DefenseFrench aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle quit operations in Afghanistan

Paris, France - It weighed the anchor last December from Tolone

According to French minister of Defence officials, the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which sailed from Tolone last December, yesterday left Arabian sea to come back to France. The nuclear-powered... more

DefenseIraq shot surface-to-air missiles against Us and British fighters

Baghdad, Iraq - Within the "no-fly zone"

Iraq confirmed today that some of its anti-aircraft artillery posts launched yesterday surface-to-air missiles against Us and British combat aircraft in the "no-fly zone". These, sometimes daily, incidents,... more

DefenseSaddam Hussein to do some shopping in Kiev

Kiev, Ukraine - 4 warships and two Antonov

Saddam Hussein regime showed interest in the acquisition of 4 warships and two aircraft from Ukraine. Iraq could be in fact interested in the purchase of two airplanes made-by Antonov, the Ukraine-based... more

DefenseAfghanistan: US forces found 30 surface-to-air missiles

Washington, Usa - After searches over the past two weeks

US forces in Afghanistan had found 30 surface-to-air HN-5 missiles (the Chinese version of the SA-7) in an arms cache in the southeastern part of the country. Searches over the past two weeks had uncovered... more

DefenseTeen-aged hacker violated Pentagon 'secrets

Washington, Usa - Now Fbi wants to know how

At first glance it looks like the screenplay of a Hollywood movie, but it's true, a teen-aged hacker, Markus, violated the hi-tech and highly sophisticated software of the Us department of Defence. Fbi... more

DefenseItalian Joint Chief of Staff to visit Albania

Tirana, Albania - He will meet country's establishment

The Italian Joint Chief of Staff, general Rolando Mosca Moschini, starting from today is in official visit in Albania, where in fact, he is going to meet the Republic president Rexhepoo Meidani, the premier... more

DefenseWorks to build up the first space-shield base in Alaska started last Friday

Fort Greely, Usa - It will be ready to start service in September 2004

Workers and personnel on the Us Defence department started last Friday works to build up the first base which is going to host missiles-anti-missiles involved in the space-shield program hardly pushed... more

DefenseA wall to separate Israel and West Bank

Tel Aviv, Israel - Works started yesterday

With the inauguration ceremony held by the ministry of Defence, yesterday Israel started the works to build up the wall that, acccording to Tel Aviv, will be able, by the separation of Israel and West... more

DefenseRussia quit "Start 2" treaty

Moscow, Russia - After Washington got out of the Abm treaty

After Washington got out of the Abm treaty to pursue its space-shield program, Russia decided to quit the "Start 2" treaty. A part from a political point of view, Moscow's governement decision will not... more

DefenseUsa to supply missiles to Switzerland Air Force fighters

Washington, Usa - An operation worth USD 104m

Next July 6th, Us Pentagon is going to display Switzerland its offer to provide the European country's F/A 18 combat aicraft with air-to-air missiles AIM 9X Sidewinder. The deal, which is worth USD 104m,... more

DefenseA400M: Portugal's giving up to delay Bundestag decision

Berlin, Germany - According to Cdu/csu spokesman

For Dietrich Austermann, spokesman of Cdu/Csu party and member of the German parliament Budget commission, Portugal's choice to quit A400m European project "could likely have unforeseen consequences on... more

DefensePentagon to test today its anti-missile system

Washington, Usa - Thus truly abandoning the Abm treaty

Today in the Pacific ocean, Us Pentagon is going to test its anti-missile defence system, an exercise by which Washington will thus truly abandon the Abm treaty signed in 1972. A Us Navy missile will... more

DefenseOver 84,600 reservists recalled in active duty

USA -

This week, the Army and the Air Force each announce increases of reservists on active duty in support of the partial mobilization, while the Navy and Marine Corps announces decreases of reservists. The... more

DefenseNato's Awacs to watch over Eu summit in Seville

Brussels, Belgium - Scheduled for next June 21-22

According to Spanish minister of Defence Federico Trillo, "one or two" Nato's Awacs aircraft will watch over the skies of Seville during next Eu Council meeting, which runs between June 21-22 in the Andalusian... more

DefenseUsa to sell its made-by air-to-air missiles to Kuwait

Washington, Usa - In defence against "hostile neighbours"

According to Us department of Defence, Kuwait is likely to purchase its national made-by air-to-air missiles in order to be able to defend itself against what the Pentagon defined as "hostile neighbours".... more

DefenseEADS set to clinch German army deal

London, Great Britain

A consortium including EADS, the European aerospace and defence group, and MobilCom, the telecommunications operator, is expected to scoop a €6.6bn ($6.2bn) contract to take over the telecomms and c... more

DefenseAlso The Netherlands in JSF project

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

After a majority approval of the Dutch parliament, the country entered in the U.S. Lockheed Martin's Joint Strike Fighter aircraft project. The parliament approved a financement of 800 USDm for the realization... more

DefenseOperation Enduring Freedom: Pentagon sent an expert team in Uzbekistan

Washington, Usa - To check and grant air safety in missions in Afghanistan

Us Pentagon decided to send in Uzbekistan (not far from the Afghan borders) a team of experts to check procedures and make recommendations to keep multiservice aircraft successfully flying missions into... more

Defense"Kunlun" aeroengine to power China's airforce

Peking, China

China has independently developed its first advanced aeroengine, which will soon be ready to power its military aircraft, aviation industrial officials said yesterday. "Development of the 'Kunlun' aeroengine... more

DefenseUS Industries are designing a new "anti-terrorist dirigible", "Zeppelin" based

Berlin, Germany - Boeing and Cargolifter Germany involved on project

Mr. Nick Cook, aeronautic defense and "Jane's Defense weekly magazine" consultant, revealed that Boeing, Cargolifter Germany and a third industry are developing - under USA Department of State request... more

DefenseFBI puts on alert for finding of ground-to-air SA-7 missile in a Saudi Arabian USA base

New York, USA - Maybe there was an unsuccessful attempt to launch missile

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has alerted again about "Al Qaeda" attacks against civil USA aircrafts using ground-to-air missiles. This warning has been communicated considering the discovery of... more

DefenseNato-Russia agreement: Italian Defense junior Minister will meet the chairman of Russian Duma Defense committee

Rome, Italy - "We have to make operative the political agreement signed last Tuesday"

Italian Defense junior Minister, Salvatore Cicu, will meet general Andrei Nikolaev, chairman of State Duma, or Russian Lower House, Defense committee, next Tuesday in Rome. Italian junior Minister declared... more

Defense200 Italians soldiers fell ill with "tumoral pathologies" due to Balkans' mission

Rome, Italy - 16 deaths

The Italian "Osservatorio per i diritti e la tutela delle Forze Armate" denounces that total amount of Italians soldiers fell ill with "tumoral pathologies" after Balkans' mission is 200. Among these,... more

DefenseThree missiles on USA forces camp in Gardez

Islamabad, Pakistan - Gardez operations' command USA armed forces against Al Qaeda

The Pakistan press agency "Aip" reveals that today three missiles have been launched on USA armed forces command camp in Gardez, Afghanistan. More details will be released during next hours. "Gardez camp"... more

DefenseImportant variations in Poland new combat aircraft acquisition competition

In its tender for the supply of 48 jet fighters, Poland will favor bidders who offer offset investments in excess of 100% of the fighter jet cost, estimated at USD 3.5 bln, deputy Minister of Defense... more

DefenseReservists in USA at over 83.000

Washington, USA

This week the Army announces an increase of 2,334 reservists on active duty in support of the partial mobilization, while the Air Force announces an increase of 176 reservists. The Navy and Marine Corps... more

DefenseBoeing X45 combat UAV starts test flights

Edwards, USA

The Boeing X-45A Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle, or UCAV, technology demonstration aircraft has made recently its first first flight. This step marks the beginning of flight testing of the first unmanned... more

DefenseBosnia: SFOR blocks Serb aircraft for "supposed spying"

Sarajevo, Bosnia - General Milan Torbica command relieved

SFOR - Nato Stabilisation Force - ordered to ground stop all the aircraft of Srpska Republic Air Force. At the same time the Serb-Bosniac air defence - general in command Milan Torbica - was relieved by... more

DefenseDenmark signs agreement for JSF acquisition

Copenhagen, Denmark

Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics E. C. "Pete" Aldridge and his Danish counterpart, National Armaments Director Jorgen Hansen-Nord, today signed Memorandum of Understanding... more

DefenseMissile "Abdali" range test: 180 km confirmed

Islamabad, Pakistan - Able to destroy Indian borderline positions

The "Abdali" - also known as Half II missile - missile range test confirmed 180 kilometers as useful fire target distance. Indian positions on the borderline could be therefore destroyed by Pakistan Army. At... more

DefenseNato-Russia summit: all presidents and premiers have arrived

Rome, Italy - Lord Robertson has just opened summit proceedings

Russian president, Vladimir Putin was the last guest welcomed by Italian premier, Silvio Berlusconi, and Nato general secretary, Lord Robertson. All 20 presidents and premiers partecipating to the today... more

DefenseNato-Russia summit (3): Putin's intervention

Rome, Italy - "A common space from Vladivostock to Vancouver"

"We, Russians and Nato members, realized to share common views on security, especially against terror", Russian president Vladimir Putin opened his speech at today's Nato-Russia summit at Pratica di Mare... more

DefenseNato-Russia summit (2): Berlusconi praised Putin for his courage

Roma, Italia - "Today we became stronger"

After Lord Robertson, Nato's secretary, opening speech, Italian premier Berlusconi, praised Russian president Vladimir Putin for his courage showed in his decision to take such an important step towards... more

DefenseNato-Russia summit: Italy agrees for Russia to enter Eu

Rome, Italy - Italian premier said

Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, officially opened today's Nato-Russia meeting at Pratica di Mare (Rome), the event which is attended by 6 heads of State and 14 heads of government. For Berlusconi... more

DefenseNepal is looking for combat helicopters

Kathmandu, Nepal

The impoverished Himalayan kingdom of Nepal is planning to buy two helicopter gunships with night-vision capabilities for police to tackle a six-year-old revolt by the Maoist guerrillas,... more

DefenseUncertain the AMX italian fighter future

Rome, Italy - Berselli: AMX will be replaced in ten years

The future for italian AMI fighter AMX is darkening. Since 1990 seven hundred incidents occured to this aircraft and 14 pilots died. AMI bought this fighter in 136 models - 26 AMX-T - but flight incidents... more

DefenseCisgiordania (2): israelian Army last night entered in Bethlem and Doha, one man arrested

Roma, Italia - Muhammad Shada attempt of arrest failed

Israelian Army during the last night made a raid in the city of Bethlem and Doha. During operations, one man has been arrested, but his identity is still unrevealed. On the contrary, according to Bbc,... more

DefenseWest Bank (1): israelian Army short raids go on

Roma, Italia - Ben Eliezer: necessary strikes to the death

Today Israelian troops have made a raid inside Qalqilya refugee camp imposing curfew after short fire clashes without victims. On the contrary, Israelian Army retired soldiers from Bethlem and Tulkarem,... more

DefenseNato to extend mission in Macedonia

Macedonia - Up to October 26th

According to what stated by Ingemar Ingemarsson, Nato spokesman, the north Atlantic Alliance peace mission in Macedonia will be extended up to October 26th. Decision followed a Macedonian president Boris... more