Russia, Belarus to introduce single defense industry standards

The Belarus-Russia intergovernmental military-technical cooperation commission will consider the introduction of a unified cataloguing system for materiel items of the two states’ armed forces, spokesman for the Belarusian State Military Industrial Committee Vladimir Lavrenyuk told TASS on Wednesday.

The commission will meet in the Belarusian capital Minsk on October 9-10 to consider proposals on the states’ closer interaction in this sphere, focusing on defense items’ standardisation.

“Much attention will be given to the expansion of the legal framework for military-technical cooperation. In particular, the sides will discuss the preparation of an agreement on defense industry products’ standardisation,” the spokesman said.

Russia scaling back armament programme targets

Russia is working on a new “more realistic” armament programme for 2016-25, finance minister Anton Siluanov announced on 7 October at a parliamentary hearing about the country’s state budgeting policy through 2017.

Siluanov’s comments were in contrast to those of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who oversees Russia’s defence industry. In September Rogozin said that government funding of new armament programme for 2016 through 2025 would be comparable to the funding of the current programme that runs until 2020 and worth RUB20 trillion (USD500 billion). Sources told IHS Jane’s that sanctions against Moscow played a significant role in the revision of the programme.

Russia playing major role in re-equipping, training Angolan military

Angolan Chief of the General Staff General Geraldo Nunda Sachipengo has seemingly confirmed that Russia will play a major role in re-equipping and training the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA).

In an interview published by Angola Press, Gen Nunda said the Angolan Air Force would get new helicopters before the end of this year and will be flown by pilots who have been training in Russia for six year. The Russian newspaper Vedomosti reported in October 2013 that Angola had ordered an unspecified number of Mil Mi-17 helicopters, as well as Su-30K multirole fighters, as part of a USD1 billion arms deal with Russia.

Beriev Aircraft Company turned 80

Russia’s leading design bureau in the area of amphibious aircraft – Beriev Aircraft Company, turned 80. On October 1st 1934 the Central Design Bureau specializing in amphibious aircraft was established at the Aviation Plant No.31 (Taganrog). It was headed by Georgy Mikhailovich Beriev, who was appointed Chief Designer of the bureau. The design bureau specialized in development of seaplanes, said in the company’s statement.

Since 1934 Beriev Aircraft Company developed over 30 types of aircraft, 14 of them were in mass production. Seaplanes and amphibious aircraft developed by the company have set 288 world records. Short-range reconnaissance aircraft MBR-2, carrier-based seaplanes KOR-1 (Be-2) and KOR-2 (Be-4) developed before the war were being successfully operated by the navy during the Great Patriotic War.

In 1940s – 1960s the following world-famous aircraft were developed: Be-6 flying boat, Be-10 jet seaplane and the largest amphibious aircraft (at that time) Be-12. These vehicles have been successfully operated and demonstrated solid aircraft and seagoing performance, confirmed by dozens of world records. The short-haul Be-30 (Be-32) aircraft was designed in 1968. In 1970s – 1980s the enterprise focused on conventional aircraft. During this period the mass production of Tu-142MR radio relay aircraft was started and A-50 AWACS aircraft fitted with Shmel radar set was developed. The enterprise took part in development of Buran space shuttle. In addition, at that time the enterprise developed an experimental vertical takeoff and landing amphibious aircraftVVA-14 in accordance with a project designed by R.L. Bartini. In 1980 the government approved the development of A-40 Albatross jet amphibious aircraft. In 1986 A-40 performed its maiden flight. A-40 Albatross was the largest jet amphibious aircraft in the world offering a unique aircraft and seagoing performance. Various models were derived from this aircraft. In 1990 Beriev Aircraft Company started development of light amphibious aircraft Be-103. The aircraft was certified in accordance with JAR-23 (Russia) and FAR-23 (USA) standards as well as Brazilian, Chinese and European regulations. The possible layout and configuration of Be-112, Be-114 and Be-101 advanced amphibious aircraft. In 1998 multi-role amphibian aircraft Be-200 performed its maiden flight. Its mass production and sales are one of the company’s top-priority activities.

“ERA-GLONASS” launched date named

Commercial operation of emergency response will take place on January 1, 2015. This was announced on Wednesday at the opening of the fourth international congress “ERA-GLONASS” by the Head of Department of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation Alexei Semenov.

According to him, testing of emergency system across the country has shown that it can reduce by one third the response time of the accident emergency. In turn, the State Duma deputy Vladimir Kononov said that the first vehicles equipped with “ERA-GLONASS” will appear at the market in 2015. Vice president of the nonprofit partnership “GLONASS” Lyudmila Yurasova reported that production capacities allowed producing more than 3 million terminals “ERA-GLONASS” per year. According to her, the indicative cost of the terminals will not exceed three thousand rubles.

Lebanon plans to buy Russian helicopters and air defense systems

Lebanon is reportedly planning to buy weapons from Russia, including helicopters and air defense systems, in a bid to battle the persisting threat of Takfiri terrorism along its borders. The report of the potential deal came on Friday, October 3, following a formal visit to Moscow by Lebanon’s Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk in late September, US-based World Tribune reported.

“There are talks on buying Russian arms and special equipment by Lebanon,” Machnouk was cited as saying by the Tribune during his Moscow visit intended to discuss purchase of arms for Lebanese Internal Security Forces, using a pledged Saudi grant that is yet to be delivered.

According to the report by the online journal, the Lebanese military may obtain “advanced models of Russian helicopters and air defense systems” through its potential deal with Moscow.

“The Lebanese military has a lot of experience working with Russian weapons,” Machnouk said, adding, “So they will soon determine what is needed.”

The report further cited authorities as saying that the Lebanese military urgently needs helicopters, night-vision systems, sniper rifles and reconnaissance systems to battle the ISIL Takfiri terrorist as well as other radical terror groups.

It added, however, that Beirut was still waiting for Saudi authorities to make good on the pledge to send money to Lebanon for military and security purchases.

Skolkovo teams up with Tel Aviv university to develop high tech projects and student exchange

This past Tuesday the Skolkovo Foundation, the non-profit organization in charge of completing an international tech hub on the outskirts of Moscow, inked a memorandum of understanding with Tel Aviv University, opening the way to a wide range of cooperations.

The two partners intend to launch joint R&D and commercial projects in the field of biomedical technologies and other high-tech domains. “A particular focus will be made on projects with strong commercialization prospects, and on the development of technological startups,” Skolkovo’s presss service told East-West Digital News.

The partners will also support educational interactions and a student exchange.

Skolkovo Foundation President Viktor Vekselberg will head the Friends of Tel-Aviv University Association in Russia.

“Russia and Israel are connected by long-term scientific communications, and I am confident that the new format of our cooperation will more closely unite the efforts of Russian and Israeli scientists for the benefit of science and the progress of mankind as a whole,” Vekselberg stated.

Construction of Vostochny spaceport’s Angara launch complex postponed till 2015

Builders will be unable to start construction work at the site of a future launch complex of the Angara space rockets at the Vostochny spaceport this year, an official of the Russian special construction agency Spetsstroi told ITAR-TASS in an interview.

Valentin Kochetkov, the chief of the Spetsstroi’s branch for the construction of space port’s facilities said the work to build the Angara rocket launch complex was scheduled to begin next year.

“It will not happen this year, because construction work at the first launch pad for the Soyuz rockets is the top priority,” Kochetkov said. According to his estimates four facilities at the space port worth 0.6 billion dollars worth are to be in place by June – the housing stock, the measurement equipment complex crucial for the first launch, an underground storage for rocket fuel and a waste recycling centre.