The news of the past week.
Russia is staying busy as are many in improving and coming up with new AAGM Systems to counter the growing threat from the air with the advances being made in that area especially with the push towards 5th Gen fighters to try too match the F-22. Some we've discussed such as Russia/India PAK FA, Chinese J-20, U.S.
F-35 with Japan and S. Korea starting working on their own fighters. Russia lead the news this week with their very capable S-300 and S-400 systems. It should be noted work has already been started on the S-500 which we should be hearing more about in the next year or so.
1. The S-300 systems I reported on a while back indeed look like they are going to Venezuela. If the deal holds up and it looks like it will, this will have a major impact on air defence in the region.
Note the last line. Off "DID" site.
http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20110222/162713838.html
All you ever wanted to know about S-300 & S-400. AUSA is a very well respected air power think tank a "JANES" if you will in this area.
http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-Grumble-Gargoyle.html
2. Russia is going on a massive arms build up of their own not seen since the end of the "Cold War" here's a small piece of that pie, their improved S-300V4 this year.
http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20110228/162790155.html
http://www.deagel.com/Air-Defense-Sy...000372006.aspx
It is after all very "Hush Hush".
3. The third S-400 regiment is to stand up in the far east the second as already reported in the 'patch post" will be stood up in the Moscow area by the end of the month. Note
para 3 for unit make up.
http://defense-update.com/wp/20110221_s400.html
4. I didn't quite put all this together on how the MEADS Launcher (And PATRIOT PAC-3.) were going from 4 AAGM's (Standard PATRIOT AAGM.) to 12 AAGM'S for MEADS/PATRIOT PAC-3 from basically the same launcher, but again
para 3 of this article clears it up better then some I've read. And PAC-3 has been around and is operational as stated earlier I'll need to sort this out for next years "patch post".
http://defense-update.com/wp/20110303_pac-3_ms.html
TRACK and follow up on for the 2011/2012 campaign.
A bit tired so I'll call it a night, take care all!
Regards,
Pat