"I am glad I can announce that we have agreed upon delivery of 28 pieces of L-159 to Iraqi Air Force," Czech Defence Minister Alexandr Vondra said at the press conference held at the end of talks with his Iraqi counterpart. Both Minister of Defence of the Republic of Iraq Sadoon Al-Dulaimi and Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic Alexandr Vondra informed the media immediately after their return from the Aero Vodochody Company, the manufacturer of L-159 ALCA (Attack Light Combat Aircraft). Also Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq Nouri Al-Maliki visited the Aero company and participated in static and flight demonstrations. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki with his delegation met first with the Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas at the beginning of their visit on 11 October 2012, and confirmed ongoing interest in defence cooperation with the Czech Republic. Negotiations on the delivery of L-159, which lasted two years, will significantly contribute both to defence capabilities of Iraq and will help introduce this type of aircraft to other markets, added Minister Vondra. Defence ministers also discussed possible delivery of new small arms from the Ceska Zbrojovka Uhersky Brod to Iraq and Czech offer to modernise T-72 tanks of Iraqi Armed Forces.
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Elbit Systems ATMOS autonomous artillery system. (Photo: Elbit Systems)
Haifa, Israel | Elbit Systems Ltd., announced Oct. 14 that it was awarded two contracts from a Far Eastern country to supply defense systems at a total value of approximately $50 million. Under the first contract, Elbit Systems will supply the country’s Artillery Corps the ATMOS autonomous artillery system, for approximately $30 million, to be supplied within three years. The system, mounted on various wheeled platforms, enhances mission flexibility, reaction speed and survivability of both the crew and the system. Under the second contract Elbit Systems will supply the country’s Armed Forces with personal radio systems, for approximately $20 million, which will be supplied within a year.
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The PAK FA T-50 prototype during its maiden flight. (Photo: Sukhoi Company)
NEW DELHI | India will begin production of an export variant of Russian plane-maker Sukhoi's T-50 stealth fighter from 2020, Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Wednesday during a visit to Delhi, according to RIA Novosti. "The technical characteristics have been confirmed to our (Russia and India) defense ministries. We propose serial production of the plane should start by 2020," he said, following the meeting of an Indian-Russian intergovernmental commission. T-50 is a prototype of a multirole stealth fighter jet currently undergoing flight testing by the Russian Air Force. The plane will feature an electronically-scanned active-array radar, supercruise capability, high maneuverability and low radar and infrared signatures. Sukhoi claims it will have significantly better performance than the US-designed Lockheed F-22 Raptor which is now in service. Russia also hopes to sign a deal with India by the end of this year for an additional batch of 42 Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft of an improved standard to those already in service in India, he said. "Russia has presented India with a contract for delivery of another 42 Su-30MKI aircraft. I hope it will be signed by year-end," he said. The new Su-30MKI will feature an advanced active electronically-scanned array radar system as well as modified electronic warfare systems and the ability to fire the land-attack variant of the BrahMos Russian-Indian supersonic cruise missile, according to Defence Industry Daily.Russian-Indian joint venture BrahMos Aerospace is expected to supply the Indian Armed Forces with about 1,000 BrahMos missiles.India already has around 130 of the advanced Su-30MKI's in service, as part of a major reequipment program for the service, including purchase of 126 French Dassault Rafale fighters. (RIA Novosti)
