Extensive missile site in China revealed by satellite

Commercial satellite imagery has revealed an extensive nuclear missile site in central China with nearly sixty launch pads for medium-range missiles capable of striking Russia or India.

The images from Google Earth show different types of launch pads, command and control facilities, and missile deployment equipment at a large facility in downtown Delingha, said Hans Kristensen, a researcher with the Federation of American Scientists.

He also wrote that the US government often highlights China's deployment of new mobile missiles as a concern but keeps the details secret, so the discovery of the deployment area provides the first opportunity for the public to better understand how China operates its mobile ballistic missiles.

The find comes only two weeks after the discovery of a secret Chinese nuclear submarine base on Hainan Island in South China Sea, also using commercial satellite imagery and published by Jane's Intelligence Review.

The latest images were posted along with Kristensen's analysis on the website of the Federation of American Scientists.

Kristensen said the imagery revealed missile launch sites along a 275-kilometer (170 miles) stretch of highway leading from the city of Delingha through Da Qaidam to Mahai in the northern part of Qinghai province.

Thirty-six launch pads were arrayed in three strings extending north of the highway and west of Delingha.

Another 22 launch pads were detected in an area running west of Da Qaidam to Mahai, according to Kristensen's analysis.

He further said that from these launch pads DF-21 missiles would be within range of southern Russia and northern India (including New Delhi), but not Japan, Taiwan or Guam.

DF-21s are medium range solid fuel missiles that have been replacing China's older DF-3 and DF-4 liquid fuel missiles.

Kristensen said the imagery shows what appear to be a buried command and control bunker marked by antenas at each of the deployment area.

In downtown Delingha, images show what appear to be the headquarters of a missile brigade base with tentlike structures of identical size and design as structures previously detected on DF-21 launch pads.

He said that an open area near the base contained what appeared to be camouflaged nets over unidentified vehicles..

US Army Introduces First Unit Equipped(FUE) with Enhanced Night Vision Goggle(ENVG)

The U.S. Army has completed its First Unit Equipped (FUE) with the ITT Corporation Enhanced Night Vision Goggle (ENVG), helping the service meet its goal of fielding the first sensor-fused, helmet-mounted monocular.

ITT’s ENVG optically combines an image intensification (I2) image and next-generation infrared (IR) image, allowing for improved mobility and situational awareness—through clear target identification (I2) and improved target detection (IR).

While I2 and IR technologies have allowed the U.S. military and its allies to own the night for years, both technologies have strengths and limitations. The ENVG combines the strengths of both technologies into one unit, allowing soldiers to complete their missions more effectively, even when confronted by low-light or obscured conditions.

The ENVGs have completed a rigorous qualification process to ensure they are ready to be fielded. Following a competitive process, ITT was selected as the sole provider of the Army’s ENVG contract in 2005. The contract has a total potential value of $560 million over the contract life.

ITT Night Vision, based in Roanoke, Va., is the world’s leading developer, producer and supplier of Generation 3 image intensifier technology for U.S. and allied military forces as well as the homeland security market.

First National Security Cutter, C&C System for US Coast Guard

The US Coast Guard accepted delivery of the first National Security Cutter, USCGC Bertholf (WMSL 750), a 418-foot vessel built by Northrop Grumman and equipped by Lockheed Martin with integrated communications, sensors and electronics systems. Acceptance signifies transfer of ownership from industry to government and the start of operational test and evaluation.

Lockheed Martin's Coast Guard Command & Control (CG-C2) system provides the Coast Guard a common operating picture to aid coordination among helicopters, aircraft, other ships and shore facilities. The system facilitates interoperability with the forces and agencies of the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and 117 federal and regional agencies and organizations. It also provides sensors for surface and air detection, tracking, classification and identification, and an integrated voice communications capability over a host of commercial and military radios and satellites.

CG-C2, installed on Bertholf, is fully interoperable with systems previously delivered on the HC-144A Ocean Sentry maritime patrol aircraft, the modified HC-130J Hercules long-range search aircraft, and upgrades to the Coast Guard's 39 legacy high- and medium-endurance cutters.

Bertholf is scheduled to be formally commissioned by the Coast Guard on August 4, 2008 at its future homeport in Alameda, Calif.

The crew of Bertholf has already trained on the CG-C2 at Coast Guard Training Center Petaluma. The $26 million facility, which the Coast Guard opened in March 2007, was equipped by Lockheed Martin with state-of-the-art simulators, radars and electronics equipment to train Coast Guard crews assigned to the new Legend-class of National Security Cutters.

The CG-C2 is a product of the Maritime Domain Awareness Center, a state- of-the-art facility in Moorestown, NJ, designed to develop, test and integrate equipment and systems being produced to support the Coast Guard's Deepwater program.

Integrated Coast Guard Systems, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, was awarded the Deepwater contract in June 2002 and has been renewed through January 2011.

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

Bangladesh Navy Tests Chinese Anti-Ship Missile

Bangladesh, with the help of China, test-launched its first C-802A anti-ship missile from a frigate in the Bay of Bengal on May 12. Commissioned in 1989, the 1,500-ton F-18 Osman is a Chinese-built Jianghu-class frigate. This is Dhaka's first C-802 missile test launch.

The navy acquired the improved C-802A variant and FM-90N SAM and the air force procured Chinese PL- air-to-air missiles in 2006. The number of units is unknown.

China has an intimate relationship with Bangladesh's military. Much of its army, navy and air force consists of Chinese hardware. In August 2007, Chinese Gen. Chen Bingde visited Bangladesh to discuss military sales and cooperation. Chen, a member of China's Central Military Commission, was also chief of the General Armament Department of the People's Liberation Army.

Bangladesh's navy inventory includes the Jianghu-class 1,500-ton F-18 Osman frigate, four 175-ton Huangfeng-class guided-missile patrol boats (PTG), five 68-ton Houku-class PTGs and other Chinese vessels, including a torpedo boat, patrol boat, submarine hunter, minesweeper, landing craft, tugs and survey craft.

The air force is equipped with two squadrons of Chengdu F-7Ms and Guizhou FT-7s, one squadron of Nanchang A-5Cs and Shenyang FT-6s, and one trainer squadron of Nanchang PT-6s.

Army equipment includes Chinese W-531 Type 85 armored personnel carriers, T-62 light tanks and T-59 main battle tanks. According to its declaration to the United Nations in 2007, covering 2006, China has sold 65 large-caliber artillery systems, including 18 122mm howitzers and 16 rocket launchers.

Pakistan Tests Nuclear-Capable Cruise Missile

Pakistan on Thursday successfully tested a ground-hugging cruise missile capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional warheads.

The Hatf-VIII (Ra'ad) missile, developed exclusively for launch from the air, has a range of 350 kilometres (217 miles).

It is a low-altitude, terrain-following missile with high manoeuvrability, and can deliver all types of warheads, with great accuracy.

The firing comes just a day after neighbouring India tested a ballistic, nuclear-capable missile capable of hitting targets deep inside China.

Last month Pakistan military carried out a training launch of Shaheen II, or Hatf VI, a long-range nuclear-capable missile which can hit targets far into India.

Pakistan's arsenal includes short-range, medium and long-range missiles named after Muslim conquerors.

South Asian rivals India and Pakistan -- which have fought three wars, two of them over the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir -- routinely carry out missile tests since both demonstrated nuclear weapons capability in 1998.