Russia and Georgia in Battlefield

Russian premier Dmitry Medvedev called a halt to Russian operations into Georgia just as IDR was going to press. It was too early to judge how final the decision is and what the repercussions will be - accusations and recriminations were still flying back and forth over who had initiated operations - but several points can be drawn out of the situation so far.

Firstly, Russia did not appear to use its more modern weapons in this short campaign, as the units nearest to Georgia were equipped with older equipment, much of it fielded over 20 years ago. However, in large numbers and with substantial air support, they proved to be more than adequate to carry out their mission against Georgian forces.

Both sides deployed similar ground forces. Russia used itsT-72 series main battle tanks (MBTs) fitted with explosive reactive armour, BMP-1 and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), BTR-80 series armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and MT-LB multipurpose tracked vehicles.

In addition, Russian air assault units played a key role and were able to rapidly deploy BMD-1 and BMD-2 air assault vehicles (AAVs) and BTR-D airborne armoured carriers with organic fire support provided by 120 mm 2S9 Anona self-propelled gun/howitzers.

Russia also deployed a number of 2S3 152 mm series self-propelled gun/howitzers and various multiple rocket launchers to provide indirect fire support to their rapidly moving units, while 2S6 Tunguska, SA-19 'Gopher' and manportable systems provided air defence.

Boeing, US Navy Offer Super Hornet for Denmark Fighter Competition

Boeing and the U.S. Navy delivered a proposal Aug. 15 offering the advanced F/A-18E/F Super Hornet to the Royal Danish Air Force as part of Denmark's New Combat Aircraft competition.

Boeing received a Request for Information from Denmark in May. The stated initial requirement is for 48 aircraft.

"The winner must present a good balance of capability, cost and risk, and be able to provide Danish industry with a viable and competitive long-term partnership," said Dan Korte, vice president and general manager for Global Strike Systems, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. "We believe the Super Hornet is the best-value option and offers a winning solution for Denmark's fighter requirements."

The Super Hornet variant offered to Denmark is based on the F/A-18E/F model flown by the U.S. Navy and the 24 F/A-18Fs currently being produced for the Royal Australian Air Force. The Block II Super Hornet is the first operationally deployed strike fighter incorporating next-generation capabilities, including the Raytheon-built APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar.

"The Super Hornet has been a model acquisition program for the United States and the U.S. Navy, one that has continued to add capability while decreasing cost over its lifetime," said U.S. Navy Capt. James Kennedy, F/A-18 International Business deputy program manager. "The Super Hornet, with its small logistics footprint and high mission-readiness rates, will stand well in the competition since it enhances effective deployment in international operations. With the AESA radar now fully onboard, the two-seat F/A-18F is providing unmatched aircrew situational awareness and taking air combat capabilities to new levels, as we can now seamlessly execute same-time air and ground missions. This is truly an aircraft that delivers tomorrow's capabilities today."

Boeing has delivered more than 360 Super Hornets to the U.S. Navy, all on or ahead of the original production delivery schedule. Australia has ordered 24 Super Hornets to bolster its fleet of F/A-18 Hornets, and Boeing is in discussions with several other international customers about their interest in procuring the Super Hornet.

On July 30, Boeing delivered a proposal to the Brazilian Air Force offering 36 Super Hornets for Brazil's F-X2 fighter competition. On Aug. 4, Boeing submitted a comprehensive industrial-participation proposal to the government of India in support of the company's offer of 126 Super Hornets to the Indian Air Force for India's Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft program.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32.1 billion business with 71,000 employees worldwide.

ICBM (Anti Missilie Shield) designed to overcome Missile shield By Russia

Russia test-fired an intercontinental missile designed to avoid detection by missile-defence systems, raising the temperature in a tense stand-off with the West over Georgia.

The Topol RS-12M intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in northern Russia and flew 6,000 kilometres (3,700 miles) to hit a target on Kamchatka Peninsula in the far east, a military spokesman said.

The test was meant "to develop equipment for potential combat use against ground-based ballistic missiles," Alexander Vovk, a spokesman for Russia's strategic nuclear forces, said in televised remarks.

The test came barely a week after the United States completed an accord with Poland on basing anti-missile interceptors in the east European country and as Russia accuses NATO of building up its naval presence in the Black Sea.

But analysts said the launch was likely planned in advance and not directly linked to soaring tensions with the West over Russia's conflict with ex-Soviet Georgia.

The stand-off has deepened since President Dmitry Medvedev's announcement that Russia was recognising South Ossetia and another rebel region, Abkhazia, as independent states.

Russia has been upgrading its Topol missiles in response to US plans to develop a missile-defence shield using ground-based interceptors, analysts said.

Russia is saying once again that has the opportunity to overcome US missile defence.
Possibility are that the test was timed to coincide with tensions over Georgia.

The Topol was first tested in 1983 but Russia has in recent years been adapting it to include countermeasures against missile defence, with the last test-firing in December 2007.

These missiles will be stationed alongside Russia border.

Washington's plan to site elements of a missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic has angered Moscow despite US assurances that the plan does not threaten Russia and is meant to protect against "rogue states" like Iran.