[路透巴格達電]美軍稱，一架美國CH-47Chinook直昇機周日在飛往巴格達機場途中，在巴格達西方50公里處的費盧杰(Falluja)被擊落，造成機上乘客一人死亡，至少20人受傷。

一名軍方發言人稱，這架被擊落的直昇機載有32至35人，他並稱救難小組正在直昇機墜毀地區。

軍方發言人告訴路透，目前尚不清楚死者是否為軍人及其國籍等細節。

這架直昇機是兩架載運結束休假的美軍飛往巴格達機場的一架。(完)

聯軍發言人說，直升機是在上午九時左右墜落，地點在情勢不穩的法魯賈市郊區的阿馬里雅鎮，「有十三名士兵死亡，超過二十人受傷」。

南韓下月起部署美製ATACMS飛彈
【潘勛／綜合漢城5日外電報導】

南韓國防部官員今天表示，將自下個月起開始部署美製一Ａ型「陸軍戰術飛彈系統」，該美國陸軍新一代砲兵飛彈威力長達300公里，可涵蓋北韓大部分領土。

由美國洛克希德馬丁公司製造的一Ａ型「陸軍戰術飛彈系統」，將部署在分隔南北韓、寬4公里的非軍事區。部署行動自12月開始後，到2004年一共部署111枚。

（中央社記者姜遠珍漢城六日專電）南韓計劃於今年十二月開始，實戰部署自美國採購的射程達三百公里的地對地魚叉 (ATACMS Block 1A）導彈。屆時，鴨綠江畔的北韓新義州、江界、城津等大部分地區皆將籠罩在此一導彈的射程之內。

南韓「朝鮮日報」今天在頭版配上魚叉導彈發射的彩色圖片，引述軍方高層消息人士的話報導指出，由美國洛克希德·馬丁公司製造的射程達三百公里的陸軍戰術導彈系統「ATACMS Block 1A」地對地導彈，即將於十二月運抵韓國，屆時將立即部署於朝鮮半島中東部戰線上。

這名高層人士並指出，到明年年底以前，將共引進一百十枚（十多座發射架）這型導彈。

魚叉導彈帶有三百多顆威力相當於手榴彈的子彈，可在瞬間將三至四個足球場大小（400×500公尺）的面積夷為平地。

南韓軍方雖然根據導彈射程限制在一百八十公里以內的「韓美導彈方針」，只配備了可將平壤納入攻擊範圍之內的射程為一百八十公里的南韓國產「玄武」導彈，但由於在二○○一年修改了前述導彈方針，允許配備射程達三百公里的導彈，終於使得南韓獲准採購美國生產的魚叉導彈。

因此，一旦朝鮮半島發生戰爭時，南韓軍可以攻擊北韓後方地區的指揮部、導彈及空軍基地、兵工廠、通訊設施等，戰略打擊能力獲得大幅提高。

[路透摩蘇爾電]美國軍方指出，伊拉克游擊份子周六在伊北的摩蘇爾(Mosul)射下兩架美國黑鷹直昇機，造成至少17人喪生、五人受傷。

一名在現場的官員稱，其中一架直昇機的尾翼遭火箭推進式榴彈(RPG)擊中。目擊者表示，遭擊中的直昇機與另一架相撞，之後兩架均墜毀。

這兩架直昇機約1530GMT在摩蘇爾西區的住宅區墜毀，不過一名救護車駕駛表示，並無平民傷亡。

在巴格達的美軍發言人並未透露隸屬美軍101空降師的這兩架黑鷹直昇機上遇難者的國籍細節。

這起事件使過去三周以來遭游擊份子擊落的美國直昇機架數增加到五架，共造成34人喪生。(完)

Review of copter defenses under way

Order issued in wake of fatal Chinook downing

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A review is under way of protective measures on all 620 U.S. Army helicopters deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In a memo dated November 7, acting Army Secretary R.L. Brownlee suggested that cost was no object to get the most effective defensive systems on all helicopters, and in a handwritten postscript he wrote: This is URGENT!

Thirty-nine U.S. troops have been killed in five helicopter crashes in Iraq since October 25.

Brownlees memo immediately resulted in stepped-up installation of a new anti-missile system on half of the 90 CH-47 Chinook transport helicopters in Iraq that carried an older system, like the one shot down November 2 near Fallujah, killing 16 soldiers.(Full story)

The Armys action was prompted, at least in part, by concerns expressed by Democratic Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois in the days after the Chinook crash.

The helicopter and its pilot were from the Illinois National Guard.

Durbins office said messages had come in after the downing from people suggesting Chinooks -- an older model of helicopter that saw action during the Vietnam War -- had sometimes been sent out without up-to-date, or even functioning, protection. (Full story)

The review also includes protective measures on the UH-60 Black Hawk, AH-64 Apache and OH-58 Kiowa helicopters.

Black Hawks vulnerable
Most of the recent crashes have involved the multipurpose Black Hawk, including Saturdays collision of two over Mosul in northern Iraq that killed 17 soldiers.

Although mechanical failure has not been ruled out, a military source said initial reports indicated one helicopter ascended to avoid groundfire.

This caused a rotor strike with the second helicopter, the source said. (Full story)

Almost half of the Army helicopters operating in Iraq -- 290 -- are Black Hawks, which have been the workhorse of the Army fleet since they began replacing the venerable Hueys used during the Vietnam War.

With a range of 368 miles, the Black Hawk can fly much farther than the older UH-1 Huey and can carry much heavier loads, along with a full squad of 12 combat-ready troops.

And with armor that withstands projectiles up to 23 mm and armor-protective seats for the pilot and co-pilot, the Black Hawk is vastly more survivable than its Vietnam-era predecessor. Yet a single rocket-propelled grenade that hits a critical spot could bring one down.

Black Hawks already have all the latest protective systems, and there may be little more the Army can do other than employ standard tactics: Vary routes, fly at night when possible, and stay low to minimize the time an enemy can target them.

Chinook defenses
The Chinook that was struck had an older anti-missile system known as the M-130. The newer version puts out more flares that can serve as better decoys against missiles equipped with infrared tracking systems.

The unit, called the ALE-47, also can release a greater quantity of metallic particles known as chaff, designed to confuse radar guidance systems on hostile missiles.

The flares on the new system also can be sequenced to pulse in a way that more closely resembles the pulsating heat signature of a helicopter engine, officials said.

The older system emits a constant heat trail that infrared-guided missiles could be programmed to ignore. An Army spokesman could not say whether it was working on the downed Chinook.

An Army source said all the Illinois National Guard helicopters were outfitted with flare and chaff dispensers, but several of the units were damaged during transport to Iraq. The assemblies, nicknamed flare buckets, are mounted beneath the aircraft.

Eventually, units were taken off other departing helicopters and installed on the aircraft from Illinois. A policy change will now keep such aircraft and hardware in place to cover any shortfalls.

Nanotech Armor Tested in Iraq

Thunderbolt is Looking for Work

（中央社記者吳顯申新加坡二十四日專電）新加坡經過六年的努力，自行研發、設計和製造的自行榴彈炮「PRIMUS」今天正式推出，加入保家衛國的行列。

在新加坡國防部長張志賢的主持下，第一部自行榴彈炮終於出現在在新加坡人的眼前。「PRIMUS」是到目前為止新加坡自製的武器裝備當中科技最複雜的。

張志賢說，它的誕生，是新加坡自製防衛武器的新里程碑。新加坡發展出符合本身特殊需求的裝備。

它是新加坡國防科技局、新加坡武裝部隊和新科動力公司三者相互合作研發出來的武器。

張志賢指出，國防部在十年前評估新加坡理想中的武器系統時認為，新的自行榴彈炮必須跟得上未來戰場高速變化的節奏和機動性，同時保留榴彈炮火力強大和準確的特性，而PRIMUS完全符合這些要求。

「Primus」自行榴彈炮和以往榴彈炮最不同的地方是，它並不需要由重型裝甲車拖著走，行駛的速度因此比一般的榴彈炮快了四倍。

新加坡炮兵部隊總長表示，新加坡的炮兵裝備一直以來都有不足之處，參加聯合演習時，被拖著走的武器在速度上受到局限，迫擊炮的射程較短，這也使得無法支援裝甲部隊。

「Primus」自行榴彈炮具有現代化的瞄準和導航系統，可以發射三十九毫米口徑的炮彈，射程可以達到三十公里。有了這種先進的榴彈炮，炮兵部隊將能夠躲在濃密的草叢後面向敵軍開火，然後以高達每小時五十公里的時速離開。「Primus」還裝置了煙霧防禦系統，可避免被敵人偵察到。

它又是一個能夠快速發射的武器，由於炮兵的炮彈很重，因此它設計有一項特別處理炮彈的系統，這樣一來，原本需要二十四個人操縱的武器，現在只需要四人。

一輛裝備完整的「PRIMUS」重量不到三十公噸，可以抵擋一般輕型武器的攻擊，甚至是七點六二毫米口徑的機關槍所發射的炮彈也無法射穿它。