Russia to extend overflights to Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico #PJNET

Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly

Russia is to increase the scope of its long-range air patrols to the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico as tensions with the West continue. Source: Russian Ministry of Defence

The Russian Air Force is to begin regular long-range overflights from the Arctic region down to the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico as tensions with the West continue, Moscow announced on 12 November.

Strategic bombers, strike aircraft, maritime patrol aircraft (MPA), and tankers, are to conduct the long-range flights under plans announced by Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu.

"Under the prevailing circumstances we need to ensure a military presence in the western Atlantic and eastern Pacific oceans, the waters of the Caribbean basin, and the Gulf of Mexico," he said. No further details, such as whether or not such long-range patrol had already begun, were disclosed.

Earlier in 2014 Russia disclosed that it was in negotiations with a number of Central American and Caribbean countries about possible basing rights. These included Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Other regions and countries were also named at that time, including the Seychelles, Singapore in the Asia-Pacific region; as well as Algeria and Cyprus in the Mediterranean.

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Israel presents maritime version of 'Iron Dome'

'C-Dome' designed to help combat vessels counteract any threats from the air, including missiles, helicopters and drones.

Associated Press

Published:  11.01.14, 17:13 / Israel News LE BOURGET — Israel's "Iron Dome" is heading to the seas, the maker of the rocket-blocking defense system says. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter  State-owned defense contractor Rafael wants to leverage the system's much-vaunted success in protecting Israeli civilians in this summer's Gaza war, hoping to draw navies as buyers for a new maritime version seen as especially useful in protecting national economic resources at sea like oil and gas platforms. (Photo: AP) At this week's Euronaval conference near Paris, Rafael unveiled "C-Dome," which endeavors to help combat vessels counteract any threats from the air, including missiles, helicopters and tiny unmanned drone aircraft, which could increasingly become tools of combat and reconnaissance at sea just as they have on land in recent years. Large naval vessels generally have radar-based interception systems to counter incoming threats. But Rafael executives say C-Dome offers innovations. It can fire up to a missile per second, cover a 360-degree range while piggybacking on a vessel's own radar systems with heat-tracking missiles that zero in on multiple incoming threats at a time. "C-dome offers something that is not out there (in the market) yet ... A small footprint and the capability to engage multiple targets and saturation threats. And it's based on the only system in the world that has more than 1,000 intercepts," said program director Ari Sacher. "We can protect the ship from every direction at the same time. Most systems out there can't do that." http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4586721,00.html TweetMe Please

US Readies Sale of 4,000 U.S. Missiles to Iraq

The State Department has told lawmakers informally that the Obama administration wants to sell Iraq more than 4,000 additional Hellfire missiles for the government’s fight against Islamic insurgents, according to people familiar with the plan.

Sale of the laser-guided missiles made by Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT) would be in addition to 500 previously purchased, of which about 400 have been delivered.

The U.S. has pledged military aid to Iraq in its fight against the Islamic State, an extremist Sunni group that’s seized a swath of territory north and west of Baghdad. Iraq’s ambassador to the U.S.,Lukman Faily, said yesterday in Washington that weapons have been too slow in coming and “further delay only benefits the terrorists.”

By Tony Capaccio  Jul 1, 2014 11:00 PM CT 

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-07-01/sale-of-4-000-u-s-missiles-to-iraq-said-to-be-readied.html

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