01 July 2010

BUB: Weapons Acquisitions Around the World

The Turks are buying 27 Italian attack helicopters.

A Turkish request for the purchase of nine US-made Bell AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters is also on the table, and Turkey has not abandoned its desire to acquire them, Gönül told Today's Zaman.

Turkey's decision to urgently buy attack helicopters comes at a time when the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has heightened and expanded its attacks inside Turkey. The Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK), believed to have links with the PKK, claimed responsibility for a recent bomb attack against a military bus that killed five people in İstanbul.

The Undersecretariat for the Defense Industry (SSM) announced on June 15 that it will buy nine Italian-built AgustaWestland (AW) A129 Mangusta attack helicopters.

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The Indians are picking up some French rocket guidance systems.

France-based defence company Sagem of the Safran group has delivered the Sigma 30 artillery navigation and pointing systems for the Indian Army's Pinaka multiple launch rocket systems.
The first two regiments of the Indian Army deploying the indigenous Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers will be equipped with the new artillery systems, the company announced.

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And the Brits are buying, well, British weapons upgrades for their aircraft.

Introduction of the Insensitive Munition (IM) variant of the Dual Mode Brimstone guided missile will provide the UK's Royal Air Force with a low collateral, precision attack capability against manoeuvring and fixed targets, in line with operational requirements and forms part of a wider weaponry package known as SPEAR (Selective Precision Effects At Range).


By: Brant

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