Sri Lanka Air Force’s Commander Air Marshall HD Abeywickrema. “Dependable Bell products and the customer support and service we’ve received over the years are what we value,” he said. SP

Boeing B-52 CONECT system completes flight test milestone Enstrom continues to deliver Royal Thai Army aircraft

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nstrom Helicopter Corporation recently shipped four new 480B turbine helicopters to Thailand. The helicopters are part of a programme for 16 training/utility helicopters for the Royal Thai Army. Enstrom has already delivered six helicopters, and these have entered service for the RTA. “This is an exciting time for Enstrom,” said Enstrom’s President & CEO, Jerry Mullins. “Although we’ve fulfilled orders for larger numbers of aircraft before, this shipment of four highly advanced 480Bs represents the single biggest shipment, dollarwise, in Enstrom’s history. It’s a testament to the increase in capability and growth of the company.”

The latest shipment of 480Bs will arrive in Thailand in January and the remaining six aircraft are scheduled to ship the first quarter of 2012.

Enstrom is represented in Asia by Blake & DeJong Ltd., and in Thailand by M-Landarch Inc. SP

PHOTOGRAPHs: US Air Force, Enstrom, Bell Helicopter, Lockheed Martin

Bell Helicopter delivers to Sri Lanka Air Force

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oeing, on December 12, announced completion of all flight testing needed for the B-52 combat network communications technology (CONECT) programme to receive low rate initial production (LRIP) authorisation from the US Air Force. The flight test programme was conducted at Edwards Air Force Base, California, by Boeing and the Air Force.

“Completion of the LRIP flight test phase means CONECT is ready to be reviewed by our customer for initial production authorisation,” said Scot Oathout, B-52 Program Director.

“CONECT increases B-52 operational effectiveness by providing improved mission flexibility, increased situational awareness and new network-centric capabilities. In addition, CONECT paves the way for easier integration of future upgrades.”

Milestone C authorisation for low-rate initial production is expected in mid-2012.

The CONECT modification provides the ability to change a mission, as well as change the target of a weapon, while the B-52 is in flight. The system provides increased situational awareness for B-52 crews by adding several communication data links and full-colour LCD displays with real-time intelligence feeds overlaid on moving maps. CONECT also enables future B-52 improvements with its onboard, high-speed network. SP

Ahead of schedule Number six of the six C-130J Super Hercules ordered by India, under the US foreign military sales programme, departed Marietta on December 15.

This aircraft was delivered ahead of schedule and under budget.

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ell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, has delivered two Bell 412s to the Sri Lanka Air Force during a ceremony at its facility in Piney Flats, Tennessee.

“We’ve had a strong partnership with the Sri Lanka Air Force for Issue 22 • 2011 SP’S MAI 13

AEROSPACE Unmanned

Nano air vehicle among Time’s 2011 best 50 inventions

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apidly flapping wings to hover, dive, climb, or dart through an open doorway, DARPA’s remotely-controlled Nano Air Vehicle relays real-time video from a tiny on-board camera back to its operator. Weighing less than a AA battery and resembling a live hummingbird, the vehicle could give war fighters an unobtrusive view of threats inside or outside a building from a safe distance.

This week, Time magazine named the Hummingbird one of the best 50 inventions of the year, featuring it on the cover of November 28 edition.

“The Hummingbird’s development is in keeping with a long DARPA tradition of innovation and technical advances for national defence that support the agency’s singular mission – to prevent and create strategic surprise,” said Jay Schnitzer, Director, Defense Sciences Office.

Havoc UAS bridges gap between capability and affordability

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he awaited maiden flight of Brock Technologies Inc, Havoc unmanned aircraft system (UAS), happened on October 24 and by doing so instantly bridged the gap between affordability and capability. Designed and built by Brock Technologies Inc, the Havoc was developed under a series of Air Force SBIR contracts.

The twin boom, pusher 2-stroke engine platform was intended to provide users with a robust modular UAS capable of long endurance flights while carrying an assortment of payloads. Brock Technologies flew two platforms with a variety of payloads. Swapping integrated forward payload bays between flights, Havoc successfully demonstrated video data transmission to the ground station, non-line-of-sight (NLOS) communications, differential global positioning system (DGPS) functionality, and vehicle identification through a mode C transponder and blind encoder. SP

Rustom-1 flight with gimbal payload

PHOTOGRAPHS: AeroVironment, Brock Technologies

I Creating a robotic hummingbird, complete with intricate wings and video capability, may not have seemed doable or even imaginable to some.

But it was this same DARPA visionary innovation that decades ago led to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which were, at the time, inconceivable to some because there was no pilot on board. In the past two years, the Air Force has trained more initial qualification pilots to fly UAVs than fighters and bombers combined.

“Advances at DARPA challenge existing perspectives as they progress from seemingly impossible through improbable to inevitable,” said, DARPA Director Dr Regina Dugan.

UAVs from the small WASP, to the Predator, to Global Hawk now number in the hundreds in Afghanistan. What once seemed inconceivable is now routine. SP

14 SP’S MAI Issue 22 • 2011

ndigenously designed and developed Rustom-1 completed its eight successful flight on December 8. It flew at an altitude of 6,000 feet maximum and at a speed of 90 knots maximum during its 30 minutes flight near Hosur.

The highlight of the flight was that Rustom-1 was test flown with the gimbal payload assembly carrying daylight TV & infrared camera for the first time. Good quality pictures were received from the camera in gimbal payload assembly.

P.S. Krishnan, Scientist & Director, Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) of the DRDO lab that has developed the medium altitude long endurance unmanned air vehicle (MALE UAV), said the flight was successful as all the systems worked well. He said all parameters were achieved by the aeroplane, which weighs 661 kg and the total performance was satisfactory. SP

Indra demos two UAVs at Cadiz

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n the framework of the European Robotics Week, Indra has made a flight demo of two of its unmanned aircraft: the Pelican helicopter and the Mantis plane, at Villamartin aerodrome (Cadiz).

The company demonstrated the capacities of Pelican, a system conceived for maritime surveillance, which will be ready to enter service by early 2012.

Pelican is the first rotary-wing UAV prepared to embark on a military vessel.

The system is in the last development phase and during the test period Indra managed to configure it in such a way that the engine can use heavy fuel oil nonflammable – as it is an elementary requirement to go onboard a military vessel.

Regarding Mantis, Indra exhibited the capacities of the smallest model (2,10-metre-wing) of the family of UAVs developed by the company. The system, ready to enter service soon can be easily transported and operated by one or two people. A system of this type facilitates observation of movement in an operation range of around 30 kilometres. SP www.spsmai.com

AEROSPACE Unmanned

US Army awards Northrop Grumman MQ-5B Hunter support programme

Cassidian and Alenia Aeronautica agree on UAS cooperation

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memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Cassidian on behalf of EADS Deutschland GmbH and Alenia Aeronautica S.p.A. to jointly investigate the potential cooperation in the field of medium altitude long endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAV).

Alenia and Cassidian are aiming to strengthen their technological know-how in order to establish a leading role in the UAS market. Thanks to this agreement, the two companies will analyse the requirements expressed by each of their respective Governments in the UAS sector with the objective to create a strategic partnership and to expand their global UAS market share.

Giuseppe Giordo, CEO of Alenia Aeronautica and Alenia Aermacchi who is also responsible for Finmeccanica’s Aeronautics Sector, commented: “The signing of this agreement is important for Alenia Aeronautica because it alllows us to collaborate with a capable player in the sector of UAS, favouring the growth of our ability to design, build, integrate and support a complex system for the global market, both civil and military. The UAS sector has a strategic importance for the future of Alenia Aeronautica’s programmes and we are convinced that this agreement will allow us to become even more competitive in this quickly expanding market.”

Bernhard Gerwert, Chief Operating Officer of Cassidian, said: “We look forward to investigate further collaboration with Alenia Aeronautica around a next-generation MALE UAS, like, for instance, the Talarion which is of outmost importance for Europe’s military aviation industry. It will fulfill government security missions and commercial applications which cannot be implemented with current solutions and their derivatives.”

Talarion is the European programme for a next-generation MALE UAS to fulfil the requirements initially placed by France, Germany and Spain for future unmanned long endurance surveillance and reconnaissance missions. First series deliveries starting in 2018. SP

PHOTOGRAPHS: Wikipedia, Northrop Grumman

New 12-pound guided bomb flies for first time

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aytheon Company has completed captive carry tests of its Small Tactical Munition Phase II configuration, paving the way for flight tests. “Raytheon developed STM Phase II to provide the warfighter a weapon for Shadow class UAS (unmanned aircraft systems) and counterinsurgency aircraft,” said Bob Francois, Vice President of Advanced Missiles and Unmanned Systems for Raytheon Missile Systems. “STM is a mature, precise and affordable weapon and gives the warfighter flexibility to engage moving and static targets with minimal collateral damage.”

At 12 pounds and 22 inches, STM is the smallest air-launched weapon in the Raytheon portfolio. SP

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he US Army has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation two contractor logistics support contract modifications totaling $91.2 million for the MQ-5B Hunter programme.

The cost-plus-fixed-fee interoperability engineering change proposal and the tactical common data link (TCDL) RESET programmes both have a period of performance of 12 months.

For the TCDL RESET, Northrop Grumman will reset the current C-Band Hunter MQ-5B systems with TCDL technology to include resetting Hunter air vehicles, ground stations and data terminals with TCDL technology. Additionally, the TCDL also serves as a foundation of establishing interoperability among different US Department of Defense air vehicles and ground stations. Such

innovation also allows for manned aircraft to use unmanned aircraft, their sensors and weapons as an extension of their own capabilities keeping aviators out of harm’s way.

The MQ-5B Hunter, which is currently deployed supporting contingency operations in Southwest Asia, is providing the US Army with state-of-the-art intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and communications relay.

“The Hunter was critical to development of numerous advanced manned and unmanned teaming concepts while attached to combat aviation brigades in support of operations in Iraq,” said Kevin Goates, Director, Northrop Grumman Technical Services’ Unmanned Systems Sustainment Center. “Most importantly, it saved, and will continue to save, the lives of countless soldiers and civilians as it plays a vital role in overcoming the threat of improvised explosive devices.” SP

Issue 22 • 2011 SP’S MAI 15

AEROSPACE Unmanned

Sagem’s Patroller drone system passes qualification milestones

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PHOTOGRAPH: Sagem

agem (Safran group) has successfully completed a series of flight tests of its longendurance surveillance drone, Patroller.

These 14 test flights, carried out at the Istres air force base in southern France recently have passed qualification milestones.

They included qualification of the aircraft’s in-flight performance, including automated landings at a steep glide slope; integration of a new data link for taxiing, and a new, higher-performance imaging chain for target identification; and qualification of new flight control functions supporting degraded operating modes, as well as automated touchdowns in case of actuator or propulsion system failure.

The redundant avionics suite showed a significant improvement in flight safety, enabling Patroller to receive authorisation from French authorities to overfly densely populated zones in controlled airspace.

The Patroller drone was also operated over the Mediterranean Sea to test operational maritime and coastal surveillance scenarios, representing missions for homeland security and to combat illegal immigration.

Sagem will be able to deliver a complete, fully operational Patroller system within 12 to 18 months.

Patroller is a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) drone in the 1-tonne class, based on an EASA-certified (European Aviation Safety Agency) aircraft. It capitalises on technologies already developed by Sagem for the Sperwer Mk.II tactical drone, and field experience in Afghanistan. SP

16 SP’S MAI Issue 22 • 2011

ICAUV 2012 in February 2012

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eronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bangalore, a multi-disciplinary organisation organised an “International Conference on Autonomous Unmanned Vehicles” in 2009 in Bangalore to commemorate its golden jubilee year. This milestone event had 48 speakers (30 from abroad) and 500 delegates representing 10 countries, who deliberated on the entire spectrum of UAV technologies on aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, control and certification. ICAUV 2009 was well supported and patronised by 14 sponsors and 32 exhibitors covering six countries.

The second edition of the International Conference on Autonomous Unmanned Vehicles (ICAUV-2012, www.icauv2012.org) is to be held on February 24-25, 2012, at Eagleton Golf Resort, Bangalore. The conference focuses on the design, development and testing of autonomous unmanned vehicles in the field of aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, control, payload and communication systems by way of dedicated technical sessions.

The technical sessions deliberate upon UAV certification standards, air traffic management, operational experiences & lessons learned, automatic takeoff and landing, communications spectrum and bandwidth, sense and avoid, interoperability, armed reconnaissance, UCAV design and UAV concept of operations.

A dedicated industry session to create intra and inter coordination of global vendors is scheduled on February 25. Apart from UAS, for the first time in the country the conference aims at bringing all the core technologies pertaining to the unmanned vehicles (air, land and sea) under one roof by having a dedicated technical session for each of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs).

The proposed conference is expected to have more than 400 participants from Defence Research and Development Organisation labs, armed services, CSIR, ISRO, IITs, IISc, universities and private aeronautical industries apart from 50 foreign participants. Preliminary dialogue with international autonomous unmanned systems community confirms participation of distinguished speakers from AFRL, Naval Post Graduate, WSU, University of Pennysalvia, EADS, Cranfield, ICAO, EUROCONTROL, Rolls Royce, Saab, BAE systems, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. A technology exposition will form part of the event showcasing the products and technologies covering the unmanned vehicles.

SP Guide Publications is the exclusive media partner of this event. SP

Unmanned tilt-rotor vertical take-off aircraft unveiled

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state-funded aviation research institute unveiled an unmanned tilt-rotor aircraft recently, making Korea one of the world’s few countries having the technology of vertical take-off and landing plane using helicopterlike rotors at the wingtips.

Currently, only a couple of countries, including US, Israel and UK, have the tilt-rotor technology or are proceeding with that kind of programmes.

The “transformer” unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) aircraft was developed by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) affiliated with the Ministry of Knowledge Economy in cooperation with private defense companies, a KARI official said. The UAV project started in 2002. The 5-metre-long, 7-metre-wide aircraft has a top cruise speed of 500 kmph, according to the researcher. Its flyby-wire flight control system was developed by the domestic developers while rotor and drive systems were built under an international partnership. About 20 domestic companies participated in the UAV development.

The UAV is to be used both for military and civil purposes, such as traffic controls and the prevention of forest fires as well as weather and environmental surveys, according to KARI officials. SP www.spsmai.com

internal security Updates

ISI reactivated terrorist training camps in PoK

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he Indian Government is aware that Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan has reactivated terrorist training camps in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). A number of training camps and launching pads are reportedly active in PoK/Pakistan. As per assessment, there are around 2,500 terrorists present in PoK, according to Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Jitendra Singh.

The Indian Government in tandem with the State Govern-

Anti-naxal operations

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t present, 73 battalions of Central Armed Police Forces, one Nagaland India Reserve Battalion and nine Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) have been deployed in naxal-affected states to assist the state police forces in anti-naxal operations.

There is no shortage of forces for anti-naxal operations. The deployment of these forces coupled with the police forces in naxal-affected states are adequate to meet the present requirement. However, the Government of India keeps the situation in all the left-wing extremism (LWE) affected states under constant review and as per the requirements projected by the affected states and the availability of force, additional battalions of Central Armed Police Forces are inducted to assist state police forces in anti-naxal operations.

The Government of India has deployed Central Armed Police Forces in all LWE affected states. Depending upon operational requirements, joint coordinated action by the state police forces and Central Armed Police Forces are initiated against the naxalites from time to time.

The quantum of violence in the current year has declined in comparison to the previous year. This year (up to November 29), 80 districts of the country witnessed 1,533 incidents of violence resulting in 532 deaths, compared to 2,212 incidents of violence resulting in 1,005 deaths spread over 95 districts of the country, in 2010.

This was stated by Jitendra Singh, Minister of State of Home Affairs, in Parliament. SP

362 declared illegal migrants in Assam

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he Government of Assam has set up three detention camps at Goalpara, Kokrajhar and Silchar to keep the declared foreigners/illegal migrants till deportation to their place of origin.

A total of 362 declared foreigners/illegal migrants have been sent to these detention camps till November 2011. The number of foreigners/illegal migrants sent to detention camps is 221 in Goalpara, 79 in Kokrajhar and 62 in Silchar. Of this total, 78 persons have been deported to their place of origin till November, 2011.

The Minister of State of Home Affairs, M. Ramachandran told the Parliament that an agreement between the Governments of

ment has adopted a multipronged approach to contain cross border infiltration in Jammu & Kashmir, which includes, inter-alia, strengthening of border management and multitiered and multi-modal deployment along international border/line of control and infiltration routes, construction of border fencing, improved technology, weapons and equipment for security forces, improved intelligence and operational coordination, synergising intelligence flow to check infiltration and proactive action against the terrorists within the states. The counter infiltration efforts are reviewed periodically at various levels in the State Government. and in the Central Government. SP

India and Bangladesh has been signed on transfer of sentenced persons, which is in operation from January 13 this year. The issue of taking over of declared illegal migrants has also been taken up with the Government of Bangladesh. SP

Piramal Group enters security business

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jay Piramal Group has launched a new company, Piramal Systems and Technologies (PST) eyeing the defence security market.

The group plans to collaborate with a US-based surveillance technology company called Global Technical Systems (GTS).

The collaborative effort is looking at security solutions for maritime and internal security.

GTS has among its customer base, US Government establishments such as the Transportation Security Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, US Navy and the Department of Energy. SP

Japan Coast Guard orders Explorer AUV

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nternational Submarine Engineering (ISE) has announced that the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) has placed an order for an Explorer autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). According to the company, the vehicle will be used for marine search and recovery as well as survey operations.

ISE said that the JCG Explorer will also be supplied with a light-weight self-articulating ramp-based launch and recovery system which will be installed on one of their ships. This will enable the Coast Guard to launch and recover their AUV in an elevated Sea State. The launch and recovery ramp system is built

by Hawboldt Industries of Chester, Nova Scotia.

The Explorer family of AUVs was introduced in 2003 and follows previous ISE AUVs including ARCS and Theseus. Explorer is a modular vehicle that can be configured for commercial, scientific or military customers. It can carry a wide range of sensors and has endurance options ranging from 12 to 85 hours. It has developed a reputation as a reliable, stable and flexible sensor platform and in total, ISE AUVs have completed more than 120,000 kilometres of surveys. SP Issue 22 • 2011 SP’S MAI 17

internal security IFSEC India 2011

Homeland Security Essentials [ By Sucheta Das Mohapatra ]

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ore than 250 exhibitors from across the world gathered at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi from December 8 to 10 to showcase their latest innovations for commercial and homeland security. Security is indeed everyone’s business, and the multitude at IFSEC India 2011 made it clear that safety at public place, commercial establishments and even private place has become a matter of great concern for one and all. The threeday event organised by UBM India was inaugurated by Home Minister P. Chidambaram.

Show Highlights

PHOTOGRAPH: Saab

Swedish defence major Saab showcased its remotely operated tower for air traffic management (ATM) and claimed that the leading edge technology would lead to efficiency and increased safety at reduced costs. The remote tower can be used in airports of all sizes. The high resolution digital cameras are mounted in a specially designed heated camera house, which work in all-weather conditions. Besides having the advantage of increased safety because of provision for anomaly warning, tracking functionality and surveillance; the air traffic controllers can have the advantage of switching airports from a nucleus control room.

Saab’s remotely operated towers have already being put to service as a pilot project in two airports in Sweden, namely Sundsvall and Örnsköldsvik. A contract was signed in January 2011 and the towers will be fully operational by the end of 2012. Likewise, the company has also signed a contract with Air Services Australia to remotely control Alice Springs airport from Adelaide, which would also be implemented by 2012. The company is looking ahead to a similar arrangement with the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

“We have total solutions for airports security. And at this expo, we are highlighting on remotely operated towers for ATM. India can benefit only if it jumps into it now. The technology can easily be implemented in the new airports being built. It will not only reduce costs but manpower as well. We are talking to the AAI and as of now have got a mixed response,” said Michael Sahlberg, Director India, Marketing and Sales, Security and Defense Solutions, Saab. The company will look for local partners no sooner they get a green signal from the AAI. “It will be cost beneficial to have local partners,” said Sahlberg. “Saab is here in India to stay.”

Airport Security

Airport security seemed to be of interest to many players and the expo had a host of solutions for the purpose. From airport specific access control system to the integration of access control, intrusion and CCTV to provide one-stop security, Tyco claimed 18 SP’S MAI Issue 22 • 2011

it can provide fully integrated security solution. Through its subsidiary CEM Systems, Tyco has already installed more than 3,500 CEM AC2000 system in Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.

Shyam Networks also had a host of solutions for security in airports, commercial establishments, and all its products are “Made in India”. “We do get some equipment from abroad, but research and development is all done in India,” said Rajesh Rai, Vice President, Homeland Security & Smart Communities, Shyam Networks. He expressed satisfaction at the number of visitors, but said that surprisingly the security expo attracted more of defence personnel then officials from the Home Ministry.

Panoptes showcased three categories of products—security, sensing and safety. The solutions included perimeter intrusion detection system (PIDS), IP CCTV cameras, FGI security pole, low profile ferromagnetic detector for security; envirowatch mote and optellios for sensing; and ferroguard ECS and screener for safety.

CP Plus had its products for enhanced vision and surveillance.

The company had a range of products from CCTV cameras and digital video recorders to network video recorders like mobile digital video recorders, compression cards and internet protocol (IP) cameras.

Security Solutions

While Palantir Technologies displayed its software solutions and said it has already provided the solutions to many Central and state law enforcement agencies in the country, but prefers to keep the names of its clients undisclosed. Safran Morpho showcased its biometric security solutions, including its 10-finger live scan device, portable E-ID document checker, multi application fingerprint scanner, OEM fingerprint module, etc. Siemens highlighted its fire security solutions like Sinorix 1230, an environment-friendly solution for fast and safe extinguishing; and building automation technologies. Its Siveillance Vantage Mobile gives command centre staff the ability to easily manage and interact with fleets of mobile resources operating in a large geographical area. FLIR demonstrated its infrared cameras.

Honeywell had a horde of its technical people explaining visitors about the complete security solutions, including the HUS-VMS management server, HUS-NVR storage unit, extension chassis, video encoder, intelligent video decoder, IP camera, etc. The Honeywell universal surveillance (HUS) is a complete end-to-end IP security integration platform which has capability to interface and manage various electronic security systems seamlessly.

General Dynamics showcased its integrated command, control and communications solutions for emergency services.

Several other companies like Aditya, Panasonic, Godrej, etc also participated at the expo. IFSEC India in partnership with the ASSOCHAM organised the Homeland Security India Conference under the theme “War Against Terror: A Challenge to Our Homeland Security”. SP www.spsmai.com

INTERNAL SECURITY Cyber

About 6 per cent global spam from India

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he government said about 5-6 per cent of the global spam or junk e-mails in 2011 originated from India.

“According to international reports, the total e-mail traffic worldwide categorised as spam is about 75-80 per cent, in the year 2011. The share of spam e-mails originating from India is about 5-6 per cent of the total worldwide spam e-mail traffic,” Minister of State for Communications and IT Sachin Pilot said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

He added that though the Indian Government has not conducted any study regarding the misuse of Internet, various organisations across the globe have published reports on Internet security covering aspects like spam e-mails.

Junk mails from malware-infected computers, selling counterfeit or illicit goods, generally contain malicious links to another false website. SP

tre adds to two other facilities in Denver and Gaithersburg in the US. This new SIC will extend the amount of analysis that can be conducted, with a further 20 employees at the centre, five of which are trained analysts.

Lockheed Martin believes it has a niche as far as cyber detection is concerned in that it analyses previous attacks when a new one comes through to identify whether there is ‘campaign’ being executed by an attacker. Other companies which have opened up similar specialist cyber centres include Northrop Grumman.

‘Other companies see cyber defence as a mindless process’, said Giri Sivanesan, head of cyber for Lockheed Martin’s UK IS & GS Security division. ‘We wanted to concentrate on cyber attacks on the macro level. When an attack comes in, this yields intelligence,’ Sivanesan explained. McMahon said that 80 per cent of attacks on the company could be dealt with

by COTS technology.

However, the remaining 20 per cent of ‘high-level’ attacks need to be analysed and fed into a chain of other attacks so as to protect the company and its suppliers from future attacks.

She also described how the company receives some 30 million e-mails per day, with only a small amount of these actually delivered once they have been filtered.

“The past two years have been very aggressive” in terms of attacks, McMahon explained. “Our network is larger than many of the governmental networks. We’re highly targeted, as you can imagine, being in the defence business,” she added.

Sivanesan said that in the future the company could utilise this experience in protecting itself so as to provide it as a product that can be sold to customers to protect their systems. SP

MIT warns of cyber attack on electrical grid

T Lockheed Martin opens cyber centre

photograph: Lockheed Martin

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ockheed Martin recently opened its UK Security Intelligence Centre (SIC) in an effort to provide additional protection against cyber attacks.

Officially opened by Gerald Howarth, Minister for International Security Strategy, at the company’s facilities in Farnborough, UK, the centre is intended to enhance the company’s cyber threat detection abilities in order to provide ‘intelligence driven defence’.

The news follows a well-publicised cyber attack against the company in May this year and which Chandra McMahon, Chief of the Information Security Centre for Lockheed Martin, cited as an example of the firm’s position as a target for ‘hacktivists’.

In development since 2008, the £2.5 million self-funded cen-

he Massachusetts Institute of Technology has warned that the US electrical grid is vulnerable to cyber attacks due to weaknesses in processes, technology, as well as the actual physical environment.

The MIT report, titled “Future of the Electric Grid,” said “Millions of new communicating electronic devices will introduce attack vectors – paths that attackers can use to gain access to computer systems or other communicating equipment.” This would in turn lead to an increased likelihood of “intentional and accidental communications disruptions” including “loss of control over grid devices, loss of communications between grid entities or control centres or blackouts.” SP

Cyberoam reveals spam attacks

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yberoam has announced a special feature of its October 2011 Internet threats trend report, prepared in collaboration with its partner, Commtouch. The report, first of its own kind, has revealed that 70 per cent spam attacks were launched on Yahoo (27 per cent), Facebook (23 per cent) and Gmail (19 per cent).

In a disturbing trend, spammers have started shifting attack tactics from botnets to compromised e-mail accounts, wherever possible. This has particularly gathered pace after the Microsoft Consortium took down the Rustock botnet family which used to have a 30 per cent share of global spam. SP Issue 22 • 2011 SP’S MAI 19

Technology Updates

RFI/RFP/Tenders Indian Army Tender: Unit Load 155 Charge M4A2 Army Ordnance Corps Publication date: October 18 Last date: January 13 RFI: Electronic bird deterrent system Army Aviation Publication date: December 5 Last date: January 20 RFI: Thermal Imaging Sight for 7.62 mm light machine gun Infantry Directorate Publication date: December 9 Last date: July 31

Indian Air Force Tender: Spares for MI Series helicopters Air Hqrs Publication date: September 27 Last date: December 22 Tender: Spares for MI 8 helicopters Air Hqrs Publication date: December 13 Last date: December 27

Indian Navy RFI : Information for Infrastructure development of Naval Aircraft Yard (Kochi) Ministry of Defence (Navy) Publication date: December 9 Last date: January 10 RFP: Procurement of 10 inert warheads for P-series missiles INS Tunir, Naval Station Karanja Publication date: November 30 Last date: December 26

PHOTOGRAPHs: Michigan State University

Ministry of Home Affairs

Tender: Brain mapping/ fingerprinting system MHA Publication date: November 9 Last date: December 21 Tender: VHF scanner CISF Publication date: November 24 Last date: December 29 20 SP’S MAI Issue 22 • 2011

Backpacks, not the bombs inside, key to finding DNA

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atching terrorists who detonate bombs may be easier by testing the containers that hide the bombs rather than the actual explosives, according to pioneering research led by Michigan State University (MSU).

Currently, law enforcement labs tend to test for DNA on the exploded bomb fragments – but this has a low success rate, said David Foran, an MSU forensic biologist and lead investigator on the research project.

Through the MSU-led study, researchers obtained DNA from eight backpacks that had been blown up with pipe bombs inside, and subsequently obtained full DNA profiles that matched all eight volunteers who had carried the backpacks for a week.

MSU researchers carried out the experiment with the Michigan State Police bomb squad at a Lansing Fire Department facility. Foran’s co-investigators were Shane Hoffmann, a former MSU graduate student now with the FBI, and Shawn Stallworth of the state bomb squad. SP

Michigan State University develops laser that detects bombs

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research team at Michigan State University (MSU) has developed a laser that could detect roadside bombs – the deadliest enemy weapon encountered in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The laser, which has comparable output to a simple presentation pointer, potentially has the sensitivity and selectivity to canvas large areas and detect improvised explosive devices – weapons that account for around 60 per cent of coalition soldiers’ deaths. Marcos Dantus, chemistry professor and founder of BioPhotonic Solutions, led the team and has published the results in the current issue of Applied Physics Letters.

The detection of IEDs in the field is extremely important and challenging because the environment introduces a large number of chemical compounds that mask the select few molecules that one is trying to detect, Dantus said.

“Having molecular structure sensitivity is critical for identifying explosives and avoiding unnecessary evacuation of buildings and closing roads due to false alarms,” he said.

Since IEDs can be found in populated areas, the methods to detect these weapons must be non-destructive. They also must be able to distinguish explosives from vast arrays of similar compounds that can be found in urban environments. Dantus’ latest laser can make these distinctions even for quantities as small as a fraction of a billionth of a gram.

The laser beam combines short pulses that kick the molecules and make them vibrate, as well as long pulses that are used to “listen” and identify the different “chords.” The chords include different vibrational frequencies that uniquely identify every molecule, much like a fingerprint. The high-sensitivity laser can work in tandem with cameras and allows users to scan questionable areas from a safe distance.

“The laser and the method we’ve developed were originally intended for microscopes, but we were able to adapt and broaden its use to demonstrate its effectiveness for standoff detection of explosives,” said Dantus, who hopes to net additional funding to take this laser from the lab and into the field.

This research is funded in part by the Department of Homeland Security. BioPhotonic Solutions is a high-tech company Dantus launched in 2003 to commercialise technology invented in a spinoff from his research group at MSU. SP www.spsmai.com

Corporate News & Events

MBDA buys Northrop’s Viper Strike business

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BDA Inc., the wholly-owned US subsidiary of missile manufacturer MBDA, has purchased Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Viper Strike munitions business, located in Huntsville, Alabama.

The Viper Strike purchase is MBDA Inc.’s first acquisition in the US and is part of the company’s growth strategy. That strategy is based on a combination of acquisitions, organic growth, and partnerships with other US prime contractors. The move will help position MBDA as a leading precision munitions firm in the US and gives the company a stronger capability in the growing market to create and produce new weapons for unmanned aerial systems (UASs).

The Viper Strike Business Unit facilities, located in the city of Huntsville and on the US Army’s Redstone Arsenal, will allow MBDA to design, build and assemble complete precision-guided weapons in one location, as well as bring in new business to the MBDA Huntsville facilities.

Jerry Agee, CEO of MBDA Inc. said, “Acquiring the combat proven Viper Strike weapon system and facility allows us to take an important step in our strategy to research, design and produce the world’s finest weapons that meet the current and future needs of US armed forces. The Viper Strike line is a perfect addition to our portfolio and allows us entrée into the fast growing armed UAS business segment.” SP

Elbit Systems purchases UAS Dynamics

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lbit Systems of America, a wholly owned subsidiary of Elbit Systems Ltd., announced that it purchased from General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products its holdings in UAS Dynamics, LLC, a joint venture established by Elbit Systems of America and GDATP to provide UAS to the US market, thus making Elbit Systems of America the sole owner of UAS Dynamics. UAS Dynamics will become part of Elbit Systems of America’s Unmanned Systems business unit which is responsible for both airborne and seaborne unmanned systems.

Security Events International Preparedness & Response to Emergencies and Disasters 15-19 January David International Hotel, Tel Aviv, Israel www.ipred.co.il Integrated Missile Defense Summit 17-18 January Los Angeles http://www.iqpc.com/Event. aspx?id=613932

Raanan Horowitz, President and CEO of Elbit Systems of America, stated: “The integration of UAS Dynamics with Elbit Systems of America Unmanned Systems business unit will enable us to pursue opportunities associated with unmanned technologies and capabilities across multiple domains and we will continue to look for opportunities to provide the US warfighters with innovative solutions that meet their diverse mission needs.” SP

Raytheon acquires cybersecurity firm Pikewerks

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aytheon has acquired Pikewerks Corporation, a privately held company, to further extend Raytheon’s capabilities to defend against sophisticated cybersecurity threats facing customers in the intelligence community, Department of Defense and commercial organisations. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction will not materially impact Raytheon’s total company sales or earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2011 or fiscal year 2012.

Pikewerks enhances Raytheon’s comprehensive cybersecurity offerings, including a range of analysis and investigation capabilities with particular emphasis on insider threat protection, software protection and forensics. SP

MTU Aero Engines and Sagem joint venture

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TU Aero Engines and Sagem have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to form a joint venture in the field of the development of safety-critical software and hardware for military and civil aviation applications.

Located at the MTU campus in Munich, Germany, the new company is planned to start its operations in 2012.

The 50/50 joint venture will gather some 200 engineers, mainly from the current MTU organisation. Main products will include safety-critical engine controls for programmes such as TP400-D6 for the A400M military transport aircraft, as well as further safety-critical hardware and software solutions such as controls for landing gear, braking, monitoring information systems. SP

Joint Forces Simulation & Training 24–25 January Grange City Hotel, London www.jointforcestraining.com Border Security Asia Pacific 30–31 January Singapore www.bordersecurityasiapacific.com Defence Exports Asia-Pacific 1–2 February Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, Singapore www.defence-exportsasia.com

International Armoured Vehicles 2012 20–23 February FIVE, Farnborough UK www.iqpc.com/Event.aspx?id=518778 Defence & Security 2012 5-8 March Impact Exhibition Centre, Bangkok, Thailand http://www.asiandefense.com/ Iraq Defence & Security Summit 2012 24-25 March Erbil Rotana Hotel, Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq www.iraqstability.org/aboutsummit.aspx

Issue 22 • 2011 SP’S MAI 21

INTERNAL SECURITY Breaches

Halle Berry’s stalker arrested

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suspected stalker was arrested at Halle Berry’s Hollywood Hills home after he allegedly terrorised the Monster’s Ball, actress for days. Richard Franco, 27, was arrested in July this year and was held on $1,50,000 bail.

Halle Berry identified the person and the cops arrested him.

The 5-foot-9 man weighing 80 kg allegedly jumped over the back wall of Berry’s house in view of surveillance cameras and was met by her private security team. Franco was arrested on suspicion of felony stalking after allegedly lurking around the Academy Award-winning star’s home that weekend. SP

On FBI’s wanted list

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amadan Abdullah Mohammad Shallah is wanted for conspiracy to conduct the affairs of the designated international terrorist organisation known as the “Palestinian Islamic Jihad” (PIJ) through a pattern of racketeering activities such as bombings, murders, extortions and money laundering.

Shallah was one of the original founding members of the PIJ and is presently the Secretary-General and leader of the organisation, with headquarters Damascus, Syria. He was listed as a “Specially Designated Terrorist” under United States law on November 27, 1995. Shallah was indicted in a 53 count indictment in the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, Tampa, Florida.

Shallah earned a PhD in banking and economics from a university in England. He has worked as a university professor in several countries and has ties to Tampa, Florida; the Gaza Strip; Egypt; and London, England. He frequently wears eyeglasses, a moustache, and beard. The reward for giving information leading to his arrest is $5,00,000. SP

Samantha Lopez takes flight

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onald J. McIntosh walked away from a minimum security prison and then rented a helicopter to free Samantha Lopez from the Federal Correctional Institution at Dublin, east of San Francisco. Both were later caught when they arrived to pick up wedding rings from a California shopping mall. The authorities were monitoring the account McIntosh used to write the cheque and the police were waiting for them.

Ron McIntosh for his role in the escape was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Samantha Lopez was given five years added to her 50-year sentence for a 1981 bank robbery in Georgia. As they were driven away to their separate prisons McIntosh was able to lean out of a car window and yell, I love you! to Lopez. Samantha Lopez was released from prison on April 20, 2010. SP

Despite lapses, security company continues

A PHOTOGRAPHs: Wikipedia, FBI webiste

South Korean security company has been allowed to continue manning entryways at US Army installations in Korea despite at least two cases of negligence — one of which involved a drunken driver who drove past two checkpoints at a high-security facility.

The facility, Command Post Tango, is a bunker on the outskirts of Seoul that would serve as the US command and control centre during a war.

The security lapse there occurred during last summer’s annual Ulchi Freedom Guardian, a two-week US-South Korea joint military exercise. A private vehicle entered Camp Walker in an outbound lane without being stopped. The car passed over a tire shredder and eventually came to a stop on the Daegu area installation. The Korean driver had been trying to flee from a sobriety checkpoint and turned down a wrong road.

The guard who failed to stop the car was suspended without pay for 30 days. SP

22 SP’S MAI Issue 22 • 2011

www.spsmai.com

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