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Befejező szakaszába jutott az izraeli Aviv Arlon társaság bevásárlóközpontjának építése, amelynek megnyitását október 29-ére jelentették be. A leendő bérlők egy része már hozzáfogott a létesítmény belső berendezéséhez.  Nagybecskerek Újvidék felőli bejáratánál mintegy hat hektáron épülő retail-parknak is nevezett bevásárlóközpont építőhelyét munkatársaival meglátogatta Čedomir Janjić polgármester. Mint elhangzott, a késedelem nélküli munkálatokhoz nagyban hozzájárul a beruházó és a helyi önkormányzat közötti jó együttműködés. Az izraeli beruházó tavaly októberben vásárolta meg a telket a magyar Arkadom társaságtól, amely lemondott egy korábban tervezett nagybecskereki befektetéséről.

Az Aviv park üzlethelységei 22.500 négyzetméteren épülnek, és mintegy ötven bérlőjük lesz, köztük sok világhírű cég is képviselteti magát. A beruházás összértéke 30 millió euró, és mintegy négyszáz munkahely nyílik meg. A bérleti szerződéseket már aláírták, az épületek tető alá kerültek, és már megkezdték a létesítmények birtokba vételét. Lesznek azonban olyan bérlők, akik csak jövő tavaszra érkeznek Nagybecskerekre.

Jelenleg az épületek külsején, valamint a járdák, parkolók és zöldövezetek rendezésén dolgoznak.  A beruházók már a létesítmény ünnepi megnyitójára invitálják a nagybecskerekieket, amelyen nagy, esetenként 50 százalékos árengedményeket kínálnak majd a vevőknek. Emellett külön szórakoztató műsorokat is készítenek, elsősorban a legkisebbek számára. A bevásárlóközpontnak több mint hétszáz férőhelyes parkolója lesz és négy moziterme.

Az Aviv Arlon három évvel ezelőtt Pancsován nyitotta meg az első ilyen típusú bevásárlóközpontot. A retail-parkok különlegessége elsősorban az, hogy a zárt, mesterséges fénnyel és klímaberendezéssel ellátott létesítmények helyett szabadtéri bevásárlást kínálnak, zöld övezetben és számos kísérő-rendezvénnyel, az egész család részére. Egy szinten épülnek, pince és emeletek nélkül. Könnyen megközelíthetők személygépkocsival, az elárusítóhelyek között pedig zöldövet és kényelmes sétányok vannak.

Last year, India held it’s general elections and as usual there was a smattering of political parties, all with something different to offer approximately 700mn adults registered or eligible to vote at least. The newly chosen (by public) members of the national parliament have had some time to spend on the budgets and they should feel proud of having been elected by a bigger democracy than most in the West. Elections in the country are a regular thing, despite insurgencies in Kashmir, and numerous piecemeal episodes of border struggles. India is a gigantic country in South Asia – both demographically and politically, and the picture of rule here is one of reasonable stability because unlike in neighbouring Bangladesh, there has been no issues of autocratic rule, and a break with civilian government. Regionally, this is not an unnatural occurence: in Nepal, autocratic rule with a constitutional monarch was supposed to be the order of the day, as it has been since 1990. In 2008, however, Nepal became a republic, as a party convinced of ways of the armed revolution based on the Maoist model became the single-most dominant force in parliament. In retrospect, India did plenty of things with its newfound freedom from the British Empire, such as introduce the rights to vote for both men and women, all together. Democracy is an experiment sometimes in this region, even though the thought process is aligned with the creation of effective democratic governance. Right after independence, democracy was tried to be made into a popular political choice for a nation of mostly illiterates and poverty-stricken people. It has been tough to forge national unity in a land divided by language and religion, which is why even though a population diaspora might dictate the dominating language of the land, it cannot ascertain the sense of belonging that one single language is supposed to give one land. Democracy exists to provide citizens with the right to choose and replace their leaders, the right to speak up against misgovernance or be openly supportive about government decisions. In order for a government to function democratically there needs to be multiple political parties, and a constant presence of free, fair elections, the press needs to have freedom to conduct matters nationally. Democracy in India has often been viewed with sceptism, particularly where Kashmir is concerned. The people of Kashmir have often voiced their anger at the constant injustices they have had to face because of repeated accounts of corruption in a localised rule. Violence sometimes escalated and because of these numerous political disagreements the region has constantly been subjected to conflict. Although, from time to time Kashmiris have toyed with the idea of abiding by the local government’s customs and traditions, the response to the whole situation hasn’t always been positive. Regional development has almost always been forsaken but what has been astonishing to learn off is how the violence has often forced people to resort to military struggle. The scenario has been present both in Kashmir and in those Nepal locales where armed guerrillas are also equipping themselves with a greater awareness and learning about Maoist traditions and battling to remove the sophisticated manner of doing things. They want to do this by spreading the seeds of revolution and striving for independence from Nepal. It is difficult to imagine that Kashmiris should arm themselves to demand basic necessetities. But on certain days, that is the tallest order of the day because the region cannot afford to live relatively peacefully, when you compare it to it’s neighbouring Bhutan. In Bhutan, the most politically eventful episode to have occured in recent times was the dethroning of a king by choice in favour of his son ruling. In Kashmir, citizens must arm themselves to protect and to practice the kind of politics they would like to see in government, because the state is being far too harsh on them. When you step out of Kashmir, and into the rest of India, the picture of democracy is fully intact and functional because the national assemblies, the state assemblies all conduct themselves with freedom and fairness. Capital, labour, and goods can move about the country unperturbed, but there is no denying that the nation is still a weak democracy. There are illiberal idealogies spreading through political corridors, and there is also a lack of thoroughness in governance. A peaceful solution to Kashmir is possible, which would contribute to a better notion of democracy in India than the one present. Both the state and it’s citizens with demands need to co-operate on democratic matters, conduct more open dialogue about regional security, have more regular and fair elections, nurture the language and culture of minority groups and there needs to be a greater understanding of how more more power needs to be given to the people of Kashmir to shape their politics.

The post What is Democracy in India? appeared first on Ideas on Europe.

Gute Nachricht im Kampf gegen vermeidbare Todesfälle: Die Zahl der Malaria-Opfer ist drastisch gesunken. Aber überwiegend in Asien und im Kaukasus – in Afrika geht es hingegen deutlich schlechter voran.

September 16, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Ugandan president, Yoweri Museveni, has met with South Sudanese former vice-president and designated first vice president, Riek Machar, in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, said SPLM-IO media official.

South Sudanese opposition leader, Dr. Riek Machar meets Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni in Khartoum, Sept. 16, 2015 (ST Photo)

The meeting between the two leaders, according to Machar's spokesman, James Gatdet Dak, took place at around 4:00pm in Khartoum on Wednesday.

“Yes, the two leaders, Comrade Dr. Riek Machar and President Yoweri Museveni held a meeting on Wednesday at 4pm in the Sudanese capital,” Dak told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday evening.

Although he did not provide details of the high profile engagement between the two, he said it was mainly on the implementation of the recently signed peace agreement to end the war in South Sudan, and particularly on implementation of security arrangements.

He said the meeting was a follow up of a previous meeting two weeks ago in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, between president Museveni and a high level delegation of the opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO), led by deputy chairman, Alfred Ladu Gore.

“You know the peace agreement has provided for withdrawal of all foreign forces from South Sudan within 45 days from the date of the signing. This matter was discussed with the assurance from President Museveni that he will comply and pull out his troops from South Sudan,” he said.

In Khartoum, the Sudanese foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour denied that Machar's visit was linked to the visit of the Ugandan president, and refused to confirm the meeting between them.

But a Sudanese official told Sudan Tribune under the cover of anonymity that the meeting was organised by President al-Bashir to ease relations and build confidence between Musveni and Machar over the presence of Ugandan troops in South Sudan.

Also, another source close to the file said that it was Museveni who asked Bashir actually to arrange the meeting between him and Machar.

During the meeting, Museveni extended an invitation to Machar to visit Kampala.

South Sudanese SPLM-IO has been accusing Ugandan People's Defence Force (UPDF) of directly interfering in the internal war in South Sudan, calling on them to withdraw from the country.

Dak also said the two leaders discussed other bilateral issues between the two parties, which he did not disclose, but said were in the interest of full implementation of the peace agreement and strengthened relations between the two countries.

The opposition leader's spokesman further said Sudanese rebels harboured in South Sudan and fighting alongside president Kiir's government will also be disarmed and repatriated back to Sudan, in accordance with the provisions of the peace deal.

Machar, he said, also met with president Omer Hassan al Bashir and discussed the importance of full implementation of the peace deal in South Sudan as the two neighbouring nations to the north and south of the young nation are key in the IGAD mediated peace deal.

(ST)

L'ONU, l'Union africaine et la Cédéao ont "exigé" mercredi soir la libération du président intérimaire du Burkina Faso et de son Premier ministre. Tous deux sont retenus en otage par des militaires d'un corps d'élite à Ouagadougou.

September 15, 2015 (JUBA) - The United Nations secretary general, Ban ki Moon urged on Wednesday South Sudanese leaders to focus efforts on implementing the peace deal.

UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon (UN)

"I urge the two leaders to uphold the recent commitment they made to end this brutal conflict," he remarked in a brief statement extended to Sudan Tribune.

Ki moon had welcomed the signing of the deal by South Sudan's President on 26 August, saying it was a "critical and necessary step" in ending months of conflict in the country.

He earlier expressed hope the accord would bring an end to the violence that has killed tens of thousands of people and forced over two million citizens to flee their homes.

The outbreak of the conflict was as a result of political fighting between President Salva Kiir and his former vice president, Riek Machar, which began in mid-December 2013.

According to the UN secretary general said that the over 20 months of conflict had "devastated" South Sudan and subjected its people to "unspeakable suffering."

He however said the UN stands ready to support the implementation of the agreement.

Ki moon, however, expressed concerns on the plights of over 200,000 people at the UN protection of civilian sites in South Sudan, in addition to thousands in need of assistance.

(ST).

Die europäische Automobilindustrie will mit Hilfe der digitalen Vernetzung von Fahrzeugen den Ausstoß des Treibhausgases CO2 weiter reduzieren.

Die EU-Kommission plant für das EU-Freihandelsabkommen TTIP mit den USA die Einführung eines modernen Investionsgerichts-Systems (ICS). Das umstrittene Investor-State-Dispute-Settlement (ISDS) ist damit endgültig vom Tisch. Kritiker sehen allerdings noch immer Nachholbedarf.

Neue Energiestandards für Heizkessel treten in diesem Monat in Kraft. Nach Angaben des Europäischen Umweltbüros (EEB) spart die EU damit bis 2020 das Energie-Äquivalent von 47 Atomkraftwerken des Typs Fukushima ein. EurActiv Brüssel berichtet.

SPECIAL REPORT / Über zwei Milliarden Menschen weltweit leiden unter teils tödlicher Mangelernährung: Helfen können vitamin-angereicherte Nahrungsmittel. Doch dazu braucht es mehr Entwicklungsgelder, fordern Hilfsorganisationen und afrikanische Regierungen.

Le Secrétaire général de l'ONU, Ban Ki-moon, a condamné jeudi dans les termes les plus forts le coup d'Etat au Burkina Faso, et a réclamé une nouvelle fois la libération immédiate de tous les responsables burkinabés en détention.

Le Conseil de sécurité de l'ONU a adopté jeudi une résolution prorogeant le mandat de la Mission des Nations Unies au Libéria (MINUL) jusqu'au 30 septembre 2016, y compris en matière de protection des civils, de soutien à la réforme judiciaire et des forces de sécurité du pays, de promotion des droits de l'homme et de protection du personnel des Nations Unies.

A l'image du nom du site, le Balargone a dû mal à afficher son identité. Coursives sans nom, salles
Plus d'infos »

Il tire sa devise des premières missions des hélicoptères militaires français : l'escadron d'hélicoptères
Plus d'infos »

Speaking at DSEI in London this week, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon discussed the upcoming Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) and future developments within the MoD, including the potential realignment of its commercial research house DSTL. As part of t

September 16, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese army Wednesday carried out an air attack on two rebel-held villages in South Kordofan state where the bombs destroyed agricultural crops, said the Sudan People's Liberation Movement North.

An Antonov plane belonging to the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) at 10:00am dropped 11 bombs on two villages in Boram County of South Kordofan/Nuba Mountains area. Troge village was hit by six bombs while five other bombs were dropped on Angolo village, said Arnu Ngutulu Lodi SPLM-N official spokesperson.

In a statement he extended to Sudan Tribune late on Wednesday, Lodi did not mention any human casualties but stressed that the attack "caused huge destruction of agricultural crops".

He further accused the regime of targeting areas inhabited by civilian population.

The SPLM-N says the Sudanese war planes target areas inhabited by civilians and destroy crops as part of a scorched earth policy aiming to deprive the rebel of any support of local population.

On Sunday 13 September, the rebel group claimed that a Sudanese Mig jet fighter dropped three bombs on Um Serdiba area in Um Dorain County of South Kordofan. It pointed that the raid caused significant damage to agriculture farms.

The SPLM-N and two of its allies in Darfur region said ready for a cessation of hostilities in the war areas but called on Khartoum government to accept a pre-dialogue meeting proposed by the African Union to facilitate peace and an inclusive national conference on constitutional reforms.

(ST)

September 16, 2015 (WASHINGTON) – A Sudanese-American teenager received an outpouring of support from all over the world after being arrested by local police from his school on suspicion that a digital clock he built was actually a bomb.

Ahmed Mohamed, 14, left, stands next to his father Mohamed al-hassan Mohamed as he thanks supporters during a news conference at his home, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015, in Irving, Texas (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)

Ahmed Mohamed who resides in the city of Irving, Texas put together the clock over the weekend and took it proudly to school to show it to his engineering teacher whose reaction was anything but encouraging.

“He was like, ‘That's really nice,'” Ahmed was quoted by Dallas Morning News. “‘I would advise you not to show any other teachers'. ”

He kept the clock inside his school bag in English class, but the teacher complained when the alarm beeped in the middle of a lesson. Ahmed brought his invention up to show her afterward.

“She was like, it looks like a bomb,” he said. “I told her, ‘It doesn't look like a bomb to me.'”

The teacher kept the clock and then later the principal and a police officer pulled Ahmed out of sixth period.

They led Ahmed into a room where four other police officers waited. He said an officer he'd never seen before leaned back in his chair and remarked: “Yup. That's who I thought it was.”

The officers searched his belongings and questioned his intentions, he said and even the principal threatened to expel him if he didn't make a written statement.

“They were like, ‘So you tried to make a bomb?'” Ahmed said. “I told them no, I was trying to make a clock.”

“He said, ‘It looks like a movie bomb to me”.

In this Sept. 14, 2015 photo provided by Eyman Mohamed, her brother Ahmed Mohamed stands in handcuffs at Irving police department in Irving, Texas (Eyman Mohamed via AP)

Ahmed was taken into custody afterwards in handcuffs and sent to a juvenile detention center after taking his fingerprints.

The school also suspended him until Thursday though it is not clear if it remained in effect after the police eventually dropped the investigation.

Both police and the school maintained that they followed the proper procedures in responding to what they said appeared to be suspicious item to protect the students and community alike.

“Clearly, there were disassembled clock parts in there, but he offered no more explanation than that,” McLellan said. “A lot of these details that the family and he have provided to you were not shared with us yesterday. He was very much less than forthcoming.”

McLellan told the Dallas Morning News that Mohamed never claimed the device was anything other than a clock. But school staff and police officers remained suspicious.

Police did not explain why the school was not evacuated or bomb squads dispatched if they believed the threat was genuine.

Ahmed is the son of former Sudanese presidential candidate Mohamed al-Hassan who ran unsuccessfully last April against incumbent president Omer Hassan al-Bashir.

Al-Hassan decried the incident saying “that is not America” he lived in for three decades.

“He just wants to invent good things for mankind….But because his name is Mohamed and because of Sept. 11, I think my son got mistreated,” he told reporters.

Ahmed nonetheless became a celebrity and garnered a flood of support including celebrities and politicians all while trending worldwide on social media sites.

U.S. President Barack Obama invited Ahmed via Twitter post to bring his “cool clock” to the White House and speak with NASA scientists and astronauts at next month's Astronomy Night.

“We should inspire more kids like you to like science. It's what makes America great,” the tweet read.

Josh Earnest, Obama's press secretary, said the case goes to show how stereotypes can cloud the judgment of even the most “good-hearted people.”

“It's clear that at least some of Ahmed's teachers failed him,” Earnest said. “That's too bad, but it's not too late for all of us to use this as a teachable moment and to search our own conscience for biases in whatever form they take.”

Former U.S. Secretary of state and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also expressed support to Ahmed tweeting that "assumptions and fear don't keep us safe — they hold us back. Ahmed, stay curious and keep building”.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg also extended an invitation to Ahmed to and meet him.

“Having the skill and ambition to build something cool should lead to applause, not arrest,” Zuckerberg wrote. “The future belongs to people like Ahmed.”

Google also invited Ahmed to a science fair taking place this week and urged him to bring his clock along.

Renowned Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield asked Ahmed to join the science show Generator in Toronto late next month.

The incident raised questions about racial profiling and Islamophobia in post-September 11 world.

“I think this wouldn't even be a question if his name wasn't Ahmed Mohamed,” Alia Salem, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) executive director for the Dallas-Fort Worth region, told WFAA.

(ST)

September 16, 2015 (WAU) - A soldier at the 5th infantry division in South Sudan's Western Bahr el Ghazal state shot dead two colleagues and wounded three others.

The incident occurred on Monday as officers prepared to sleep at Girinty barrack in Western Bahr el Ghazal, multiple sources within the military base told Sudan Tribune.

“The officer was known as a mad man but was later on recognised normal until the gun was return to his hand before killing people,” said an officer who preferred anonymity.

“He made a similar incident in Raga county last year where he was deployed but later on was considered normal officer to work in the army,” added the military officer.

It remains unclear, till now, as to what prompted the errant soldier to target colleagues.

Meanwhile, the killer has been detained at Girinty barracks awaiting trial for his actions.

(ST).

Americas

• A leaked memo has uncovered serious concerns over the Marine Corps’ operational testing of F-35B aircraft aboard USS Wasp (LHD-1) in May, undermining the aircraft’s Initial Operating Capability in July. The memo, penned by the director of the Pentagon’s Operational Test and Evaluation Office, cites a poor availability rate, a lack of realistic operational challenges and an absence of key mission systems. The first has been noted before, with this new memo as critical of how the tests were designed and supported as the aircraft themselves, including the discovery that the Wasp required software upgrades to communicate effectively with the F-35Bs.

• The first KC-46A tanker is expected to fly on 25 September, following a year-long delay. The trouble-hit tanker has become a headache for Boeing, which has been absorbing increasing development costs through a firm-fixed contract signed in February 2011 which capped Air Force costs at $4.9 billion. The most recent setback resulted from an accident involving the insertion of chemicals into the aircraft’s refuelling system in early August, pushing the tanker’s schedule back by a month. The first KC-46A is scheduled to demonstrate mid-air refuelling in early 2016, with a milestone C decision and subsequent low-rate initial production production contracts anticipated for April.

• The Missile Defense Agency opened the procurement process for the Standard Missile-3 Block IIA back in July, according to reports Wednesday. Raytheon revealed at DSEI that the MDA awarded an $87 million long-lead materials procurement contract to the company, with a follow-on for additional materials expected early next year. The opening contract provides for the materials necessary to produce 17 of the exo-atmospheric missiles, designed to hit and kill ballistic missiles; these are slated for testing and will also equip an Aegis Ashore facility in Poland. Flight testing with the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense 5.1 system is also expected to take place in late 2016, following a rescheduling in September 2011. A cooperative US-Japanese program, the Block IIA is slated to value approximately $20-24 million per missile and is 7.5″ larger than the 13.5″ Block I variants.

• Boeing has rejected an unsolicited bid from Aerojet Rocketdyne to buy the United Launch Alliance joint venture, of which Boeing owns a 50% share along with Lockheed Martin. The $2 billion offer was also reportedly rejected by Lockheed Martin, owner of the remaining 50%. The engine manufacturer Aerojet Rocketdyne also announced on Wednesday that development of the AR-1 rocket engine, intended to replace the Russian RD-180 rockets currently used, could be delayed without sufficient US government funding, with the engine currently scheduled for certification in 2019, the same year as use of the RD-180 by the Air Force comes to an end.

• Sikorsky was handed a $22.6 million Foreign Military Sales contract modification to produce two UH-60M helicopters for the Mexican Navy, following a DSCA request in March for three of the helicopters. The original request application was for five Blackhawks, with a host of other intelligence, mission planning and communications systems as well as spares. In December 2014 the company was similarly awarded a $56.4 million modification to produce five UH-60Ms for Mexico, following two orders in September 2014 for 8 and 18 UH-60Ms, worth $93.2 million and $203.6 million respectively. The four orders are all scheduled to deliver the helicopters in May and June 2016.

Europe

• The United Kingdom has awarded a contract to Raytheon’s UK subsidiary for the development of a penetrating warhead for the Paveway IV guided bomb. Intended to equip the Royal Air Force’s fleet of Eurofighters, the new munition is scheduled to enter service in 2019 and replace the current penetration capability provided by the RAF’s Tornado GR4s and Paveway III bombs. The new warheads will fit existing stockpiles, with BAE Systems handling the integration work. Raytheon UK has stated that the new warhead will likely equip the RAF’s F-35Bs and could do the same with Reaper UAVs.

• The UK’s Ministry of Defence also signed an eight-year, $462 million contract with MBDA for upgraded ASRAAM missiles. The AIM-132 Advanced Short Range Air to Air Missile found export customers in India last year, with Australia also ordering the missile for use on the RAAF’s F/A-18 fighters. The UK first welcomed the missile into service in January 2002, after a nine-month dispute over acceptance.

• Slovakia has become the first customer for Saab’s Carl Gustav M4 recoilless rifle, the company announced on Wednesday. The anti-tank weapon has also been acquired by two other undisclosed countries for evaluation, with it first unveiled in September 2014. Capable of launching programmable ammunition, including anti-personnel, anti-structure and illumination rounds, the system reportedly weighs around 7kg (15.4lb).

Middle East North Africa

• The Saudis are reportedly set to choose Lockheed Martin’s Littoral Combat Ship for the country’s Arabian Gulf-based frigate modernisation program, with a deal thought to be announced by the end of the year. The company is one of two teams constructing LCS for the US Navy. The Saudis have previously requested the ability for their LCS vessels to launch Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) air defense missiles but are thought to have dropped previous plans to procure the Aegis combat system owing to cost.

Asia & Pacific

• Malaysia is buying STARstreak air defense missiles and ForceSHIELD integrated air defense systems, with Ministers from the United Kingdom and Malaysia signing official support for the deal at DSEI. The signing gives the official nod to a deal reported in July between Thales UK and Malaysian partner Global Komited. The deal, valuing over $154 million, includes radar control systems, mobile weapons systems and communications systems.

• The Royal Thai Army has also placed a multi-million dollar order for STARstreak missiles, following an original order in November 2012. Aside from Thailand and now Malaysa, Indonesia is another regional customer for the STARstreak, ordering the system in January 2014.

• North Korea is reportedly planning to launch a new satellite, a possible indicator of advancements in ballistic missile technology, potentially indicating an increase in range or payload. The North has also restarted its nuclear reactor, a worry for international security as the country looks to miniaturize nuclear weapons sufficiently to equip a missile. The North’s claim that this has been achieved is doubtful, however plans to launch a satellite are likely a cover for testing of a potential delivery system.

• India has successfully tested the indigenously-developed second generation Amogha-1 anti-tank missile, the first missile designed and tested by the Bharat Dynamics Ltd company. The two missiles reportedly struck targets at ranges of 2.6km and 2.8km, with the company planning to offer the missiles to the Indian Army after qualification and certification.

Today’s Video

• Interception testing of the Standard Missile-3 Block IA in November 2014:

AH-60L
(click to view larger)

The UH-60M Black Hawk is currently the most advanced UH-60/S-70 model, whose variants are in service with the US Army and over 20 other countries around the world. To date, UH-60M customers include the USA, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, plus a request from Egypt. Unlike global competitors such as Russia’s Mi-8/17 series, however, the UH-60’s operational armament is generally limited to door guns. That may be about to change, thanks to a UAE initiative.

Colombia currently flies the armed S-70 “Arpia III”, and Sikorsky has worked on armed “AH-60” versions as an offering in some foreign competitions, but efforts to sell the concept in Australia and elsewhere were less successful. Nevertheless, Sikorsky executives see considerable potential for multi-role helicopters and conversion kits, in an era of global insurgencies, tight budgets, and limited helicopter numbers. Now, the UAE has become their launch customer. What is Sikorsky’s Battlehawk, and what are their plans?

The Battlehawk Concept and Sikorsky’s Kits MH-60Rs fire Hellfire
(click to view full)

Armed H-60 helicopters are not new. Naval Seahawks can be armed with a variety of weapons including Mk54 torpedoes, Penguin anti-ship missiles, and Hellfire anti-armor missiles. On land, US Special Operations have been arming their MH-60s to various levels, and Colombia’s S-70 “Arpia III” helicopters can mount rockets and forward-firing gun pods. Even a US Army UH-60L model has provision for Hellfire missiles, but the US Army has elected not to add the necessary equipment to make that an operational capability.

Australia was offered an “AH-60” for its armed reconnaissance helicopter competition, but chose the dedicated Eurocopter Tiger ARH instead. Nevertheless, Sikorsky believes that tight budgets will push existing and future customers toward multi-role helicopters. Colombia’s success led to Sikorsky’s announcement of its Battlehawk program at the 2006 Farnborough international air show, and interest from Israel and the UAE led to a refined 3-level set of kits. A mature Battlehawk program could give Sikorsky an important export edge over rivals like the European NH90 TTH, and offer feature parity with Russia’s popular Mi-17.

Technically, “Battlehawk” is a Sikorsky trademark, referring to a new-build UH-60M helicopter with a full weapons kit. The company’s larger goal is actually a set of kits that can be retrofitted to existing aircraft, or incorporated into newer models to take advantage of more advanced features. In most cases, the cost of conversion will be higher for older helicopters, because a larger number of systems must be upgraded. This can be offset somewhat by upgrading them to a lower level, to reduce the number of modifications needed.

Sikorsky’s initiative really took off with the UAE’s February 2011 order, and Sikorsky representatives say that this kit will be available for export to other customers. The firm is happy to talk to new partners, but integration of new capabilities and specific weapons will occur on a customer by customer basis, and the choices made by those initial customers will help to define the initial kits offered.

Battlehawk: 3 Kits Colombian Arpia
(click to view full)

Level 1 Kits already exist, in Colombia’s UH-60L/ S-70 Arpia models. They were fitted with surveillance turrets under the nose, and added stub wings to mount fixed weapons like gatling guns or unguided rockets, but these helicopters have no guided weapon capabilities. This is the cheapest kit conversion, and the most proven. The helicopter retains its full cabin capacity, and may retain its full soldier load, depending on the weight of the weapons fitted and ammunition carried.

Level 2 Kits would add guided weapons, including optical and laser guided anti-armor missiles like TOW, Spike, and Hellfire, and emerging laser-guided rockets. The baseline under consideration in 2009 would mount 12.7mm/.50 caliber gatling guns on the inboard pylon pair, and either missiles or a 19-rocket launcher on the outboard pylons. This will include laser-guided missiles and rockets, and combat optics are upgraded accordingly; the baseline configuration’s AN/AAQ-22E BRITE Star II turret or L-3 WESCAM MX-15Di include laser targeting, as well as surveillance. The armed kit be integrated with the helicopter’s flight and weapons management systems, which will link to a day/night capable helmet-mounted display.

A helicopter with this kit retains its full cabin capacity for 11 soldiers, but its ability to carry that many on a specific mission will depend on the weight of the weapons it’s fitted with. Owners may also choose to devote some of its space and weight limits to mounted and/or in-cabin ammunition and weapons, extra fuel on board, 2 door gunners with 7.62mm gatling miniguns, etc. As equipment is added, troop carrying capacity will decline.

Battlehawk Level 3

Level 3 Kits would add all Level 2 features, plus a gun turret on its underside for 180 degree firepower. The Israelis tested a French 20mm turret from Nexter, which has been developed to equip a number of helicopter types around the world. Unlike other conversions, the Level 3 kit does eat into the helicopter’s forward cabin space, reducing the number of soldiers it can carry.

Over time, Sikorsky personnel expect that the options available under the 3 weapon kits will grow. As a simple example, special operations helicopters can add fuel tanks to extend the helicopter’s range or staying power. As of December 2009, however, Sikorsky representatives said that “wet pylon” capabilities weren’t part of their program. Other options will likely present themselves, as customers show interest.

The Israeli Tests, & the UAE Israeli Lvl-3 demonstrator
(click to view larger)

The Israeli Air Force has already conducted a number of tests, under a program that lasted from November 2007 – December 2009. Sikorsky participated in conjunction with Israeli manufacturers Elbit Systems and RAFAEL, and France’s Nexter. Testing used an Israeli Air Force (IAF) S-70A-55 Black Hawk helicopter, modified with Elbit’s weapon management system and ANVIS-HUD helmet mounted display, Elbit/ATK GATR-L laser-guided 70mm rockets, RAFAEL Spike-ER optical anti-armor missiles, and Nexter’s 20mm belly turret. The gun was a particular testing concern due to its required airframe modifications and potential for vibration issues, but it proved accurate and reportedly placed little stress on the airframe.

Sikorsky has marketing agreements with Elbit and Rafael for joint marketing of this demonstrator configuration, which could give the concept a boost in Israel, South America, and some countries in Europe and Asia, where those Israeli firms have developed solid relationships. The Israeli efforts were proof of concept and flight tests rather than an official integration program, however, and do not represent formal qualification of the weapons involved. Once a customer signs on, therefore, Sikorsky would need to include and charge for production qualification, full weapon qualification, full avionics integration, and reliability and component life testing.

The United Arab Emirates’ formal 2008 Foreign Military Sale request made them the expected launch customer for the UH-60M Armed Blackhawk mission kit, and that finally came to pass in 2011.

Sikorsky can leverage previous structural and electronics work from the Israeli demonstrations, and the UAE can replace Israeli equipment with alternatives like Cirit laser-guided rockets, sensors and helmet-mounted sights from other manufacturers, etc. Their DSCA request lays out an initial equipment set that appears to correspond to the Level 2 kit – but note that the Level 3 kit’s Nexter 20mm gun comes from France, and would not be subject to US DSCA disclosure if the UAE wanted it at any time.

The UAE has taken on pioneering roles in the past by paying for R&D programs like its Mirage 2000v5 and F-16 E/F Block 60 jet fighters, and earned millions of dollars in licensing revenues when Dassault exported the Mirage 2000-5 design to other countries. While Sikorsky representatives would not talk publicly about this dimension, they did note that the UAE’s fully-qualified kit would be available for export on the global market. A similar sort of royalty agreement with the UAE should be expected.

Contracts and Key Events Part-converted UH-60M
(click to view full)

September 17/15: Sikorsky was handed a $22.6 million Foreign Military Sales contract modification to produce two UH-60M helicopters for the Mexican Navy, following a DSCA request in March for three of the helicopters. The original request application was for five Blackhawks, with a host of other intelligence, mission planning and communications systems as well as spares. In December 2014 the company was similarly awarded a $56.4 million modification to produce five UH-60Ms for Mexico, following two orders in September 2014 for 8 and 18 UH-60Ms, worth $93.2 million and $203.6 million respectively. The four orders are all scheduled to deliver the helicopters in May and June 2016.

July 24/14: Tunisia. The US DSCA announces Tunisia’s official request for 12 UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters, complete with Level 2 Battlehawk kits that allow them to be used as attack helicopters. Sikorsky in Stratford, CT; and GE in Lynn, MA are the core contractors, but the overall request includes:

• 12 UH-60Ms in standard US configuration
  
• 30 T700-GE-701D Engines (24 installed and 6 spares)

• 30 AN/AVS-9 Night Vision Goggles
  
• 26 Embedded Global Positioning Systems/Inertial Navigation Systems
  
• 30 MXF-4027 Very High Frequency/Ultra High Frequency radios
  
• 15 AN/APX-117 IFF Transponders
  
• 15 AN/ARC-220 radios
  
• 15 Very High Frequency/Digitally Selective Calling radios
  
• 15 ARN-147 VOR/ILS, 15 AN/ARN-153 Tactical Air Navigation Systems
  
• 6 Aviation Mission Planning Systems
  
• 1 Aviation Ground Power Unit

• 15 Wescam MX-15Di or Brite Star II day/night surveillance turrets with laser designators
  
• 24 M134 7.62mm Machine Guns
  
• 24 GAU-19 .50 cal Machine Guns
  
• Integration of Precision Guided Rocket System capability to permit launch of laser-guided variants of 2.75 rockets
  
• 24 M261 Hydra-70 Rocket Pods
  
• 9,100 2.75″/ 70mm Hydra Rockets. Laser guidance would come as a bolt-on kit from BAE (APKWS), Lockheed (DAGR), Raytheon (TALON), Rojetsan (Cirit), et. al.
  
• 20 M299 4-missile Hellfire launch systems
  
• 100 AGM-114R Hellfire Missiles

• 15 AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems
  
• 15 AN/APR-39A(V)4s Radar Warning Receivers
  
• 15 AN/AVR-2B(V)1s Laser Warning Systems

• Plus aircraft warranty, ammunition, air worthiness support, site surveys, facility construction, spare and repair parts, support equipment, communication equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, tool and test equipment, and other US Government and contractor support. The estimated cost is up to $700 million, or about $58.3 million per helicopter with weapons and support.

Implementation of this proposed sale may require the assignment of 3 U.S. Government and 5 contractor representatives in Tunisia to support the delivery and training for 2-5 years. Sources: US DSCA #14-23, “Tunisia – UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters”.

DSCA request: Tunisia UH-60M Battlehawks (12)

Dec 30/11: Sikorsky in Stratford, CT receives an $81.2 million firm-fixed-price contract modification, “to convert UH-60M aircraft to the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces unique configuration.”

Discussions with Sikorsky representatives reveal that this add-on contract finalizes both the recent 14-helicopter order, and the original 26-helicopter order. Of the UAE’s contracted helicopters, 30 have been delivered so far, including all of the 14 helicopters ordered in 2009. Remaining conversions to the UAE’s base UH-60M configuration actually involve a few helicopters from the original order for 26 UH-60Ms. The contract for armed helicopter kits and qualification continues as a separate effort.

Work will be performed in Stratford, CT, with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/12. One bid was solicited, with one bid received by the UAE’s Foreign Military Sale contract agent, US Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL (W58RGZ-08-C-0003).

Oct 11/11: UAE. Sikorsky in Stratford, CT receives a $38.3 million firm-fixed-price contract modification, as a follow-on to its Dec 29/09 contract to buy 14 UH-60Ms. Work will be performed in Stratford, CT, with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/12. One bid was solicited, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, AL manages this contract (W58RGZ-08-C-0003).

As noted earlier, this is not a confirmed Battlehawk contract. It will be up to the UAE to decide which of its 40 UH-60M helicopters to modify with the kits, though new-build machines may be seen as an easier option.

Feb 21/11: UAE. At IDEX 2011, the UAE announces an AED 993.5 million (about $270.5 million) order from Sikorsky, through the Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies Company, to upgrade 23 UH-60Ms with Battlehawk kits. This makes the UAE Battlehawk’s launch customer. The bulk of the work will be undertaken by the AMMROC maintenance, overhaul and repair joint venture between Sikorsky and Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies.

Sikorsky representatives later said that the number announced at IDEX isn’t necessarily their number. They did confirm that this Direct Commercial Sale contract includes the additional development and qualification work, for a kit that they believe will be among the most sophisticated helicopter weapons capabilities in the world. The first helicopters with their fully-qualified kits aren’t expected before 2014.

A 2nd AED 65 million (about $17.7 million) deal with Sikorsky will train Black Hawk pilots and technicians. Defense News | Janes.

UAE: Battlehawk contract

Dec 29/09: UAE. Sikorsky in Stratford, CT receives a $171 million firm-fixed-price contract to produce 14 UH-60M helicopters, plus conversion to the UAE’s unique configuration. Work is to be performed in Stratford, CT, with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/12 (W58RGZ-08-C-0003).

Sikorsky has confirmed that these are not full Battlehawk helicopters, just the exercise of an option that will raise the UAE’s total UH-60M fleet to 40 machines. Battlehawk kits will be a separate contract. See also Oct 11/11, Dec 30/11 entries.

UAE: 14 UH-60Ms

Sept 9/08: UAE. the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announces the United Arab Emirates’ formal request to buy additional UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, plus weaponization kits and weapons/ Those kits would turn some UH-60Ms into multi-role attack helicopters that could transport troops, or operate in a light attack role alongside the UAE’s existing fleet of AH-64 Apache heavy attack helicopters.

The Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) formal request includes:

• 14 more UH-60M helicopters with engines. When added to the previous order for 26, this option would bring the country’s UH-60M fleet to 40.
  
• 6 T700-GE-701D spare engines
  
• 14 AN/ALQ-144Av3 Infrared (IR) Countermeasure Sets
  
• 14 AN/APR-39Av4 Radar Signal Detecting Sets
  
• 14 AAR-57v3 Common Missile Warning Systems
  
• 14 AN/AVR-2B Laser Warning Sets

The request also states that the UAE is also looking to “weaponize” 23 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, and is interested in the following additional weapons.

• 30 M299 Hellfire launchers, each of which can hold 4 Hellfire missiles, or up to 16 DAGR laser-guided rockets, or any combination thereof. The UAE already operates these on its AH-64 fleet.

• 390 AGM-114N Hellfire II missiles. The AGM-114N is the “Augmented Metal Charge” (thermobaric/ fuel-air) version of the laser-guided Hellfire II. Its devastating explosions can kill or suffocate enemies in caves, collapse buildings, or do significant damage to enemies in an open blast area.

• 8 Hellfire training missiles.

• 23,916 MK-66 Mod 4 2.75″/ 70mm Rocket Systems in the following configuration: 1,000 M229 High Explosive Point Detonate, 540 M255A1 Flechette (anti-personnel darts), 1,152 M264 RP Smoke, 528 M274 Smoke Signature, 495 M278 Flare, 720 M274 Infrared Flare, 20,016 HA23 Practice rockets. The UAE’s TALON program with Raytheon is creating a bolt-on laser-guidance option for 70mm rockets like this.

• 22 of General Dynamics’ GAU-19 3-barrel, .50 caliber/ 12.7 mm externally-powered gatling gun systems.

• 93 of Dillon Aero’s M-134 6-barrel, 7.62mm ‘mini-gun’ gatling guns.

• Spare and repair parts, publications and technical data, support equipment, personnel training and training equipment, ground support, communications equipment, U.S. Government and contractor technical and logistics personnel services, aircraft survivability equipment, tools and test equipment, and other related elements of logistics support.

The estimated cost of these items is $774 million. While the various sub-systems and weapons are made by a number of manufacturers, the principal contractors will be: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation of Stratford, CT and General Electric of Lynn, MA (engines). The USE does have an active industrial offsets program, and will be requesting them in negotiations with the contractors involved.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of 6-8 Contractor Field Service representatives to the United Arab Emirates for approximately 2 years after initial fielding, to assist in the delivery and deployment of the helicopters.

DSCA request: UAE (14 UH-60Ms and armed kits)

Additional Readings & Sources

DID would like to thank Sikorsky’s Ray Burke (Battlehawk Program Manager), Mike Ambrose (VP – International Military), and Matt Rodgers (Black Hawk program Marketing Manager) for their assistance and clarifications regarding the firm’s Armed Black Hawk programs.

• Sikorsky – BattleHawk(TM)

• Global Security – AH-60L / S-70 Battle Hawk.

Key Weapons & Systems

• FLIR Systems – BRITE Star. A day/night surveillance and targeting turret. Used in Level 2+ options. Level 1 Arpia-III S-70s appear to be using FLIR’s STAR Safire HD instead.

• DID – US Hellfire Missile Orders, FY 2011-2014. Includes a breakdown of the different Hellfire variants. The AGM-114R is the most recent.

• DID – Hydra, Awakened: Guided Air-Ground Rockets. Most are laser-guided, via bolt-on additions to standard 70mm rockets. Options include BAE’s APKWS-II, Elbit & ATK’s GATR, Kongberg & MDA’s CRV-7PG, Lockheed’s DAGR, Raytheon’s TALON, and Roketsan’s CIRIT.

• L-3 WESCAM – MX-15D. The “D” suffix indicates laser designation capability for laser-guided weapons. Used in Level 2+ options.

• RAFAEL – SPIKE Family of multi-purpose, tactical missiles. Dual IIR/ fiber optic visual command guidance; SPIKE-ER used on Israel’s Level 3 demonstrator.

• Nexter – Their THL 20 is a 20mm cannon turret designed to equip light helicopters.

News & Views

• Sikorsky (Dec 14/09) – Armed BLACK HAWK Demonstrator Completes Test Program. This is the Israeli demonstrator program.

• Jerusalem Post (Aug 30/09) – IAF testing new Black Hawk models [dead link]. Israel may be set to join Colombia and the UAE in this concept, though no commitment has been made: “The arming of the Black Hawk is being done jointly by the IAF, Sikorsky and several local defense contractors. One of the helicopters has already successfully test-fired an air-to-surface missile. The helicopter has also been equipped with a rapid-fire cannon that sits under the aircraft’s belly.”