http://www.janes.comA special collection of articles covering Land Vehicles and Systems.en-gbCopyright: (C) Jane's Information Group. All rights reserved.http://www8.janes.com/public/images/janes_rss.gifhttp://www.janes.comVisit http://www.janes.comhttp://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41497.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWTurkish company Aselsan has completed the production of 171 Volkan fire-control systems for the country's Leopard tanks. According to the Aselsan officials, the Volkan fire-control system is capable of detecting, recognising, identifiying and firing at targets from long range, both in adverse weather and battle conditions. Additionally, Aselsan has been negotiating with Chile to install the systems onto Leopard tanks in the inventory of the Chilean Army, local defence industry sources said. - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41507.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWThe German government has extended the mandates of the Bundeswehr (German armed forces) in deployments abroad including Afghanistan and Lebanon, but not its participation in the deployment of NATO Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft over Afghanistan. German participation in NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan has been extended for a further year at its existing ceiling of 4,500 troops. German Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg hopes ... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41517.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWThe activities of the two organisations have included the hosting of a defence energy conference in 2009 (which the spokesperson said raised levels of awareness about the issue in Australia); improvements in the ADF's transport fuel mix (which optimised use of existing fuel types); and a closer working relationship with the DoD's research and development arm, the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), as it "researches alternative and emerging fuel types and assesses their ... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41504.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWThe Afghan National Army Air Corps (ANAAC) has taken delivery of another four Mil Mi-17 'Hip' transport/assault helicopters, the US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) announced on 19 November. The four Mi-17s will provide combat airlift, logistical and medical evacuation support to Afghan forces and government officials. With these aircraft, the ANAAC currently fields 25 Mi-17s, including six former Czech and three former Slovakian aircraft as well as another seven 'Hips' funded by the United... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41519.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWUK support services company VT Group is keen to acquire the UK Ministry of Defence's (MoD) Defence Support Group (DSG) should it be put up for sale under UK government moves to shrink defence procurement costs. With an annual turnover in excess of GBP200 million and 3,800 personnel, DSG provides in-house maintenance, repair, overhaul, upgrade and support services for the UK armed forces' air and land systems. Lester added that the value of DSG's price tag would probably fall "within quite a ... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41510.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWThe UK government's growing campaign to persuade its European allies to boost their commitment in Afghanistan by 5,000 troops hinges on increased US deployments, NATO and UK defence officials have said. "I want to use this opportunity to strongly encourage you, and your governments, to make more military resources available - extra combat forces for ISAF; extra troops for enhanced partnership and teaming with the Afghan National Security Forces; and extra troops for training, particularly ... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdin/history/jdin2009/jdin80139.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDINThe activities of the two organisations have included the hosting of a defence energy conference in 2009 (which the spokesperson said raised levels of awareness about the issue in Australia); improvements in the ADF's transport fuel mix (which optimised use of existing fuel types); and a closer working relationship with the DoD's research and development arm, the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), as it "researches alternative and emerging fuel types and assesses their ... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41499.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWThe Indonesian government has commenced a programme to draw up a comprehensive list of armed forces requirements over the next decade and beyond in a move partly aimed at boosting domestic defence industry development. Commodore Sudi Haryono, director for technology and industry in the Indonesian Ministry of Defence's Directorate General of Defence Facilities, told Jane's on 19 November that the inventory is expected to be completed in the next few months. "For equipment in the inventory that... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41512.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWSenior defence sources have told Jane's that the contenders in the Light Protected Patrol Vehicle (LPPV) programme will now have to provide prototype vehicles to participate in a 'trials of truth' drive-off at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire early next year. According to industry sources the four contenders who have been downselected are: Supacat and NP Aerospace, offering the Specialist Protected Vehicle (SPV); Babcock and Creation, with the Zephyr Specific Requirements Vehicle ... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jni/history/jni2009/jni73271.htm@current&Prod_Name=JNIWith ageing single-role auxiliary vessels nearing the end of their lives, smaller navies are seeking to retain their blue water capability by replacing them with cheaper multipurpose logistic ships, combining strategic sealift and replenishment capabilities. The programme for a new support ship - the Joint Logistiek Ondersteuning Schip (JLOS - Joint Logistic Support Ship), more usually referred to as the Joint Support Ship (JSS) - started to take shape in 2003-04. - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41503.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWThe army is starting the Hellfire flight tests with an eye towards the deployment of the first Hellfire-armed QRC-2 Sky Warriors to Iraq or Afghanistan in August 2010. Sky Warrior QRC-1 aircraft - which, like QRC -2, consist of four UAVs and two ground stations - deployed to Iraq in August, flying alongside Sky Warrior Block 0 aircraft that were already in theatre. The first army unit (a combat aviation brigade) will be equipped with the programme of record Sky warrior aircraft - including 12... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/idr/history/idr2009/idr12644.htm@current&Prod_Name=IDRThe Canadian Army is trying to move the CAD2.2 billion (USD2 billion) Close Combat Vehicle (CCV) acquisition project forward quickly, before the minority Conservative government changes, or changes its mind. Under current plans, the 30-45 tonne CCV will not replace a current vehicle, but will bridge the gap between the army's LAV III 8x8 light armoured vehicles and Leopard 2A4 and A6 tanks. The CCV is one of the army's four Family of Land Combat Vehicles projects, which includes upgrading the... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdin/history/jdin2009/jdin80144.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDINThe Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) revealed details of the contest re-run on 20 November, after it decided against appealing a ruling from a Swedish court that said the process behind the original contest was unlawful. A Swedish county court, Länsrätten, ruled on 29 October that the procedure behind FMV's contract award to Patria was unlawful, resulting in a re-run of the contest. The FMV spokesman also told Jane's that, even though it had decided against appealing Länsrätten's... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/idr/history/idr2009/idr12637.htm@current&Prod_Name=IDRUS Army figures show that the British Army's usage of the Lockheed Martin M31 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Unitary rocket is five times that of its US counterpart on a per platform basis. In October 2009, Colonel David Rice, project manager for Precision Fires, Rockets and Missiles Systems (PFRMS) at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, noted that at the beginning of that month there were six US Army M270A1 MLRS launchers and 19 M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) ... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00http://www8.janes.com/JDIC/JDET/documentView.do?docId=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2009/jdw41514.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDWUK military chiefs now aim to use a portion of this money to buy "up to 30" more Boeing CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters by the middle of the next decade, to bring the UK Chinook fleet to "around 70" airframes. Under 'Vision 2020' a major shake-up in the basing of all the UK's military helicopters will occur and the Royal Air Force's (RAF's) AgustaWestland Merlin HC.3/3A transport helicopters would be transferred to the Royal Navy. Under 'Vision 2020' the basing of all UK helicopters ... - 2009/11/20 00:00:00