China's new 5th Generation Chengdu J-20

China has recently come up with a new Chengdu J-20  fifth generation stealth, twin-engine fighter aircraft. In December 2010 it went for some high speed taxii trials and in Jan 2011 it took its first flight. Production of new J-20 clearly indicates that china is working on self reliance strategy.

The J-20 is a single-seat, twin-engine aircraft which appears to be somewhat larger and heavier than the comparable Sukhoi T-50 and Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor.It  is approximately 75 feet (23 m) in length, has a wingspan of 45 feet (14 m) or more, and is expected to have a takeoff weight of 75,000 to 80,000 pounds (34,000 to 36,000 kg) with internal stores only.The prototype could be powered by twin 32,000 pounds (15,000 kg) thrust Saturn 117S engines provided by Russia.Chinese sources have claimed that production aircraft will be powered by two 13,200 kilograms (29,000 lb)/WS-10 class high thrust turbofan engines fitted with Thrust Vector Controlled (TVC) nozzles, both made in China. One of the signs of problems in the development is that China is still seeking engines from Russia for the aircraft.

Its specification are yet to be known as Aircraft is still under development.

Source: 1.   Wikipedia
            2.   Janes Defence

USA to Buy 1,930 Self-Protection Adaptive Roller Kit System IIs

While facing the continuous thread of IEDs(Improvised Exclusive Device) in Afghanistan USA is acquiring Self-Protection Adaptive Roller Kit System IIs (SPARKS IIs).

The Pentagon is going to buy 1,930 Pearson Engineering's Self-Protection Adaptive Roller Kit System IIs (SPARKS IIs), which will have a mine-roller capability that attaches to the front of armored vehicles, and will soon field them in Afghanistan.

The Self-Protection Adaptive Roller Kit (SPARK) is a  mine roller system which was designed to be attached on tactical wheeled platforms. The front roller consists of 2 roller banks on the left and right side of the vehicle, providing contact with the ground, causing IEDs to detonate on the roller. This forced as much of the blast down and away from the vehicle as possible, as opposed to underneath the vehicle.

Before SPARK, there was no mine roller kit available to Soldiers for a tactical wheeled vehicle platform.

In February 2009, an IED Roller Interface Bracket prototype for the RG-33 MRAP vehicle passed a fit test. In February just months after engineers and employees at Tobyhanna Army Depot started working on the project. The system allowed the fitting of the Self-Protection Adaptive Roller Kit (SPARK) to the RG-33 series of vehicles. Additionally, an improved SPARK, which was fielded to Afghanistan in January and Iraq in March, was developed, which included an additional third roller bank. The SPARK had been further improved for the Afghanistan terrain by allowing the driver to control the roller banks.

Source: 1.   Janes Defence
            2.   Global Security