Free Republic

Singapore is reportedly holding off a decision to buy the Lockheed Martin F-35 jet, a multi-role stealthy warplane that is touted as the world's most advanced fighter. A Bloomberg article published on Tuesday said the Republic's Permanent Secretary of Defence Development - who was not named in the story - informed the United States in mid-June that Singapore would be delaying the final steps of the purchasing process. The report added that Singapore had intended to acquire four F-35s by around 2022, with the option to purchase another eight more, citing information from the Pentagon's programme office.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has unveiled the country's newest fighter jet, which officials claim can evade radar. Ahmadinejad said at a Saturday ceremony broadcast on state TV that Qaher-313, or Dominant-313, showed Iran's will to "capture peaks." Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi says Qaher is "fully indigenous," designed and built by Iranian aerospace experts. The domestically designed and developed Qaher-313 is similar to the US-built F/A-18, the report said. Photos released by the official IRNA news agency shows Qaher as a single-seat jet, described as a fighter-bomber that can combat both other aircraft and ground targets.

Israel fields armed UAVs in Lebanon By Peter La Franchi in London Operations in Lebanon and the Gaza strip are providing the first clear evidence that Israel has armed a number of unmanned air vehicles to reduce engagement times for time-sensitive targets. The USA is the only other nation known to operate armed UAVs. The air vehicles involved are believed to be Israel Aircraft Industries Herons, which have only recently entered operational service with the Israeli air force. The missiles carried are possibly Rafael Spikes, although this has not been independently confirmed. The Israeli defence ministry has not responded to...

IAI loses $1.5b South Korea AWACS tender IAI unit Elta Systems was disqualified because it lacked US export licenses for key systems. Ron Paz 3 Aug 06 17:27 Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd. (IAI) and its Elta Systems Group subsidiary have suffered a heavy blow. The South Korean Ministry of Defense has disqualified Elta’s proposal to supply four AWACS plans, worth $1.5 billion. The decision leaves Boeing (NYSE:BA) as the sole proposal in the tender, and brings to an end the year-long prestigious head-to-head confrontation. The decision was taken during a meeting of the South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA)...

Hamas has new missile to fire into Israel. Terrorists switching tactics from suicide bombings to shooting rockets. Palestinian terrorist group Hamas is manufacturing a new kind of rocket in hopes of switching tactics from suicide bombings to firing missiles deep inside Israel after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon completes a withdrawal from Gaza. The new rocket, named Nasser 3, is the most powerful and furthest reaching rocket produced yet in the Palestinian territories. The rocket carries a five-kilogram warhead to a range of 9 kilometers and has a standard explosive warhead combined with metal fragments and a standard fuse. SPONSORED LINKS...

Associated Press Report: Saab, BAE Accused of Exaggerations 03.07.2005, 11:00 AM Swedish aircraft manufacturer Saab and British-based BAE Systems exaggerated planned offset investments in order to sell their aircraft to South Africa, Swedish Radio said Monday. The public broadcaster said it analyzed the number of investments pledged by the companies, but found that most never came to fruition. South Africa bought 28 Swedish-built JAS Gripen - the first export order for the fighter - and 24 British Hawk trainer jets for its air force in 1999. The two manufacturers had promised offset investments up to 2001, mostly in civilian industry...

US reveals China arms build-up By Hamish McDonald Beijing March 7, 2005 American intelligence agencies have revealed a huge build-up in Chinese assault forces - apparently designed to invade Taiwan - as China's leaders made new overtures for a peaceful agreement with the island republic. US officials said China was racing to complete 23 amphibious ships able to ferry tanks and troops across the 160-kilometre-wide Taiwan Strait and 13 submarines to protect them, according to a New York Times report. "Their amphibious assault shipbuilding alone equals the entire US Navy shipbuilding since 2002," one official said. The US revelation came...