On the day before he held talks in the city on the Neva with French head of government Jean-Pierre Raffarin. As Kasyanov explained, an inter-governmental agreement on information protection was signed in the French city of Toulouse in the autumn of last year. The agreement allows the enterprises engaged in the development of the new plane to feel comfortable in exchanging opinions and data on such a secret project. The fact that the governments are negotiating such a project points to the level of trust between Russia and France, the Russian premier stressed. Replying to the RIA Novosti correspondents question which model, the Russian or the French, would provide the basis for the plane, Kasyanov said that it is matter of the future.

/RIA Novosti/

-------
http://www.avia.ru/cgi/news/news.cgi?action=geten&id;=1056966283
***MIG-AT Russian-French Aircraft Undergoes Certification
俄法教練機 MIG-AT 進行驗證
[30 Jun 2003] The certification of the Russian-French joint project of MiG-AT training aircraft will be accomplished soon, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov said visiting the IMDS-2003 (International Maritime Defence Show) in St. Petersburg.

According to Kasyanov, Russia and France have been developing this project for several years and now it undergoes certification. The certification will be accomplished soon and Russian and French partners are already looking for sales markets, Kasyanov stressed.

/RIA Novosti/

-----

BBC Worldwide Monitoring
June 25, 2003, Wednesday
Austria: Failure to pass law leaves future of Eurofighter uncertain again
奧地利法案未通過，再度造成歐洲戰機軍購案不確定的未來
Der Standard, Vienna, in German 25 Jun 03

Excerpt from cs report by Austrian newspaper Der Standard on 25 June entitled Future of Eurofighter uncertain again

The Defence Ministry is coming under pressure as a result of the decision by the Federal Council failing to pass a law making possible the purchase of the Eurofighter aircraft . The EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company offer for the purchase of the Eurofighter is limited until 1 July, then the deal would have to be newly negotiated. Yet the responsible official can only provide a legally valid signature if this is covered by the law on the purchase of aircraft for the surveillance of airspace (which is hidden in the laws accompanying the budget) - but this law has now been shelved.

Lisa Berger, spokeswoman for Defence Minister Guenter Platter, has confirmed that we are now faced with a new situation, which we have to clarify internally and also with the manufacturer.

-------
另一篇俄國跟歐洲合作的報導:
What The Papers Say (Russia)
June 23, 2003, Monday
THE SUKHOI FIGHTER TO MEET WESTERN REQUIREMENTS
西方規格的蘇霍伊戰機
Vremya Novostei, June 20, 2003, p. 8
Mikhail Kukushkin

SUKHOI GENERAL DIRECTOR MIKHAIL POGOSYAN SIGNED PROTOCOLS ON CONSIDERING
THE POSSIBILITY OF INTEGRATING PRODUCTS BY FOREIGN COMPANIES IN RUSSIAN
FIGHTERS. IF THE COMPANY REALIZES THESE PROTOCOLS, EXPORT VERSIONS OF
THE SUKHOI FIGHTERS WILL FLY AND SHOOT USING FOREIGN SYSTEMS.

At the Le Bourge - 2003 air show in France, Sukhoi general director Mikhail Pogosyan signed protocols on considering the possibility of integrating products by foreign companies into Russian fighters. If the company realizes these protocols, export versions of the Sukhoi fighters will fly and shoot using foreign systems. It will become easier to sell such warplanes, but the companys dependence on foreign partners will become stronger. Factually, this is a twofold essence of international integration.

The Sukhoi signed a preliminary cooperation agreement with EADS and MBDA on July 17. MBDA director Marvan Lakhud described the essence of the agreement as follows: The idea is to see how systems produced by EADS can be used for modernizing a very good fighter produced by Sukhoi. We can also consider the possibility of arming the Sukhoi fighter with missiles produced by MBDA. Judging from unofficial sources, the matter concerns the Mica air-to-air missiles produced in France. India is considered as a potential customer - it is possible that it will decide to arm the Su-30MKI fighters with these missiles. A source in the Sukhoi corporation said that the company does not consider the possibility of cooperating with EADS, MBDA, or other foreign companies in upgrading fighters for the Russian Air Force because weapons added to arsenals of the Russian Armed Forces must consist of Russian components only.

Sukhoi signed multilateral protocols of intention with two French companies producing avionics on June 18. One of these protocols was signed by Thales and Rosoboronexport. The other protocol was signed by Rosoboronexport, SAGEM SA, and Technocomplex (a radio-electronic holding). The protocols are aimed at cooperation in upgrading the Su-27 fighters exported to foreign armies earlier, development of joint service centers, and partnership in creating new warplanes. The latter concerns the creation of generation five fighter.

As far as the upgrade of the Sukhoi fighters sold to foreign armies is concerned, sources in the Sukhoi company said that this concerns the Su-30MKI fighter exported to India. The Sukhoi company and Dassault Aviation (France) plan to sign a protocol of intentions in Le Bourge on June 20. The companies competing in the military aviation sector have only one common interest - the generation five fighter. However, the parties refused to comment on the contents of the protocol.

SUKHOI GENERAL DIRECTOR MIKHAIL POGOSYAN ANSWERED VREMYA NOVOSTEIS
QUESTIONS IN LE BOURGE:

Question: Mikhail Aslanovich, how has the experience of the Iraqi war affected commercial prospects of the Sukhoi fighters on foreign markets?

Mikhail Pogosyan: I think that the experience of the Iraqi war has shown the Air Forces efficiency in winning over domination in the air and destroying ground targets using high-precision weapons.

Question: However, the Iraqi Air Force armed with Soviet warplanes did not manage to do anything...

Mikhail Pogosyan: Yes this is true. The Iraqi Air Force was not armed with up-to-date military hardware. The US showed that the aviation can effectively solve tasks on the ground. This fact has contributed to the promotion of complexes, which can solve such tasks. The upgraded Sukhoi fighters are multifunctional warplanes, and can destroy both air and ground targets. I think that the Iraqi war has confirmed the markets need in our warplanes.

Question: Have you already noticed the growth of demand for your products?

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Jun16525/index.htm
Lockheed Flight Tests More Powerful F-16 Engine

全球第一架歐洲戰機 正式交機

造價將近1億歐元、也就是40億台幣左右的歐洲戰機30日在德國舉行交機典禮。未來這款名為颱風的2倍音速戰鬥機將逐步取代美俄戰機，成為歐盟各國，尤其是德國的空軍主力。

全球第一架歐洲戰機30日在德國慕尼黑北部的曼慶舉行交機儀式。由德國國防部長施特魯克代表接受。造價1億歐元將近40億台幣的歐洲戰機「颱風」是德國、英國、西班牙和義大利四國費時4年半、投入460億美元研發的新世代機種。最高可以2倍音速飛行，還兼具轟炸機功能，可以同時追蹤20個地面目標。

目前新戰機已接到近700架訂單，其中德國訂購了180架，計畫2015年全面取代美製幽靈式戰機和前蘇聯的米格29，成為德國空軍主力。

不過部份專家卻不看好歐洲戰機的未來，指出它還是冷戰時代區域對抗的產物，注重空中纏鬥而且原本不具備匿蹤性。雖然歐洲航空防務與航太公司在最後一刻做了修改，不過專家對它能不能與法國颶風戰機以及美國預定在2010年之前推出新戰機抗衡仍頗有疑慮。

------------

London Times
July 1, 2003

Overdue, Over Budget, But Finally Over Here: RAF Gets First Eurofighter
倫敦時報﹕太晚太貴，但總算來了- 英國空軍接收第一架歐洲戰機
By Michael Evans, Defence Editor

THE RAF received its first Eurofighter combat jet yesterday, years behind schedule and at a cost to taxpayers of billions more than originally forecast.

The late, late show came just in time for Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire, Chief of the Air Staff. He is retiring this month.

A drinks and canapé party for 300 guests at the BAE Systems factory at Warton in Lancashire marked the handover of the £45million jet, originally intended for an entirely different world.

The Eurofighter was first mooted in the early 1970s but development began officially in 1983. It was to beat the best Russian combat jets of the Cold War.

The original in-service date for the aircraft, also known as Typhoon, was December 1998. Then it was December 2001. It was developed and built by Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain. Lengthy delays were caused by technical problems and political battles between countries, principally with Germany, which threatened to pull out.

The cost for Britain, including development and the purchase of 232 aircraft, will be £18.6 billion. At the start of development in 1988, the cost estimate at 1997 prices was £13.2 billion. Eurofighter is joining the RAF in a new strategic era. The Tornado F3 air defence aircraft, which it will be replacing, did not fire a shot in anger during the war in Iraq because the Iraqi air force stayed on the ground. The aircraft that saw action were bombers.

Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, said last week that combat aircraft in the future would have to be multirole and signalled the end of the specialist jet designed solely for air defence. The Eurofighter will eventually be multi-role, adding ground attack to its defence capabilities. However, the first RAF batch of 55 will primarily be air-defence models, although the Ministry of Defence said that it would have a limited
ground-attack role by the time it comes into operational service at the end of 2006.

Sir Peter Squire said: Typhoon represents a major milestone in this, the 100th year of powered manpower flight. There is already a considerable buzz around the frontline squadrons.

How they compare

Eurofighter

Cost: £45 million

Top speed: Mach 2

Special feature: Agility, able to turn with G-force 8

F22 Raptor (US jet due to enter service 2005)

Cost: £90 million

Top speed: Mach 2

Special feature: Stealthdesign, radar signature the size of a bee

Sukhoi Su-37 (Russian jet still in development)

Cost: £25 million-£40 million

Top Speed: Mach 2

Special feature: Forward-swept wing and variable-thrust engines give it
great acrobatic capabilities, enabling it to hang motionless

-----------
Cote dIvoire: Newly acquired MIG-23 warplane flies over Abidjan
Abidjan Le Patriote in French 25 Jun 03 p 2
Wednesday, June 25, 2003
象牙海岸的米格二十三
Report by K. Marras D.Gbagbo is whetting up his war weapons: A MIG-23 warplane overflies Abidjan

(FBIS Translated Text) Ivorians have the right to believe that the ugly war feelings are still there, hiding in the dark and ever ready to resurface. On 23 June, the inhabitants of Abidjan came face to face with the apprehensions that they have about the current situation. The Ivorian Air Force embarked upon a test flight of the MIG-23 bomber aircraft, which was recently bought by the FANCI (National Armed Forces of Cote dIvoire), in the skies of the capital. The assembling of this dreadful machine was done on the spot at the GATL (Air Transport and Liaison Group) in Abidjan.

While Cote dIvoire has gradually and steadily begun the process of reconciliation among its sons and daughters, the head of state, Laurent Gbagbo, is maneuvering and sharpening his weapons with the aim of resuming the hostilities.

This first operational MIG-23 fighter aircraft is one of two warplanes that the president has ordered, it is said, to reinforce the air capacity of the Ivorian army. Cote dIvoire does not have the necessary weapons it deserves, Laurent Gbagbo said on 23 June when he went to Gabon to justify his arms race and he does not intend to stop this race now. We will go on receiving military equipment, he continued, trying to prepare peoples minds for subsequent weapons deliveries. As if to ease his conscience, Laurent Gbagbo, perplexed, shouted: I do not know what misfortune would befall me again. That is why I am equipping my army. As far as I am concerned, the current war is already a past event. We are compelled to deduce from this statement that there is something going on in the dark.

The concern expressed by Ivorians is completely justified. There is trouble brewing.

-----------
Munich Sueddeutsche Zeitung (Internet Version-WWW) in German 25 Jun 03
SUEDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG
Wednesday, June 25, 2003
德國報紙報導贈送給波蘭的米格二十九
Report by Christoph Schwennicke: Charity for the Russian Hawk: the Bundeswehr Is Gladly Delivering Its MIG-29 Fighters to Poland, Which Is Politely Accepting Them

The Mikoyan-Gurevich, abbreviated MIG-29, is a real artist in the skies. Anyone who has ever seen how it can rise nearly vertically into the heights, almost come to a stop, and yet not go into a nose dive can appreciate why this fighter aircraft of the former East Bloc became a legend, indeed a myth. Even more elaborate than its tricks in flight are the capers that the postwar history is doing with the 23 MIG aircraft that in accordance with an agreement between Defense Minister PeterStruck and his Polish colleague Jerzy Szmajdzinski will be transferred from the German Fighter Wing 73 in Laage to Poland. It is the story of 23 aircraft that first flew in the GDR for the Warsaw Pact, then landed in the Bundeswehr as the estate of the National Peoples Army, and are now finding their last use -- probably until 2014 -- in Poland, a former state of the Warsaw Pact and ambitious new member of NATO.

As always with a myth: seen in the light of day, nothing is as legendary asthought. For the West, the MIG-29 was the enemy plane, a light and maneuverable fighter capable of more than twice the speed of sound. After its maiden flight in Moscow in 1978, it was considered the best fighter jet in the world. With respect to the air force, NATO exercises were often and intensively designed to stand up to the Russian hawk.

When in the fall of 1990 24 planes of this model -- there are still 23 today -- landed in the Bundeswehr, people took a good look at the supposed wonder weapon and noted that it is indeed an extraordinary weapon system but also that time had somewhat by-passed the aircraft. Thus, because of its tanks and high fuel consumption, originally it was unable to stay in the air for more than 45 minutes. Refueling in the air, as is customary today with modern fighter jets such as the Eurofighter, is not possible. Nevertheless the birds were kept in service, not least because they could always play the role of enemy in exercises in the United States.

Until the time of the recent Iraq War, the Iraqi Air Force also had mostly MIGs. The maintenance of the aircraft had become horrendously expensive, however, and amounted to millions annually. And when they waited in vain for the engine oil from Russia, they were forced to remain on the ground. Ultimately the MIGs were like a little hobby for the air force, just as some Ferrari-drivers may also have an old Benz in the garage.

Officially Germany is delivering the planes to Poland to integrate the Polish Air Force into the NATO air defense. Actually that is only conditionally so, because these aircraft no longer really fit into NATO plans and besides that the Polish have long since ordered the most modern American combat aircraft of the model F-16.

Hence it is probably more a matter of a gesture that is opportune for the Germans and that the Polish are too polite to turn down. Last year Germany had transferred to Poland 128 Leopard-2 battle tanks and held out the prospect of the delivery of the aircraft.

---------
What The Papers Say (Russia)
July 2, 2003, Wednesday
MIG AND SUKHOI AIRCRAFT BUILDING COMPANIES TO BE INCORPORATED
俄國﹕製造米格及蘇霍戰機的數家公司將合併
SOURCE: gazeta.ru, June 26, 2003

Deputy Prime Minister Boris Aleshin reports that MiG and Sukhoi aircraft building companies will be incorporated in 2004. Aleshin adds that Tupolev and Ilyushin aircraft building companies will be consolidated too. According to Aleshin, two years ago there was a problem of loss of a part of stakes in the aforementioned companies by the state. However, the preparatory stage of the military industrial complex reform (its first phase is scheduled for the period between 2002 and 2004) enabled the state to recover its assets. Aleshin emphasizes that the matter is not about nationalization but primarily about restoration of the state property to let the state to sell it on the market with profit later.

According to the plants of the military industrial compels reform. 19 holdings will be established at the first stage including six or seven aircraft building companies. These holdings will include approximately a half of Russias more than 360 aircraft building enterprises.

------------
另一則相關報導
Moscow News (Russia)
July 2, 2003
No. 25
RESTRUCTURING AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY
俄國﹕重組航空工業
Oksana Karpova and Viktor Litovkin Vremya MN

Last Thursdays Cabinet session looked at the challenges of the next stage
in the industrys reform

The Russian aircraft industrys growth trend, while not yet stable, is
fairly good, Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov said opening the session. He
added that although the industry saw a 10% growth in 2001 and 30% in 2002,
continued growth was not yet a certainty. The PM said there were big
roadblocks in the way of the industrys development, but did not elaborate.
We know, however, that the government has to decide on measures to
restructure the aircraft industry, unify the manufacturing processes for
civil and military aircraft, cut production costs, and get rid of surplus
capacities.

There are redundant industrial capacities because Russias market economy
has failed to close aviation firms and plants with overlapping areas of
activity, and design offices whose products are not in demand. Meanwhile,
nearly 80% of our passenger liners are not allowed into most European and
many other countries.

The PM said the situation would be manageable were it not for the
financial-industrial groups bent on clinging to the geese that lay golden
eggs. For instance, holding company AVPK Sukhoi alone brings the Treasury $
1.6 billion a year, or a third of the earnings from Russias weaponry
exports. But some of the industrys top executives are trying to snatch away
from the holding the Irkutsk Aviation Industrial Association, which is
building the multifunctional fighter jet Su-30MKI on order from India; they
argue that it is a private enterprise only 14% owned by the state. But why
should the profits from the aircrafts sale go to people who fot its designs
virtually free?

On the other hand, firms like Tupolev and Ilyushin have long had designs for
new civil planes. But no serious investor will provide money to construct
the planes, obtain certification for them, and start their serial
production, as there is no guarantee that the aircraft will sell on world
markets and profits from their exploitation will be diverted. Nor will
foreign firms invest in our aircraft industry - not all of them come to this
country to aid its industry. Some are chiefly worried lest they create
competitors.

The government proposes setting up by 2004 six large aircraft builders that
would later on merge into two holding companies. One, under the wing of AVPK
Sukhoi, would also include Ilyushin and the Mil Design Bureau. The second
holding would embrace the MiG and Tupolev aircraft builders.

However, there is also a project that envisions the establishment of a
National Aircraft Building Corporation, and has the backing of Alexander
Lebedev, head of the National Reserve Bank. He wants the corporation to
include the Tupolev and Ilyushin design bureaus, the Ulyanov-based
Aviastar-SP (builder of the Tu-204 passenger liner), and the Voronezh
Aircraft Building Association, maker of the Ilyushin-96.

A memorandum on the establishment of NABC was signed on June 25. Meanwhile,
attempts are still being made to set up a new military aircraft corporation
of Kaskol, the Yakovlev Design Bureau, and the Irkut group together with
IAPO (Irkut Aviation Industrial Association).

Any of these plans might attract foreign investors, but there is no
indication yet which project would be the winner.

Deputy Prime Minister Boris Aleshin said the situation should become clear
toward the end of this year. A conceptual project to establish a single
state aircraft builder is to be submitted to the government, which means
that the scramble for the nations aircraft plants is far from over.

-----------
此篇提到俄國跟法國已簽訂初步的協議書
What The Papers Say (Russia)
July 2, 2003, Wednesday
RUSSIA TO DEVELOP FIFTH-GENERATION FIGHTER IN COOPERATION WITH FRANCE
俄法共同研發第五代戰機
newsru.com, July 01, 2003

Sukhoi, one of Russias largest aircraft builders, possesses everything
necessary for joint development of the fifth-generation warplane in
cooperation with France, says official spokesperson for Sukhoi Yury
Chervakov commenting on the recent negotiations between French Prime
Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin and Russian Prime Minister on the project held
in St. Petersburg.

Sukhoi signed the protocol on cooperation with the French company Dassault
Aviation in Le Bourge. At that time the matter was on development of a new
passenger supersonic airliner to replace Concorde in the future. It turned
out that the parties were not going to limit their cooperation to this
project alone.

Chervakov explains, A year ago, Sukhoi won the tender for the right to
become the main developer of the fifth-generation warplane in Russia. It has
the necessary financial, technical and intellectual resources for equal
participation in the project in cooperation with France.

Chervakov adds that for efficient cooperation in such sensitive area legal
framework should be created and the relevant government resolution should be
received. According to him, the work may go on under the aegis of Russian
committee for military technological cooperation with foreign countries,
Rosoboronexport or any other organization having the relevant powers.

A warplane of the 21st century to which the fifth-generation fighter is
attributed should have low radar signature, should be protected from
electronic countermeasures and should carry modern precision-guided weapons.

BAE SYSTEMS, Britains biggest defence contractor, is set this week to win a controversial Pounds 1.5billion contract to supply 31 Hawk training aircraft to the Royal Air Force.

The deal will secure 2,200 jobs across the UK. At a meeting last week, chancellor Gordon Brown in effect gave the go-ahead for the Hawk provided value-for-money criteria are met. The only other option, an Italian aircraft, is not deemed to be ready or politically acceptable to ministers.

Brown instructed officials to work closely with BAE, and this weekend a deal is being thrashed out across several Whitehall departments, including the Ministry of Defence, the Treasury and No10.

The Hawk is the last remaining significant aircraft made entirely in Britain. As The Sunday Times revealed in April, senior ministers have been lobbying hard in favour of BAEs Hawk for several months. But the company has faced stiff opposition.

The deal will also be a fillip to Rolls-Royce, which will build the engines to power the planes. Rolls-Royce lobbied defence ministers at the recent Paris air show. Other suppliers have also been making representations to government.

Meanwhile, the defence secretary Geoff Hoon will announce tomorrow that the Ministry of Defence is to commit itself to a second tranche of Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.

The high-tech fighter, which has cost Britain Pounds 18.6billion and is 10 years late, has been jointly developed by the UK, Germany, Spain and Italy.

The RAF is planning to take 232 Eurofighters, but defence analysts believe the order could be cut. The Ministry of Defence is in talks with the Eurofighter consortium over whether the second tranche of aircraft should be delayed in order to make them more effective in ground-attack roles, and some commentators believe that the third tranche of planes may not be bought.

--------
What The Papers Say (Russia)
June 30, 2003, Monday

SECTION: MILITARY HARDWARE PRODUCTION AND ARMS TRADE

RUSSIAN PLANES TO GET INDIAN FILLING
俄國殼印度填料
Kommersant (St. Petersburg), June 07, 2003, p. 12
Boris Gorlin

STRATEGIC COOPERATION WITH INDIA IN THE AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURING AND UPGRADING
AREA IS DEVELOPING. THE RUSSIAN-BASED AEROSPACE EQUIPMENT CORPORATION
EXPECTS TO SIGN A CONTRACT FOR SUPPLYING COMPONENTS FOR 140 SU-30MKI
AIRCRAFTS TO ITS INDIAN-BASED PARTNER. THE SIDES ALSO HOPE TO EXPORT THE
JOINTLY MANUFACTURED FIGHTERS TO OTHER SOUTHEAST ASIA COUNTRIES.

BODY:

Yesterday, the Aerospace Equipment corporation drew an agreement on cooperation with the Indian-based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The sides are going to sign contracts for supplying India with components to assemble Su-30MKI fighters under license.

(...)

We remind that in February this year, at the international air show Aero India 2003, the Russian-based Irkut corporation signed with HAL an agreement on joint production of Su-30MKI. The agreement was signed within the scope of a license program for the production of 140 planes for India (it is estimated at $3.5 billion) and established new relations between Russian manufacturers and their Indian partners - for the first time, components for Russian aircrafts will be manufactured abroad. Besides, the parties arranged for India to manufacture components to upgrade 18 previously bought Su-30K into Su-30MKI.

Proceeding along this line, the Aerospace Equipment corporation, joining more than 30 Russian avionics manufacturers and developers, also signed yesterday a strategic agreement with HAL. According to Sergey Bodrunov, the corporations director general, the enterprise can quite count on a contract for $700 million, with HAL obtaining components for 140 Su-30MKI aircrafts.

(...)

U.S., Indonesia Warplanes Have Close Call

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/INDONESIA_US?SITE=LABAT&SECTION;=HOME&TEMPLATE;=DEFAULT

美戰機闖印尼　險爆發空戰
index/0,3687,920705031+92070520+0+144514,00.htmlhttp://news.chinatimes.com/Chinatimes/Moment/newfocus

美國和印尼戰機三日在爪哇海上空因通訊問題發生誤會幾乎爆發衝突，多架美軍戰機進入印尼領空，印尼則派出軍機攔截，美機馬上擺出戰鬥姿態，以導彈瞄準印尼軍機並準備開火，就在千鈞一髮之際，美軍收到印尼方面「是友非敵」的訊號，印尼戰機才倖免於難，但印尼可能就此事向美國提出強烈抗議。

印尼空軍將領瑞斯諾維洛四日表示，印尼軍方發現雷達上顯示，美軍五架F-18大黃蜂戰機闖入爪哇群島北部巴韋安島上空後，立刻派遣兩架美國製F-16戰機予以攔截，並用緊急事件頻率告知美機已進入印尼領空，但美軍戰機看到印尼戰機靠近後馬上鎖定目標，準備以導彈發動攻擊。

瑞斯諾維洛表示，美軍戰機先進入作戰模式並鎖定目標，然後才問印尼戰機是敵是友，印尼戰機隨機發出是友非敵的訊號。瑞斯諾維洛表示，美軍這五架戰機當時正為一艘航空母艦、兩艘驅逐艦及一艘補給船護航，艦隊經印尼水域向東航行前，已向印尼當局申請通過許可，但印尼政府行政程序緩慢，遲遲未知會軍方將有美軍戰機飛過而引起誤會，險些釀成慘劇。

印尼軍方尚未決定是否就此事向美國提出抗議，但印尼國會民族主義議員發表聲明說，美軍戰機的狂妄舉動侵犯了印尼主權，總統梅嘉娃蒂必須就此事向美國提出強烈抗議。

Dror Marom

Sources inform Globes that Lockheed-Martin (NYSE:LMT) will be late in delivering the new F-16 fighter planes to the Israel Air Force, as a result of a strike at its Fort Worth, Texas plant. The first plane was due to be delivered in Israel in October 2003. Delivery will now be delayed till next year.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics headquarters is located in Fort Worth, Texas. The production workers went on strike last April, in coordination with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics is currently building F-16s for Israel and Greece, along with the midsection of Americas jet fighter of the future, the F-22, and Japans F-2 fighter aircraft. It will shortly begin building the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, to be used by the US and Israel.

The workers said that over several years, they had foregone raises due to the global economic crisis and the companys shaky position. In April however, they demanded compensation due to Lockheed Martins improved profits.

Lockheed-Martin tried to keep production lines working at full capacity by using non-union labor, but it transpired that the strike harmed the delivery timetable.

The F-16 purchase is the largest ever made in Israels history. Lockheed-Martin beat out Boeing (NYSE:BA) to build 50 aircraft for $2.5 billion, but Israel later exercised its option to expand the contract by 52 additional aircraft, increasing the value to $4.5 billion.

〔記者許紹軒╱台北報導〕空軍提昇ＩＤＦ戰機性能的翔昇計畫，除了改良航電系統提昇到F-16C/D的水準，增強制空以及對地攻擊能力之外，未來劍二中程飛彈將可自滑軌發射，並整合中科院研發的劍二Ａ反輻射飛彈、萬劍機場遙攻武器與青雲油氣彈，如此一來，ＩＤＦ將具有境外作戰能力。

　 今年是翔昇計畫執行期程的第二期，去年立院審查預算時曾附帶決議，要求漢翔到院報告才能動支今年預算，上會期國防委員會對漢翔第一次的報告不滿意，要求重來一次，第二次卻未排入議程，預算至今無法動支，軍方擔心執行率太低，希望下會期立院能排出時間聽取報告。

翔昇計畫經費 約達十億台幣

　軍方指出，ＩＤＦ戰機至今已經服役十年，依照先進國家戰機的研發歷程，屆滿十年就需要進行性能提昇，除了更換某些使用年限甚至已達十五年的零件，還要增強原先沒有的功能，以及延長戰機使用壽限，因此翔昇計畫經費約達十億元。

經國號升級後 可分擔F-16任務

　這項計畫的主要目標是讓經國號戰機成為「聯合反制載台」，編號為FCK-1C/D，分擔部分F-16戰機空對地任務的壓力，軍方從九十年開始編列預算，計畫在五年內完成，九十年到九十一年第一期合約由中科院與漢翔公司共同研究可能構型，最為人所知的是讓劍二中程空對空飛彈能以滑軌發射，使ＩＤＦ的劍二掛彈數從兩枚增加到最多八枚，大幅增加制空能力。

航電射控系統 將大幅度精進

　此外，就是航電與射控系統的精進，由十六位元升級至三十二位元，運算速度加快一倍，同時加強短場起降、飛行操控軟體設計、雷達ECCM性能提升、加強核心航電系統、整合型的INSGPS導航系統設計、電子反反制以及地貌追蹤能力，但空中加油能力並不在此列，也無修改機體外貌的計畫。

　 此外，該計畫還將整合ＩＤＦ與劍二Ａ反輻射飛彈、萬劍機場遙攻武器，以及青雲油氣彈等中科院研發的新式空對地武器，其中，萬劍彈預計今年內完成，擁有動力的子母彈，讓戰機可以不必冒險進入機場防空火網，在一定距離外投彈後脫離，飛彈靠自身的導引與動力飛抵機場上空灑下「次彈械」破壞跑道，頗類似美軍現役的AGM-154A聯合遙攻武器(JSOW)。

萬劍、青雲彈 提升IDF攻擊力

　青雲彈則是中科院研發的油氣彈，又稱「燃料空氣彈」，可以殺傷大面積人員與裝備，給予大部隊或是物資集結區域毀滅性的打擊。

　 據指出，從ＩＤＦ未來可配備劍二Ａ反輻射飛彈、萬劍彈與青雲彈來看，空軍期望經國號將不只是分擔F-16的任務而已，甚至將能獨立擁有完整對地打擊能力，以達境外作戰目的。

The aircraft will be grounded until all aircraft with this type of engine have replacement parts installed, according to Col. Philip Breedlove, 56th Fighter Wing commander.

Copyright 2003 Antara - The Indonesian National News Agency
Antara - The Indonesian National News Agency
July 5, 2003
SELL ALL F-16S, BUY SUKHOIS, SAY MPS
Cairo, July 5 (ANTARA) - Some members of the Indonesian Parliament (DPR) are of the opinion that Indonesia should sell all US-made F-16 jet fighters it owns and replace them with Russian-made Sukhoi aircraft.

According to the parliamentarians, the military embargo on Indonesia by the United States and its allies were hurting the feelings of the Indonesian people as a nation.

The statements were made by Alvin Lie, member of the National Mandate Party (PAN) in a gathering with the Indonesian community in Egypt here recently.

Alvien Lie was one of a seven-member Indonesian parliamentary delegation who made a three-day visit to Egypt until Friday.

According to Alvin Lie, Indonesia which is struggling to maintain its territorial integrity against the so-called Aceh rebel movement (GAM), has got problem with the operation of the F-16 jet fighters because of the American embargo.

Thats why I said that Indonesia had better sell out all its F-16 jet fighters, and have them changed by the Russian Sukhoi planes, Alvin Lie said.

Indonesian Ambassador to Egypt, Prof.Dr. Bachtiar Aly, MA, acted as moderator in the discussion which was attended mostly by Indonesian students in Egypt, along with the Indonesian community in general and the Embassy staff.

Alvin Lie pointed out that Indonesia had planned to buy Sukhoi jet fighters as of year 1997 but was then postponed to the economic crisis.

National Identity

Alvin Lie pointed out that the Indonesian national identity and self-esteem seemed to have been harassed because of the hurting military embargo.

I think it is an appropriate decision for us to use Sukhoi for our air defence system. This is necessary to build our national defence without being dictated by outside forces, Alvin Lie said.

However, Alvin Lie regretted the fact that the purchase of Sukhoi jet fighters had involved Industries and Trade Minister Rini Soewandi and the State Logistics Board (Bulog).

According to Alvin Lie, the purchase of Sukhoi jet fighters should have involved only the Ministry of Defence and the Indonesian National defence Forces (TNI).

During his three-day visit to Egypt, Alvin Lie and his team members had a meeting with Speaker of the Egyptian Parliament, Dr. Fathi Sourur and Speaker of the Egyptian Congress Dr. Moustafa Helmy.

Other members of parliament joining the Egyptian visit were Ismangoen Notosapoutro of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP),

---------
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=64472
Flying coffins? MiG-23 even more lethal
RAJAT PANDIT

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ MONDAY, JULY 07, 2003 08:34:24 PM ]

NEW DELHI: MiG-21s may have earned the dubious distinction of being dubbed flying coffins in some quarters, much to the dislike of the IAF top brass. But MiG-23s are even more difficult to fly: their accident rate per 10,000 hours of flying is the highest in the IAF fleet.

The ageing swing-wing MiG-23s were to be phased out by the mid-1990s but delay in induction of new fighters has compelled the IAF to continue flying these jets. The IAF has three squadrons of the MiG-23BN ground attack fighters and one squadron of the MiG-23MF air defence fighters.

The MiG-23BN crash near Ludhiana on Monday, fortunately, led to no loss of life. The IAF said it was a planned ejection by the pilot, after a technical snag, in a designated safe area. Another MiG-23 crash near the same Halwara base in April, however, had killed four persons.

Defence minister George Fernandes and IAF chief Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy may wax eloquent on the air-worthiness of the MiG fighters, the fact, however, remains that they continue to crash at regular intervals.

There have been 305 Category-I accidents (where the aircraft is totally damaged) in the IAF since 1990-1991, with 145 pilots losing their lives. Many civilians have also been killed on the ground during such crashes, with as many as 23 dying in 2002-2003.

The MiG-21s make more news since they constitute over 40 per cent of the IAF fighter fleet. They account for the bulk of flying sorties and consequently, more accidents, said an officer. If all the MiG variants are taken into account, then they constitute over 75 per cent of the IAF fleet.

Several factors contribute to the IAFs high accident rate. One, ageing aircraft of the 1960s and 1970s vintage with design limitations difficult to overcome.

Two, direct exposure of inexperienced pilots to highly-unforgiving supersonic aircraft like the MiG-21s without transitional training on the desperately-needed advanced jet trainers.

（中央社記者張芳明東京十日專電）日本航空自衛隊的兩架 C130 運輸機今天由愛知縣小牧基地啟程前往約旦安曼，展開協助伊拉克重建的空運救援物資任務，這是日本首次派遣自衛隊前往參與支援伊拉克的戰後重建工作。

兩架載著四十一名自衛隊員的 C130 運輸機於今天上午由航空自衛隊小牧基地出發，經由琉球、泰國和印度等地於十四日飛抵安曼，將和搭乘民航機的自衛隊員會合，以總共近一百人的規模展開約一個月的物資運輸任務。這兩架運輸機應聯合國的要求首次在尾翼標示「UN」兩字。

(中央社記者林行健馬尼拉十日專電)菲律賓總統雅羅育今日正式接收三架由美國政府捐贈的UH-1H「休」式多用途直升機，價值二百七十六萬美元。

移交儀式在馬尼拉巴西市的維拉摩空軍基地舉行。雅羅育在國防部次長加西斯的陪同下，將三架直升機交予菲律賓空軍。這是美國政府三年前承諾贈送菲國八架直昇機中的第二批，首批五架直昇機已於去年運抵菲國，現於民答那峨島協助執行打恐任務。

--------
Globes [online] - Israels Business Arena

June 24, 2003

Bulgaria disqualifies IAI warplane upgrade bid;
The remaining competitors are European concern EADS and British Aerospace
Systems.

Dror Marom and Reuters

The Bulgarian Defense Ministry has disqualified a bid by Israel Aircraft
Industries (IAI) to upgrade warplanes for its air force.

A report from news agency Reuters, based on Bulgarian government sources in
Sofia, said that the project is expected to amount to $100 million. IAI
upgrades warplanes and helicopters at its Lahav plant.

Bulgaria is seeking to upgrade 40 Russian-manufactured MiG-24s.

After the elimination of IAI, the remaining competitors are European concern
EADS and British Aerospace Systems. The choice of the winner is scheduled
for next month.

Bulgarian Foreign Investment Agency head Pavel Ezekiev told Reuters, We
have been holding talks with a number of companies, but I consider as the
most likely winner either BAE or EADS, as they could best meet the offset
deal conditions.

IAI declined to comment on the report.

Islamabad, July 12, IRNA -- A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter plane crashed in the countrys eastern Punjab province on Saturday, killing the pilot, Pakistan state-owned television reported.

The Mirage plane was on a routine training flight when it crashed near the town of Shorkot, according to PTV.

Pilot squadron leader Shahab Nawaz received fatal injuries and died on the spot.

There was no report of any casualty and damage on the ground.

The PAF has ordered an inquiry into the crash.
MMZ/LS/AR

---------

http://www.janes.com/defence/air_forces/news/jdw/jdw030707_1_n.shtml
Typhoon boost for Europe

By Craig Hoyle, JDW Aviation Editor, Manching, Germany

Almost half a decade behind schedule, the Eurofighter Typhoon was finally accepted for operational service with the air forces of Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK on 30 June.

Officially marked during a type-acceptance ceremony at EADS Manching facility in Germany, the development came as the partner nations, industry and the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency also agreed to overhaul their current production and support processes for the project.

Under the terms of a newly concluded Tranche 2 framework agreement, the Eurofighter organisation will move away from its current consortium style to that of a prime contractor.

It is hoped that this will encourage much-needed process improvements ahead of future production agreements - the next of which is expected to be in place in the last quarter of this year.

However, UK Chief of Defence Procurement Sir Peter Spencer said steps will be taken to move away from juste-retour [division of workshare according to a partner nations investment] in production of the Typhoon. There is huge scope to make the Eurofighter programme leaner and more efficient, he said. Reducing the unit cost of the aircraft is another key objective of this process, said Spencer, noting that [a saving of] between 10% and 20% should and must be achieved over those aircraft now in production.

(中央社記者陳亦偉台北十三日電)中共空軍近年引進大
量俄羅斯製先進戰機和空對空飛彈，嚴重衝擊台海軍力
平衡。經國軍積極向美方爭取，美國出售台灣的
AIM-120先進中程空對空飛彈可望近期運抵台灣強化空
防能力。軍方並計畫明年在台試射AIM-120飛彈，正與
美方協商中，如果可行，將是AIM-120飛彈首度在美國
本土以外試射。

軍方消息來源證實，經過長久以來向美方的積極交
涉和爭取，美方已同意將空軍採購的AIM-120先進中程
空對空飛彈運交台灣，讓空軍部署在本島的F-16戰機上
，以維持台海空防戰力平衡，目前正在排訂船期，若一
切順利預計一至二個月內可運抵台灣。

空軍並已就F-16戰機人員進行操作訓練，並由美方
依合約協助進行F-16戰機配備AIM-120飛彈射控軟體介
面的修正。雖然空軍在美國受訓的F-16戰機早已進行
AIM-120飛彈的試射，但軍方為因應台海作戰需要，也
積極向美方協調，希望能讓AIM-120飛彈在台灣地區進
行試射。

軍方指出，目前國軍飛行員在美國受訓時，課目之
一就是射控AIM-120飛彈，並曾實際試射過，依照空軍
人員訓練及戰機射控軟體介面更換的時程推算，最快要
到明年，才有可能在台灣進行F-16戰機配備AIM-120的
實彈試射，但由於事涉敏感，屆時能否比照陸軍採購部
署「愛國者」飛彈的情況，在美國本土外的台灣試射
AIM-120，美方還在評估各項因素中，軍方避免影響計
畫，也刻意保持低調。

西元兩千年美國同意出售台灣約兩百枚AIM-120飛
彈，由於避免刺激中共，因此在軍售中附加但書，指明
這批飛彈須先存放在關島的美軍基地，待中共取得同型
飛彈後再運交台灣。由於中共向俄羅斯採購的
AA-12(R-77) 型中程空對空飛彈，去年已試射成功，因
此台灣積極向美方爭取，將飛彈儘速運交台灣。

軍方表示，美方已同意將飛彈運交給台灣，目前正
在排定船期，這批飛彈可望在近期運抵台灣。

一位曾代表台灣向美方談判軍售的將領表示，當初
他向美方交涉時，曾以電視機做比喻：「因為鄰居都是
黑白電視 (鄰國空軍的飛彈仍屬早期型)，台灣買了彩
色電視機 (AIM-120)還必須委屈求全，不能帶回家，必
須到店裡去看，現在終於能把彩色電視機搬回家了」，
美方人員聽完都哈哈大笑，但也開始考慮將AIM-120飛
彈運交台灣的時間。

空軍曾在去年七月提供國軍與中共空軍空用飛彈的
性能表：中共蘇愷三十戰機配備AA-12飛彈，是主動式
雷達導引，最大速度三馬赫，最大射程有五十公里；國
軍方面，IDF(經國號)戰機配備TC-2飛彈，主動式雷達
導引，最大速度是四馬赫，最大射程六十公里；幻象二
千戰機配備MICA飛彈，主動式雷達導引，最大速度三點
五馬赫，最大射程有五十公里；F-16戰機配備AIM-120
飛彈，主動式雷達導引，最大射程五十公里。920713

SAINT PETERSBURG, July 15 (AFP) - 16:21 GMT - A Russian air force jet misfired a missile outside training grounds near Saint Petersburg on Tuesday, slightly injuring a local civilian, the Interfax news agency reported.
The missile landed in a residents courtyard, a military source told Interfax, adding that the civilian had been hospitalized with light wounds.

--------
http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Jul16680/index.htm
Eurofighter Marks Type Acceptance and Tranche 2 Framework Agreement

(Source: Press Trust of India; issued July 15, 2003)

NEW DELHI --- Within days of the dispatch of an Air Force peacekeeping contingent to Congo, India is sending another batch of troops on Wednesday for United Nations peacekeeping exercise in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Maj. Gen. K S Jamwal, in-charge of deployment of Indian Army on U N missions, today bade farewell to soldiers of 15 Sikh Light Infantry Battalion, who would be stationed in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

As many as 90 personnel of the 10 Garhwal Rifles, who are also leaving for Congo to join the IAF contingent, were present on the occasion.

An Army spokesman said India is one of the largest contributors to U N peacekeeping operations in the last five decades with over 65,000 troops having participated in such actions so far. 108 Indian soldiers have been killed in these operations.

At present, Indian forces are posted in Lebanon, Congo Ethiopia and Eritrea. Besides these, India is contributing over 100 personnel including officers in various U N missions.

Highlighting the universal acclaim received by the Indian Army for its professional excellence, selfless service and devotion to duty in all U N peacekeeping missions, Maj. Gen. Jamwal reminded the soldiers that they were Indias goodwill ambassadors and their personal conduct should, therefore, be of the highest order.

-ends-

----------

Prague Business Journal
July 14, 2003

GOVERNMENT AGREES ON PLAN TO BUY, LEASE OR BORROW USED JET FIGHTERS

Igor Muller

The government last week decided to acquire 14 used jet fighters instead of
running a tender to acquire new planes or leave Czech skies inadequately
defended. The jets will either be purchased, leased or accepted as a gift
from another country. The decision to go for the stop-gap solution should
postpone the need to purchase new jets until 2009, but jet aircraft
manufacturers will still follow the second-hand jet selection process
closely. Industry insiders agreed that the company that supplies the
government stands a better chance to win any future tender to supply new
fighter aircraft. At this early stage, used F-16s and the former Tornado F3
fighters from the U.K. appear to be the front-runners to meet the Czech
armys short-term needs when its current MiG-21s come to the end of their
operational service life in 2005. The F-16s are made by U.S. defense
equipment company Lockheed Martin. The Tornado was produced by a European
consortium that included the predecessor of U.K arms producer BAe. The Czech
Ministry of Defense will now ask eight states-the U.S., U.K., Germany,
Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden, France and Canada-to give details about any
used jets they could offer. Most of these countries have used F-16s
available. The U.K., alone out of the eight, has already passed on details
of its used Tornados to the Czech Ministry of Defense. The other countries
were asked to supply details of the planes and any conditions before Nov. 30
when the government should decide which offer to select, Minister of Defense
Jiri Kostelka said last week. The Czech Republic will probably make its
final decision based on the immediate price of the deal, service costs of
the aircraft and the possibility to use them in joint NATO operations.
Kostelka said the main criteria would be price and the interoperability (of
jets) with other (NATO) member states. The Ministry of Defense will set
aside Kc 1.5 billion each year from its budget until 2007 for the
acquisition and operation of the jets, Kostelka said. Starting in 2008, it
can allocate Kc 3-4 billion a year. The acquisition of new jets will be on
the agenda during Prime Minister Vladimir Spidlas seven-day official U.S.
visit this week. He will be accompanied by Kostelka. A Ministry of Defense
spokesman said no visits to commercial defense companies were on the prime
ministers agenda. Deputy Minister of Defense Jan Vana has visited the U.K.
to discuss the Tornado deal over the past two months. British Defense
Secretary Geoff Hoon also visited Prague in June and met Kostelkas recent
predecessor, Jaroslav Tvrdik. Ladislav Klima, who was the chief of the Czech
air force in the 90s, considers the F-16s as the best solution. There are
two simple reasons. One is that the F-16 can secure interoperability with
other NATO member states, and the second is that its operating costs are
roughly three times lower than the Tornados. Klima now works for Aero
Vodochody, which is partially owned by Boeing. Chief editor of air industry
magazine Letectvi a Kosmonautika, Jan Cadil, was more circumspect. He said
the price of the planes would be the decisive factor. At this moment, I
would see the chances as equal and it will depend on the offer, Cadil
added. He agreed the operating costs for Tornados are higher than F-16s.
Tornados have two engines and two seats, whereas the F-16 has only one
(engine and seat), so the costs are obviously lower, he said. Germany could
offer its Phantom jets, which were produced by the European-based consortium
EADS and are interoperable with NATO forces. Poland has recently acquired 19
old MiG-29 jets from the Luftwaffe for a symbolic price of EL 1. It will get
the first shipment of 5 MiG-29s this September. The Ministry of Defense gave
the government three options for future air defense last week: not to buy
any jets and leave the Czech skies unprotected by Czech aircraft; buy brand
new jets; or buy used jets. Kostelka said given the current financial
situation, in which severe cuts in other defense spending are being made,
this scenario was hardly imaginable. The purchase of new aircraft from the
current military budget is virtually impossible, Kostelka added.

---------
BBC Monitoring Former Soviet Union - Political
Supplied by BBC Worldwide Monitoring

July 13, 2003, Sunday

Russian military transfer to Armenia linked to US spy flights - paper

Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Moscow, in Russian 11 Jul 03

The transfer of Russian military hardware to the 102nd base in Armenia is a
response to the recent spate of US reconnaissance flights in the Caucasus
region, says Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta. Despite official Russian
denials, the paper says the transfer of hardware will be followed by troop
deployments. The following is an excerpt from the article published in
Nezavisimaya Gazeta on 11 July:

Moscow has finished moving the basic military equipment of the Group of
Russian Forces in the Transcaucasus from Georgia to Armenia. Thus, the 102nd
military base at Gyumri has acquired a considerable quantity of engineering
equipment and munitions as well as certain categories of military hardware.
How much equipment is being kept a secret, but sources claim that it is at
least several hundred freightcars - mainly munitions for tanks and artillery
mounts with a calibre of 120 mm or more, mines, bridge layers, mines
clearance, water filtration, and air ventilation units, concealment systems,
and so on. All this is needed for the successful conduct of combat
operations, particularly in the mountains of the Transcaucasus, where there
is limited room for manoeuvre and various engineering systems (minefields
and so on) sometimes form insuperable obstacles for the enemy. Passage
omitted

Col-Gen Yuriy Baluyevskiy, first deputy chief of the armed forces General
Staff, rejected the reports that have appeared in certain media that troop
units also being redeployed to Armenia along with the hardware. There are
no plans to increase the number of Russian troops in Armenia, he said.

Although the Russian General Staff spokesman was obviously not telling the
whole story here. The point is that the buildup of hardware in Armenia makes
it possible, if necessary, to redeploy the requisite troop contingent here
within a matter of hours. It is intended that these will be mobile forces
from the professional airborne divisions being assembled on Russian
territory. People will be sent but the combat hardware is already mothballed
in Armenia.

（中央社記者劉坤原華盛頓十六日專電）美國之音今天報導，美國近期內將把三年前出售給台灣，目前暫時存放在關島空軍基地的二百枚先進AIM - 120C型中程空對空導彈撥交給臺灣。

報導說，美國在二○○○年出售兩百枚AIM - 120C型中程空對空導彈給臺灣。但當時因擔心這項軍售會使臺灣空軍的能力超過中國而刺激中國加速取得類似的武器，故雙方同意暫時將這批導彈存放關島，並於日後適當時機交貨。

報導指出，華府現在同意把這批導彈交給臺灣，是因為中國空軍已取得了一種先進的戰鬥機，並且成功地測試了俄羅斯生產的AA-12型空對空導彈，對臺灣的空防造成了威脅。

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/data/communiques/data/2003Jul16795/index.htm
EGYPT ­ C-130H Based Roll-On/Roll-Off ELINT Systems

Miami Herald
July 17, 2003
委內瑞拉可能購買五十架MiG-29﹖
Arms Race Feared If Venezuela Buys Russian Jets
By Andres Oppenheimer

Is Venezuelas flamboyant President Hugo Chávez planning to buy 50 Russian-made MiG-29 planes, which could cost his economically crippled country nearly $2 billion and possibly trigger a new arms race in Latin America?

It is an allegation that made headlines in the region this week. Former Colombian Finance Minister Juan Manuel Santos produced a photocopy of a letter allegedly sent by Venezuelan Air Force Commander Régulo Anselmi Espin to the director general of Russias aircraft-building corporation MiG, Nikolai Nikitin, inquiring about the possible purchase of 40 two-seat and 10 one-seat MiG-29s.

Its a document that was given to me by a very, very high ranking source from my government, Santos told me in a telephone interview. ``Once I got it, I said at a conference about Colombias future challenges that we should look into this because it could mark the beginning of a new arms race in the region.

Santos is one of Colombias best-connected politicians. He was vice president in the early 1990s and finance minister between 2000 and 2002 and belongs to the family that owns El Tiempo, Colombias most influential newspaper.

He said Colombian President Alvaro Uribes government is not commenting about the alleged aircraft purchase plan because it fears weakening its already edgy ties with neighboring Venezuela. Indeed, Colombian officials are mum about the issue.

Venezuela denies Santos assertion. Venezuelas ambassador to the United States, Bernardo Alvarez, said ``there is no pending purchase of MiG planes by Venezuela. The only thing that had been discussed with Russia is the purchase of four reconnaissance and observation helicopters, of the same kind that Colombia has.

Alvarez does not deny the possibility that the document produced by Santos may exist. But he told me that it could be one of many such letters that circulate all the time among potential arms buyers and suppliers, asking about prices or products in the market.

Colombia and Venezuela have already had several squabbles over reports that Venezuela is giving refuge to Colombias FARC guerrillas. They also had an unresolved border dispute over the region that Venezuelans call the Gulf of Venezuela and Colombians the Gulf of Coquivacoa.

So who is telling the truth? Earlier this week, I called Rogelio Pardo-Maurer, the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for Western Hemisphere Affairs. He said Venezuela has valid reasons to want to do something about its aging fleet of 21 U.S.-made F-16 jets, but spending billions in the purchase of new Russian planes may be going overboard. Of course we would be worried, Pardo-Maurer said. We are friendly with all the countries there, and this would make them nervous. The last thing you want to do is to see a country do something that starts an arms race. While worried about Chávezs close ties to Cuba -- and his self-announced plans to stay in power until 2021 -- U.S. military sources say they want Venezuela to have a working air force to help in the fight against drug traffickers. They said that Venezuelas F-16s were purchased in 1983, and that by some accounts only four of them are safe to fly these days.

U.S. officials would clearly prefer Chávez to refurbish the F-16s rather than buy new planes, both to avoid altering the balance of forces in the region and to prevent Venezuela from substituting its reliance on the U.S. military to the Russian military. Pardo-Maurer said the Bush administration has not yet decided whether it would authorize an upgrade of the F-16 but will make a decision soon.

For the past 50 years, we have had an excellent and very professional relationship with the Venezuelan air force. They are one of our best friends, Pardo-Maurer said. ``The question we ask ourselves is, do you think Venezuela is going to be there as a friend fort the next 30 years? My answer to that is yes.

大陸「神舟五號」太空船將在百日內於酒泉衛星發射中心升空，「神舟五號」將搭載中共首名太空人，且太空船內將不安放任何科學實驗儀器，不做科學實驗。

香港文匯報報導，大陸官員表示，不做任何科學實驗，主要是考慮太空艙狹窄，避免過多儀器影響太空人活動，造成不安全。

對於發射的確切時間，有關人士透露，「神舟五號」發射可能在「冬季前，秋季間」實現。「神舟五號」的發射時間將選擇在白天，這與前四次發射時間在晚間不同。主要原因是白天氣溫有利於發射人員工作，更能充分保障太空人的安全。

大陸首次載人太空船「神舟五號」發射，長征二號Ｆ火箭的逃逸系統，將首次為太空人的安全擔負起保護使命。據有關方面介紹，逃逸系統將在三個階段保障太空人安全，目前神舟太空船逃逸塔發動機的總裝任務已完成。

第一階段，在發射前十五分鐘，火箭上的自動故障檢測處理系統可以自動檢測故障，一旦有問題會自動示警。第二階段，假如太空人正在塔架上尚未進艙，可以就近跳進塔架上的逃逸布袋，布袋是用一種彈力很強的特殊帆布製成，太空人跳進去後，可用四肢的阻力來控制下降的速度，像乘軟滑梯一樣從發射塔上層一直滑到地下室的安全地區。第三階段，假如太空人進入飛行座艙後火箭發生險情，這套系統還可以指揮安放在運載火箭頂部的逃逸塔自動點火，讓逃逸塔拽著軌道艙和返回艙與火箭分離，並降落在安全地點，讓太空人脫離險境。

【大陸新聞中心／綜合報導】中共月球探測計畫首席科學家歐陽自遠院士日前透露，中共月球探測計畫「嫦娥一號」工程的關鍵技術攻關，取得重大進展。

不久前，中共國家航天局已任命大陸月球探測計畫「嫦娥一號」衛星工程的總指揮、總設計師和首席科學家，各下屬研究機構也成立相應研發部門，各部門在統一協調下，工作進度已經編製完成。

【朱明╱台北報導】國防部官員證實，二○○二年底空軍在東部空域進行代號「勇威五號」演習時，ＩＤＦ戰機驗證國造「天劍二型」中程空對空飛彈，居然發生射不出去的重大事件，這也是空軍多年來在劍二飛彈實彈射擊，首度發生無法射擊的狀況。

演習出醜
據指出，事後中科院檢討認為是飛行員操作不慎所造成，但執行這次任務的李姓中校是ＩＤＦ戰機的資深飛官，也曾當選該機種的績優飛行員，這位李姓中校認定是機械故障所導致。中科院對這件射不出去的重大事件，至今未找出確切原因，也還未向國防部與空軍總部提出完整的書面報告。
面對記者的質問，空軍總部僅回答武器的獲得都符合空軍的作戰需求，對此事件不願回應。中科院則對此未作答覆。

去年十二月演習出狀況
據國防部官員表示，空軍在去年十二月初所進行代號「勇威五號」演習，主要驗證ＩＤＦ戰機配置天劍二型飛彈與幻象戰機配置雲母飛彈，進行視距外以實彈來反制中國戰機的戰術戰法。
演習當天，台中清泉崗基地兩架ＩＤＦ戰機各掛載一枚劍二飛彈，新竹基地兩架幻象戰機也各掛載一枚雲母飛彈，飛往台灣東南部的九鵬飛彈試射場的管制空域外，分別對擔任假想敵機的遙控靶機進行「對頭迎擊」與「尾隨追擊」兩種欄截射擊。

長機失手 僚機切換靶機
按原訂計劃，先由ＩＤＦ戰機進行射擊，由李姓中校所駕駛的長機先鎖定靶機，發射劍二飛彈，緊接再由僚機發射另枚劍二飛彈分別將兩個靶機擊落；可是長機雖鎖定目標，但無法把飛彈射出。
據指出，眼見發射時間就快要過去，若不發射，這次的演習將成為失敗的個案，因此僚機當機立斷，切換到長機應鎖定的靶機，立刻發射天劍二型飛彈把三十公里外的靶機擊落。
就因為兩架ＩＤＦ戰機只擊落一個目標，接著幻象戰機卻是兩架兩枚雲母飛彈都順利擊中目標；一度外傳天劍二型飛彈可能是彈頭尋標器在波段切換上有問題，造成兩枚飛彈鎖定同一目標的誤會。

　　（中央社記者郭傳信安卡拉二十二日專電）據伊朗官方新聞社報導，伊朗共和衛隊空軍日前開始配備第一批三枚射程一千三百公里的「流星三號」中程飛彈，射程涵蓋以色列，但以色列飛彈專家表示質疑，認為伊朗仍需要三年時間才能生產該型飛彈。

　　據伊朗官方「伊斯蘭共和新聞社」昨天報導，伊朗在上月成功試射「流星三號」飛彈之後，決定開始進行部署，並且在二十日一次由伊朗最高精神領袖哈米尼觀禮的閱兵儀式中，將所謂的第一批三枚「流星三號」飛彈交給伊朗共和衛隊空軍。

　　就在同時，以色列飛彈專家夏皮爾（YiftahShapir），昨天也在以色列戰略研究中心發表的「伊朗飛彈：威脅本質」報告中表示，儘管伊朗上月成功試射「流星三號」飛彈，但並不表示伊朗已完成整個計劃，可能需要到二００六年才能正式生產「流星三號」飛彈。

　　夏皮爾表示，即使研發過程獲得成功結論，但伊朗仍必須完成生產和系統部署階段，因此合理推算，伊朗可能仍需要兩到三年的時間才能完成整個的飛彈系統運作，而伊朗此時宣布將開始生產「流星三號」飛彈，未免太早。

　　伊朗採用北韓「盧洞」飛彈製造技術，經過至少五年時間改良研究出來的「流星三號」飛彈，實際射程一千二百九十六公里，涵蓋以色列及派駐在沙烏地阿拉伯、阿富汗、巴基斯坦及土耳其的美軍。

　　據以色列戰略研究中心引述美國情報表示，伊朗可能已經具備一次發射多枚「流星三號」飛彈的能力，只是尚未完全發展出可靠的投射系統。

　　同時與伊拉克受到美國禁運制裁的伊朗，自一九九二年以來獨立研發各種軍備武器，到目前已能獨立生產自己的坦克、裝甲運兵車、飛彈及戰機。不久前，美國還指控伊朗試圖藉興建核子電廠研發核子武器，但為伊朗否認。

　　據以色列官方表示，伊朗還計劃發展射程兩千公里的「流星四號」及射程五千五百公里的「流星五號」長程飛彈。

------
http://tw.news.yahoo.com/2003/07/15/international/bcc/4107530.html
中廣新聞網 2003年07月15日
印度米格-21墜機　二機師死

印度空軍一架米格二十一戰鬥機今天在訓練的時候墜機，機上兩名飛行員雙雙身亡。

(斯芮納嘉)基地發言人辛穆奇中校說，這架飛機完成訓練課目返回基地的時候，在距離基地不遠的地方起火，墜落在基地的跑道上。辛穆奇認為這起事故是機械故障引起的。飛機上的兩名飛行員是羅斯脫中校和甘奈施少校。

印度空軍從一九六六年開始用米格機。過去六年，一共掉了一百多架，死了五十多名飛行員。目前印度還有三百架米格機。上個月，印度國防部長費南得茲在國會報告的時候說，米格機失事多半是因為操作不當、機械故障或是遭到鳥擊。(翻譯按：還有別的原因嗎？)

(郭希誠編譯)

-----
http://tw.news.yahoo.com/2003/07/12/international/bcc/4102559.html
中廣新聞網 2003年07月12日
巴基斯坦幻象戰機墜毀飛行員喪生

巴基斯坦空軍一架換幻像戰機今天墜毀，飛行員喪生。 巴基斯坦空軍說，這架軍機在巴基斯坦中部，進行例行飛行時墜毀，飛行員傷勢太重死亡。巴基斯坦空軍正在調查飛機失事原因。

-----
http://tw.news.yahoo.com/2003/07/10/international/reuters/4098947.html
路透社 2003年07月10日
(圖文)印度航空展熱力四射

印度空軍7月10日在斯利那加(Srinagar)舉行的航空展中，表演了名為「陽光」(Suryakiran)的空中特技。為了吸引喀什米爾年輕人加入印度空軍，有關單位特地動用軍機和直昇機，舉行了這場航空展。這是自1989分離主義分子開始叛亂以來，首度舉辦的類似活動。 路透/Fayaz Kabli

-----
http://tw.news.yahoo.com/2003/07/10/international/cna/4098893.html
中央社 2003年07月10日
菲律賓接收三架美國捐贈直升機

　　(中央社記者林行健馬尼拉十日專電)菲律賓總統雅羅育今日正式接收三架由美國政府捐贈的UH-1H「休」式多用途直升機，價值二百七十六萬美元。

　　移交儀式在馬尼拉巴西市的維拉摩空軍基地舉行。雅羅育在國防部次長加西斯的陪同下，將三架直升機交予菲律賓空軍。這是美國政府三年前承諾贈送菲國八架直昇機中的第二批，首批五架直昇機已於去年運抵菲國，現於民答那峨島協助執行打恐任務。

　　雅羅育說，她在六月訪問華盛頓時，美國總統布希在美菲聯合公報中納入對菲國空軍額外提供三十架直昇機的內容。

Jaguar crashes but IAF refuses to confirm accident

AMBALA: A fighter plane Jaguar crashed while landing at the air force station at Ambala cantonment on Tuesday. The pilot managed to bail out safely.

At around 4.45 pm, residents of Dhankaur village near the runway say they saw the rear of the plane catch fire. The plane had reportedly developed some technical snag at the time of landing and so it immediately caught fire.

Meanwhile, Air Force authorities did not confirm the crash and insisted everything was normal. Even the officer incharge at the Air Force Station told some officers, including the tehsildar sent by the district administration, that they didnt need any help as the crash hadnt occurred. Repeated efforts to contact Air Force Authorities proved futile.

Tuesdays crash was the fifth at the Ambala Air Force Station where fighter planes Jaguar and MiG 21 are stationed. On May 9, 2002, a Jaguar crashed while flying and its pilot was killed. The second incident occurred on November 5, 2002, in which a Jaguar fighter plane crashed at village Dalipgarh near here killing 13 people. However, the pilot succeeded in bailing out.

In September 2002, a MiG 21 crashed in the fields of village Chaur Mastpur and in April this year, another MiG 21 crashed at a residential colony. In both the cases, the pilots bailed out.

---------
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=79122
IAF grounds one variant of MiG-21 trainer

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 2003 08:30:33 PM ]

NEW DELHI: The IAF has reportedly grounded all MiG-21 Type-69 twin-seater trainer aircraft, one of which crashed near Srinagar on Monday night, till the exact cause behind the mishap can be ascertained.

Its a precautionary move...the inquiry into the accident is in progress. The crash took place after there was a loss of power during `overshoot action over the runway on a routine night flying mission, said a source.

Both the pilots, Wing Commander Rakesh Rustogi and Flight Lieutenant B Ganesh, were killed in Mondays crash. Though officers are tight-lipped about the exact number of MiG-21 `Type-69 trainers, there are around 100 MiG-21 trainers of different types in the IAF fleet.

In the absence of user-friendly advanced jet trainers (AJTs) for transitional training, the IAF is forced to use second-generation MiG-21 twin-seater trainers.

Around half-a-dozen squadrons (each with 15-20 jets) of the MiG-21 Bis Type-75 fighters had to be temporarily grounded last year after a crash in Jalandhar, which left eight dead and 14 injured.

The ageing MiG-21s, with several design limitations, are highly-unforgiving to errors committed by pilots. Moreover, they are single-engined and lack aids like digital displays, unlike the more-advanced Jaguars, MiG-29s or Sukhois. Consequently, MiG-21s demand a much higher level of flying skills from pilots.

While the older MiG-21 variants will be gradually phased out, the IAF plans to carry on with the upgraded MiG-21 `Bison fighters till at least 2015. The first squadron of these MiG-21 `Bisons became operational only last year but, alarmingly, two of them have already crashed.

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said at a recent meeting with Czech Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla the US airforce may buy 50 surplus L-159 fighters from the Czech Army, daily Hospodarske noviny (HN) says today.

Another possibility has opened, but we cannot speak about the sale of L-159s for the time being, said Czech Deputy Defence Minister Jan Vana, accompanying Spidla in the USA.

Experts have agreed that if the US airforce bought the fighters, their producer Aero would have considerably better chances of selling the L-159 subsonics abroad. Besides, Aero, the largest Czech arms maker, would supply the US Army with spare parts that are used practically from the moment the fighters are put in operation, says the daily.

About half of components in the aircraft are Czech-made. The rest, above all avionics, is supplied by Boeing, said Aeros marketing director Viktor Kucera.

But we would also secure the training of pilots and ground staff, for instance, he said but declined to say what sales Aero would expect from the transaction.

The purchase of L-159s by the US airforce could also help the company sell its civilian aircraft Ae270.

The Czech Army, the only buyer of L-159s so far, wants to reduce the number of these fighters from 71 to 18 under a reform plan.

If the Czech Republic manages to borrow 14 older fighters, Czech pilots will have a total of 32 aircraft.

HN adds that US army officials were trying to persuade Spidla on Thursday to lease F-16 fighters and made a considerable step towards a lease contract.

I have information to the effect that the US side will submit an offer that cannot be turned down, said Martin Hejra, the commander at a Czech airbase.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3503995&thesection;=news&thesubsection;=general
Air Force sells Aermacchi jet trainers

26.05.2003
9.15am
The Air Forces fleet of 17 Aermacchi jet trainers has been sold.

The sale was in its final stages and was confirmed during the weekend by the international consultancy, Ernst and Young, which also confirmed it was about to close a deal to sell the air forces fleet of 17 mothballed Skyhawk fighter bombers.

The Skyhawks are being sold to a private American company, Advanced Training Systems International Limited of Arizona.

We have got a purchaser for the Aermacchis, Gareth Morgan from Ernst and Young said.

He would not confirm the price of either the Skyhawk or the Aermacchi fleet or that the new owner of the Aermacchis was the Malaysian Government.

Last month Malaysian chief of defence force General Tan Sri Mohd Zahidi bin Hj Zainudin visited the Air Forces Ohakea base near Palmerston North where he sat in the cockpit of an Aermacchi and was given a quick rundown on the aircraft.

Recently the fleet of 17 Aermacchis has been progressively restored to flying condition after being mothballed along with the Skyhawks in December, 2001, after the Governments decision to axe the air forces air combat wing.

Mr Morgan said they were now working through a regulatory restraint before the sale of the Aermacchis was finalised.

However, he said the final sales documents for both the Aermacchis and the Skyhawks had yet to be completed.

But I am confident and I think we will close, Mr Morgan said.

He said the sale of the fleets needed the approval of several regulatory authorities in several countries. Those countries were understood to include America, Britain and Italy and their approval was needed because of the components in both aircraft.

It is understood pressure from the Iraqi war has delayed some of the regulatory approvals from America and Britain.

Mr Morgan said he would strongly recommend ATSI to the Government as the buyer of the Skyhawks. If that did not happen, a back-up deal had been negotiated.

ATSI is based at the Williams Gateway Airport in Mesa Arizona.

We think ATSI is a superb organisation and I have only the highest respect for the people, their professionalism and their capabilities, Mr Morgan said.

ATSI told NZPA during the weekend it anticipated the aircraft would be dismantled, packed into containers and leave New Zealand in three or four months.

The Skyhawks will join ATSIs existing fleet of 12 in Arizona and be used in a commercial deal to train air force fighter pilots, including pilots from the United States Air Force and other air forces.

Neither ATSI chairman Larry Hoss Pearson, nor Mr Morgan, would discuss the price of the Skyhawks, although within the last 18 months a Defence Ministry spokesman said $85 million for the 17 aircraft and spares would be a good price.

However, a defence commentator said on Saturday the Skyhawks could have been sold for $50 million to $60 million.

The Skyhawks have avionics and weapons systems identical to the F-16 fighter and Mr Morgan said it was a perfect advanced training aircraft.

ATSI was also negotiating with the Royal Australian Navy to resume training with Australian warships. The aircraft could be based at the Nowra naval base near Sydney where the New Zealand Air Forces No 2 Squadron had six Skyhawks based for several years.

(中央社記者張弘光莫斯科二十七日專電)今天是韓戰停戰協定簽訂五十周年，俄羅斯媒體根據解密韓戰機密檔案報導指出，韓戰期間美國和蘇聯軍機曾在朝鮮半島空戰，當時史達林命令國防部長瓦西列夫斯基秘密派遣空軍部隊到北韓作戰。

根據蘇聯檔案資料，一九五０-一九五三年蘇美在朝鮮半島戰場空戰統計，美機被擊落一０九七架，蘇聯空軍損失三百四十五架，有兩百名蘇聯飛行員犧牲。根據俄羅斯媒體報導，一九五０年十一月七日，蘇聯在紅場閱兵結束。航空兵司令別洛夫少將指揮當時全世界最先進米格十五戰鬥機，三個師兵力約一千五百名飛行員到朝鮮半島作戰。

這些飛行員都曾參加二次大戰，有很多飛行員還是得到蘇聯英雄榮銜的王牌飛行員。但是當時史達林下令參戰卻怕直接與美國直接發生衝突引起世界大戰。

為此當時蘇聯空軍司令部還為參戰飛行員訂下五大規定：一、所有參戰人員一律穿著中國人民志願軍制服。二、作戰飛機與地勤車輛全部漆成中國人民志願軍標誌。三、飛機僅能沿鴨綠江沿岸作戰。四、每次出動飛機限五十架，以截擊與伏擊為主。五、所有蘇聯空軍飛行員每人身上帶一張卡片，上面印有俄語拼音的漢語和韓國話。嚴格要求飛行員在作戰時不能講俄語。

（中央社記者張弘光莫斯科二十七日專電）烏克蘭共和國里沃夫機場今天有五千名群眾聚集，他們舉行盛大哀悼儀式。去年今天在當地舉行航空展，一架烏克蘭空軍蘇愷｜27在空中表演戰技，飛機失事墜入人群，造成七十七人死亡，一百六十人受傷的慘劇，烏克蘭空軍至今對此事未達成賠償。

今天出現在里沃夫機場哀悼的群眾，都是去年傷亡人士的親友與家屬，他們也是藉此聚會要向烏克蘭當局表達嚴重抗議。但是根據台北最新消息指出。在八月中旬台北航空展時，將有烏克蘭蘇愷廿七和米格廿九戰機往桃園中正機場公開展示。這兩項消息巧合碰在一起，引起莫斯科此間有關人士議論。

去年七月二十七日烏克蘭西部里沃夫機場舉行航空展，烏克蘭俄製的蘇愷｜27戰機在空中做特技表演，衝入人群造成慘重傷亡，當時兩名飛行員彈跳獲救，但被起訴判刑，烏克蘭空軍總司令為此下台，烏克蘭軍事法院對八名烏克蘭將領追究刑事責任，但是對傷亡賠償至今一直未處理。

報導說，美國國防部將在八月份公開招標，發包一項名稱為「長官直升機」的研發製造案，希望製造出一架新型的直升機，提供總統搭乘，以取代目前的「陸戰隊一號」海王式直升機。

目前有意爭取合約的兩家公司，分別是總部設在美國的「西科斯基飛機製造公司」，以及由英國和義大利合資的「奧古斯塔．韋斯特蘭」公司，它們分別推出了兩種新型飛機，免費提供相關官員試飛，以做出最後選擇。「奧古斯塔．韋斯特蘭」公司還說，為了因應美國自九一一事件之後「高漲的愛國心」，他們如果包到合約，會交給美國的「洛克希德．馬丁」公司製造，讓這架飛機，有純正的美國血統。

Israel agrees sell to Kfir fighters, UAVs, to Sri Lanka for its air force
以色列出售Kfir 戰機及無人機給斯裡蘭卡空軍
Bulbul Singh
NEW DELHI

Sri Lanka and Israel have signed a defense agreement under which Sri Lanka
will receive arms and equipment from Israel worth $ 20 million. The
agreement was signed during a recent visit of Sri Lankan Defense Minister
Thilak Marapana to Israel.

Without giving details of the deal, a diplomat of the Sri Lankan Embassy in
New Delhi said that Israel would provide arms and equipment for the Sri
Lankan navy. Sri Lanka has also sought assistance from Israel for upgrading
its patrol boats.

Sri Lanka also has asked Israel to sell arms and equipment worth a $ 300
million the Sri Lankan Air Force, which will include the sale of unmanned
aerial vehicles and at least six Kfir fighter aircraft.

The diplomat did not confirm that the Sri Lankan Air Force had acquired Kfir
aircraft from Israel. However defense analysts in New Delhi say the
Israeli-made Kfir fighter is one of the more lethal weapons Sri Lanka uses
in its war against the Tamil rebels.

Colombo also expressed its wish to buy two surveillance aircraft from
Israel, the diplomat added.

The Sri Lankan defense minister met with Israeli Ministry of Defense
officials and toured production facilities of several Israeli firms,
including Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd., Israel Military Industries, Ltd.,
Rafael Armament Development Authority and Elbit Systems Ltd., the diplomat
said.

July 22, 2003, Tuesday

Novosibirsk plans to supply Algeria with 22 Su-24 bombers by mid-2004
阿爾及利亞將於2004年開始接收二十二架 Su-24
MOSCOW. July 22 (Interfax)

The Novosibirsk aircraft manufacturing enterprise will complete implementation of a contract to supply 22 Su-24MK bombers to Algeria by mid-2004.

The remaining nine planes will be delivered to Algeria this year, and at the beginning of next year, Alexander Bobryshev, general director of Novosibirsk aircraft, told at a press conference in Moscow on Tuesday. The press conference was timed to mark the unveiling of a monument to the Su-24M on the grounds of the Sukhoi aircraft design bureau.

GEORGE TOLD NOT TO FLY IN A MIG-21
建議印度國防部長別飛米格二十一
MUMBAI: Kavita Gadgil, whose 27-year-old son Abhijit was killed in a MiG-21
crash in 2001, on Saturday appealed to defence minister George Fernandes not
to take the risk by flying in a MiG-21.

The appeal, which came at the end of a function organised by Jaya
Shreekrishna Perisara Premi Samiti, was in response to a recent statement by
the defence minister that he would be flying in a MiG-21 to test the
aircrafts safety. Ms Gadgil told the minister that the MiG-21 was a
dangerous aircraft.

Flying an aircraft is neither a circus nor a joke, she said, adding that
at least the aircraft should be prepared well in advance.Mr Fernandes said
he would consider her request. Earlier, Mr Fernandes told reporters that the
cabinet committee on security will soon take a decision on the acquisition
of an advanced jet trainer (AJT).He admitted that the issue has been pending
for the last 20 years and that the Indian Air Force (IAF) urgently needed
this aircraft to enhance safety levels.

However, he declined to specify the aircraft selected by the defence
ministry. Regarding the MIG-21 crashes, he said efforts are being made to
improve their safety levels. This will include strengthening the training of
pilots, rectifying technical snags in the aircraft and keeping the air bases
clean so that there were no bird-hits.