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Politics : War -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: John Carragher who wrote (788)	2/11/2001 7:48:53 AM
From: 2MAR$	Respond to of 23908

-Russia eyes arms deals with Iran this year (Adds Indian plans) MOSCOW, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Russia's arms export monopoly has said Moscow could clinch a deal on military-technical cooperation with Iran this year, Interfax news agency reported on Sunday. Viktor Komardin, deputy general director of Rosoboronexport, said arms deals with Iran could eventually net Moscow up to $300 million a year, and that Defence Minister Igor Sergeyev had discussed "concrete questions" in Tehran last December. Russia told the United States last year that Moscow no longer felt bound by the terms of a 1995 deal to curtail weapons sales to Iran. While Sergeyev was in Tehran his Iranian counterpart said the deal, championed by former U.S. Vice-President Al Gore, had been "buried by history." The United States regards Iran as one of the "rogue states" against whose threat it intends to deploy a space-based missile defence shield. Moscow staunchly opposes the plan, saying it could destroy the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty. Speaking at an international air show in Bangalore, India, Komardin said contracts could be signed by this summer, and said France and possibly Germany were also active in the Iranian arms market, Interfax reported. Komardin also said Moscow might lease India four Tu-22 M3 bombers, with the possibility of selling them outright later at their lower, residual cost, Interfax reported. He said the speed of the deal depended on whether Delhi found funding from its budget for the 2000-2001 fiscal year, which ends in March. "If India decides to allocate part of this year's budget to it, then we can sign the contract by March 31." Komardin said India, which signed a record arms agreement with Moscow last year to build 140 Su-30MKI warplanes under licence, could also clinch a deal in 2001 to buy Russian A-50 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, surveillance planes Russia has been lobbying to sell to China. Komardin also said Delhi's plan to buy the naval version of Moscow's MiG-29 jet fighter for its ex-Russian navy aicraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov was "confirmed in preliminary documents." Russia intended to work in the military sphere with Yugoslavia, Komardin added, as soon as arms sanctions imposed against former President Slobodan Milosevic were lifted. "We are gradually starting talks with the Yugoslav side on re-establishing (arms ties) in the future, after the lifting of the embargo on military-technical cooperation," he said. ((Moscow newsroom +7 095 241-0101 moscow.newsroom@reuters.com)) REUTERS * end of story *

To: John Carragher who wrote (788)	2/12/2001 9:18:37 PM
From: Hawkmoon	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 23908

Yeah.. leave it to Barron's to get it's fact wrong. the Army's Crusader, a heavy-duty tank and Cold War relic, The Crusader is an artillery system with the ability MRSI (multiple round, simultaneous impact) a target with up to 8 rounds. This link explains MSRI: teamcrusader.com And here are some links to more information: teamcrusader.com teamcrusader.com teamcrusader.com Having the ability that 6 crusaders have, namely putting 15 tons of High Explosive on target within a minute is an INCREDIBLE ADVANTAGE. It will be worth every penny that is paid because it will save the lives of those soldiers who require immediate and massive fire support. And one battalion of Crusaders can provide the firepower equivalent of 6 current towed or self-propelled howitzers. But the really nifty thing about Crusader is that it can be completely rearmed by a supply vehicle without anyone having to personally handle a round. It's all automated and there is no crew exposure to the outside. and lastly, the Air Force's F-22, a top-of-the-line fighter jet that sells for $180 million a copy. This I may have more trouble with, being a former grunt(+), but as I understand it, fielding the F-22 will eliminate the need for quite a few other support aircraft (wild-weasels, EF-111 Ravens), as well as THEIR support aircraft (tankers). And the ability to use stealth practically guarantees that would planes will be able to come and go without really being seen, while enjoying the abilty to eliminate enemy aircraft. However, I could see building the JSF first (if they can expedite the procurement) and hold off on the YF-22 Raptor. The key to air superiority is stealth. Being able to see them but their not seeing you. It's also the key to keeping your pilots alive during bombing raids over hostile territory. So if they can demonstrate the ability to build it cheaper and able to meet the requirements of all the services who will use it, that's great. But it really appalling that Barron's could screw up this story so badly. We can hardly call an advanced artillery system "cold war" technology, let alone confuse it with being a replacement for a tank. There will be ALWAYS be a need for artillery in any conventional war, and especially in a guerilla war. Btw, I'm I'm neutral on the Osprey as I don't quite believe it is as combat rugged as existing helicopters. However, there is tremendous pressure to pursue it because of the potential civilian spin-offs for VERTOL technology. Thanks for posting the article though, John... I failed to pick up a copy of that rag this weekend... Regards, Ron