on Friday, April 16, 2010
It may be recalled that on October 13 Lockheed Martin had rolled out the first of 18 new Block 50/52 F-16C/D M-MRCAs being produced for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in a ceremony that was attended, among others, by the PAF?s Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Rao Quamar Suleman. The aircraft order is designated as Peace Drive I and it raises the total number of F-16s ordered by Pakistan to date to 58. The PAF received its first of 40 Block 15 F-16A/Bs in 1982. The Peace Drive I order is for 12 F-16Cs and six F-16Ds, all powered by the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 turbofans. The first aircraft--a tandem-seat F-16D--will be delivered to the US government (as agent for Pakistan in the Foreign Military Sales process) next month, with the remainder following in 2010. Joining them by late 2011 (through to 2016) will be the first of up to 70 AL-31FN turbofan-powered FC-20 single-engined M-MRCAs from China, which will be ordered in two successive batches, with the first batch comprising 36 single-seaters and four tandem-seaters, along with a related weapons package that will include PGMs like LT-2, LT-3, LS-6, and FT-1/2/3/5 guided-bombs, and YJ-99 supersonic anti-radiation missiles. The FC-20 will also be capable of carrying two Ra'ad 350km-range air-launched subsonic cruise missiles.?Prasun K. Sengupta
Source: Trishul Group
on
U.S. intelligence officials gave a mixed message on national security threats to a Senate committee on Tuesday: It is increasingly difficult for al-Qaida to carry out complex attacks against the U.S. and its interests, but radical, anti-American ideology continues to spread, and with it the chance of isolated attacks that are harder to predict and stop.“I cannot reassure you the danger is gone,” Dennis Blair, director of national intelligence, told the Senate Intelligence Committee.Al-Qaida, its associates and mimics “remain committed to striking the United States and U.S. interests,” Blair said. While carrying out coordinated, multi-cell attacks has become more difficult and Muslim support for violent extremism is declining, terrorist networks remain able to find lone recruits whose backgrounds make them unlikely suspects before they carry out attacks, he said.He cited the November shootings at Fort Hood, Texas, allegedly by a Muslim Army officer, and the Christmas Day attempt by an airline passenger to detonate explosives hidden in his underwear.“The tragic violence at Fort Hood last year underscores our concerns about the damage that even an individual or small number of homegrown extremists can do if they have the will and access,” said Blair, who appeared alongside the heads of the CIA, FBI and Defense Intelligence Agnecy.Blair reported that the Taliban insurgency and al-Qaida are both quite active in Afghanistan, presenting increasing danger and destabilization.“Insurgents have shown greater aggressiveness and undertaken more lethal tactics,” he said — something the so-called surge of U.S. troops is supposed to help staunch.On Afghanistan, U.S. strategy calls for quick training of the Afghan National Army and law enforcement to provide their own security so U.S. combat troops can withdraw, but Blair cited problems. A shortage of trainers and high absenteeism and attrition among Afghan forces “hamper efforts to make units capable of significant independent action,” he said.There are other risks as well. Corruption and the drug trade reduce public confidence in the Afghan government, and a lack of security leads to generally low competency and capability within the government, Blair said.In Iraq, Blair said al-Qaida appears to be suffering from financial troubles, difficulty recruiting new members, and rejection by many ordinary Iraqis. However, al-Qaida in Iraq “will remain committed to conducting attacks into the foreseeable future,” he said.
Source: Army Times
on Monday, April 12, 2010
Alexandrovetc
The Russian Navy does not use the name frigate. Most ships are typed by their function and mission. MPK stands for Malyy Protivolodochnyy Korabl, literally small anti-submarine ship. Most of these are designed for and employed in anti-submarine warfare. However, others are designed for coastal defense and patrol work. They are designed to patrol or guard sea areas.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s the Soviet Fleet strongly emphasized its ASW capabilities. Project 1124 Albatros fit in with this strong emphasis on anti-submarine capability. They were designed to guard the sea frontiers of the Soviet Union. They have been built in five series. NATO assigned a code name for these small vessels based on Russian nicknames. Project 1124 vessels were named Grisha, which can be translated to Greg.
MPK "Alexandrovetc" was built by Zelenodol'sk Zavod, Kazan. Laid down 23 Mar 1980, completed 31 Nov 1982. Laid up 24 Nov 1982.
From 23 Mar 1980 this warship has name "MPK-49", from July 2004 to present moment - "Alexandrovetc".
Source: Black Sea Fleet
Source: Gallery Kapal Perang
