Aerospace & Defense News - Defense Asia / Pacific.

New York (AirGuideBusiness - Aerospace & Defense News - Defense Asia / Pacific) Jan 16, 2011

Leaks on China stealth fighter prompt speculation. Despite China's famously tight Internet controls, Chinese bloggers have posted dozens of images and fresh video of that country's stealth fighter prototype, spurring speculation that the release could be an intentional military strategy. Some analysts suggest the blogs could represent China's response to U.S. demands for greater transparency about its military buildup, while others say the publication is meant to show that China is moving even faster than many expected in building up its military. Jan 10, 2011

Arinc Engineering Services, Lockheed martin Arinc Engineering Services has won a USD63.7 million contract to modernise five Indonesian air force Lockheed Martin C-130B transports. "The programme includes structural and electronic modifications to retrofit 30-year-old C-130B airframes with more recent capabilities and technology," says Arinc, which won the deal in December after a competitive bidding process. The work, to be undertaken by Arinc and Indonesian subcontractors, will begin in the first quarter of 2011 and is likely take 32-36 months to complete. The deal is a major step for Indonesia's Cold War-era C-130 fleet. The aircraft suffered severe spare parts shortages during a 13-year arms embargo the USA imposed in 1992 because of human rights abuses in the country's East Timor province, which has since gained independence. Jan 14, 2011

Elisra Electronic Systems Elisra Electronic Systems has won a USD29 million deal to supply the South Korean air force with airborne electronic warfare suites and missile warning systems for its Airbus Military CN-235 transports. The equipment will provide protection against various threats, the Israeli company says. Elisra has signed similar deals with South Korea in recent years. In 2009 Seoul awarded it a USD25 million contract to supply an integrated electronic warfare suite for its air force fleet of Lockheed Martin C-130H tactical transports. Jan 14, 2011

India India aims to reduce its dependence on foreign arms. India restated its aim to reduce its dependence on foreign arms makers in part by drawing private domestic companies into building weapons for the worldOs third- largest active-service military. An eight-page policy paper restated government assertions that defense contracts will be given to Indian companies whenever possible. Weapons development projects expected to exceed 10 years Owill by and large be developed within India,O it said. The government will establish a fund Oto support research and development,O including by small- and medium-sized companies, the policy said without giving details. While India has built world-class industrial and software companies such as the Tata Group and Infosys Technologies Ltd., the defense sector is dominated by the state-owned companies and nearly 40 ordnance factories that provide mostly low-technology equipment, said Mrinal Suman, an adviser on arms procurement at the Confederation of Indian Industry. Jan 14, 2011

India India plans $220 billion military modernization. India, which wields the worldOs 10th-largest military budget at $32 billion this year, has failed in a decade-long campaign to reduce its dependence on foreign suppliers, which Antony says provide about 70 percent of Indian arms, measured by cost. OThis kind of large-scale dependenceO on Oforeign sources for defense supplies is unacceptable to a country like IndiaO as it seeks a larger role in global politics, Antony said. India is likely to spend nearly $220 billion by 2017 as part of an Oambitious military modernization plan,O said a report last year by the industry confederation and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India Pvt. India is preparing to spend $11 billion on the worldOs biggest fighter-jet purchase in 15 years. The U.S.-based Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp. are vying against FranceOs Dassault Aviation SA, RussiaOs United Aircraft Corp., SwedenOs Saab AB and the European Aeronautic, Defense & Space Co., based in France, the U.K. and neighboring countries. Jan 14, 2011

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