MISSILE DEVELOPMENTS
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: On 23 September 2011, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of 500 Hellfire (AGM-114R3) anti-tank missiles including associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support.
The UAE continues to upgrade and modernizes its defense forces and views these missiles as an important parts of this modernization effort. Additionally, incorporating the Hellfire into the UAE military will increase its interoperability with the US military and other allied nations.
Hellfire has a range of 8km (4.32nm) and flies at a speed of Mach 1.3. The "R" version of the missile incorporates a new multi-purpose warhead, so that a single version can replace the range of versions currently in service. A new electronic safing and arming (ESAF) module incorporating a pilot-programmable fuze delay (presumably part of the method of switching between warhead modes) is part of the electronics package.
IRAN: In late September 2011, AMI received information that Iran has completed its version of the Russian S-300 surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. Dubbed the Bavar-373 system, statements from Iranian Brig. General Farzad Ismaili indicate that Iran is correcting "defects" in the S-300PMU-1 system as well as making it compatible with three different interceptors.
Until these statements, Iran had continued to deny that they were developing an indigenous version of the S-300, even on the heels of the recent cancellation of a contract with Russia for the delivery of five of the systems.
While the Bavar-373 is still in the development stages, it is anticipated that Iran may be in the position to field the new system within the next three years. Because of this delay, the nation has applied for international arbitration regarding the cancelled US$1B, S-300 contract by Russia.
For additional information regarding these missile systems, please visit AMI International’s World Missile Systems Online at www.worldmissiles.com or by contacting Rick Dorn at AMI International (Tel: + 1 360 674 6494 or E-mail: rdorn@amiinter.com).
MOROCCO: On 16 September 2011, the FREMM multi-mission frigate for the Royal Navy of Morocco was launched at DCNS of France. The frigate was christened Mohammed VI.
ALGERIA: On 20 September 2011, the Algerian Coast Guard (ACG) took delivery of the twentieth, and final Type FPB-98 Mk1 patrol boat From France's OCEA.