U.S. Navy cruiser anchors in Romania for NATO European missile shield project

The Monterey U.S. Navy cruiser

The U.S. Navy cruiser Monterey anchored in the Romanian southeastern Passenger Berth of the Port of Constanta on the Black Sea within the NATO European missile shield project, Romania news agency Actmedia said on Tuesday.
"The cruiser's visit to the Port of Constanta is part of the permanent efforts of the U.S. Navy in strengthening the partnership with the Romanian Navy and of increasing interoperability in the Black Sea area," the U.S. Embassy to Romania was quoted as saying by the agency.
The Monterey is holding its first appearance within the project. It is equipped with the AEGIS air defense system and missiles.
"Moreover, the USS Monterey cruiser is equipped with the AEGIS air defense system that represents the first stage of the adaptive phase approach of the anti-missile shield, an important element to Romania, which agreed to host interceptors within the second phase of the program."
The cruiser will stay in Romania until Thursday.
Russia and NATO agreed to cooperate on the so-called European missile shield during the NATO-Russia Council summit in Lisbon in November 2010. NATO insists there should be two independent systems that exchange information, while Russia favors a joint system.
Russia is opposed to the planned deployment of U.S. missile defense systems near its borders, claiming they would be a security threat. The U.S. is reluctant to provide legally binding guarantees that the system will not be directed against Russia.

MOSCOW, June 7 (RIA Novosti)

RIA NOVOSTI

Iran submarines dispatched to Red Sea: report

By Agence France-Presse on Wednesday, June 8th, 2011

Iran's navy has sent submarines to the Red Sea "to collect data," its first mission in distant waters, the Fars news agency reported Tuesday without giving further details.
"The submarines, dispatched in May, have entered the Red Sea after a mission in the Gulf of Aden to collect data on the sea bed in the high seas and to identify other warships," Fars said quoting an unnamed source.
"They are accompanying an Iranian navy fleet," it added, without mentioning the number of the submarines, their types or the make of the fleet.
The Pentagon confirmed the movement of the Iranian submarines on Tuesday and said the United States is not "concerned" at this time.
"We've repeatedly expressed our concerns with the actions that lead to instability but just moving forces around isn't necessarily something that we're concerned with," said Pentagon spokesman Colonol David Lapan.
He added that how Iran uses its forces in the region is of interest for the Pentagon. "It always has to do with what their intentions are," he said.
Iran has several types of submarines, including the home-produced 500-tonne Nahang which was first introduced to the navy in 2006, as well as three Russian-made submarines of the Kilo class purchased in the 90s.
In August 2010, Iran's army chief Ataollah Salehi announced the inauguration of a new "semi-heavy" submarine, named Qaem, capable of operating in the high seas, such as the Indian Ocean or the Gulf of Aden.
Iran's navy operates 11 mini submarines of the domestically built 120-tonne Ghadir class, first launched in 2007, which according to Iranian officials are "stealth" submarines and patrol shallow waters, notably the Gulf.
Last February, two Iranian warships were sent to the Mediterranean Sea for a visit to Syria, crossing the Red Sea and Suez Canal, a move that angered Israel.
The two ships docked in Syria on February 24, marking Iran's first such mission since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Tel Aviv put its navy on alert, following the entry of the Iranian vessels in the Mediterranean, while Israeli President Shimon Peres described the move as a "political provocation."

Read more: http://www.defencetalk.com/iran-submarines-dispatched-to-red-sea-report-34747/#ixzz1OfV7KU00

Russia may buy An-70 transport planes by 2012-13

An-70

Russia may start buying Ukrainian-built An-70 propfan military transport aircraft in 2012-2013, deputy commander of the Russian Air Force Maj. Gen. Viktor Bondarev said on Wednesday.
"The plane is undergoing factory tests, and next year it will be tested by [Russian] military pilots," Bondarev said.
A final decision on the purchase of the An-70 will be maid by a state commission on the basis of the tests results, General Bondarev said.
The An-70 is a medium-range propfan-powered military transport plane developed by Ukraine's Antonov design bureau. The Antonov company first tested a prototype An-70 in 1994, but a lack of Ukrainian state funds, and political disputes between Moscow and Kiev have prevented large-scale production of the aircraft.
Russia said in 2006 that it would pull out of the project, and buy the Il-76MF instead, after the program suffered a series of setbacks including problems with the propfan engine and two crashes involving prototypes.
The recent thaw in Russian-Ukrainian relations saw Moscow renew long-stalled funding to Ukraine in 2009 for eventual joint production of the plane, although the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said last year it would not finance the project.
There are up to 300 transport aircraft in service with the Russian Air Force, including An-12 Cub, Il-76MD and An-124 Condor transport aircraft.
The An-70 is intended to replace Russia's ageing An-12 aircraft.
Russian Airborne Troops Commander Lt. Gen. Vladimir Shamanov said last year that his service had ordered 40 An-70 planes under the new state arms procurement program for 2011-2020.
MOSCOW, June 1 (RIA Novosti)

RIA NOVOSTI

Rusia Janji Tingkatkan Kemampuan Reaktor Iran

 Kementerian Luar Negeri Rusia mengatakan, Moskow berencana untuk meningkatkan kemampuan Pembangkit Listrik Tenaga Nuklir Bushehr di selatan Iran.
"Pada tanggal 8 Mei 2011, tahap pertama peningkatan kemampuan PLTN Bushehr telah dilakukan dengan kapabilitas maksimal yang terkendali (25 persen dari kemampuan reaktor)," kata Juru bicara Kemlu Rusia, Alexander Lukashevich seperti dikutip Mehr News Agency pada hari Sabtu (4/6).
"Saat ini, langkah-langkah yang diambil sesuai dengan jadwal, untuk secara bertahap meningkatkan kemampuan reaktor," tambahnya.
Perusahaan negara Rusia, Atomstroyexport saat ini bertanggung jawab untuk pembangunan reaktor Bushehr - pembangkit listrik tenaga nuklir pertama Iran, yang direncanakan akan terkoneksi ke jaringan listrik.
Lukashevich menggarisbawahi bahwa pembangunan reaktor Bushehr sepenuhnya sesuai dengan peraturan internasional dan dilakukan di bawah pengawasan penuh Badan Energi Atom Internasional (IAEA).
IAEA dalam sejumlah laporannya menegaskan misi damai program nuklir Iran. Tehran juga menekankan bahwa program nuklirnya murni ditujukan untuk tujuan sipil, termasuk pembangkit listrik dan riset medis. (IRIB/RM)

IRIB

NATO Tolak Proposal Rudal Rusia

 NATO secara tegas menolak proposal Rusia mengenai rencana aliansi militer Barat untuk menggelar sebuah sistem rudal kontroversial di Eropa Timur.
Moskow menyatakan bersedia untuk mencabut penentangannya terhadap instalasi sistem rudal, jika NATO memberikan jaminan hukum bahwa rudal itu tidak akan digunakan terhadap Rusia.
"Jalan yang paling menjanjikan menuju kepercayaan yang lebih besar adalah memperbanyak diskusi dan pertukaran pandangan," kata Sekjen NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen dalam sebuah wawancara dengan kantor berita Interfax pada Selasa (7/6).
Rasmussen mengesampingkan formula hukum rumit, yang akan sulit untuk disetujui dan diratifikasi antara negara-negara anggota NATO dan Rusia.
Penolakan itu muncul menjelang pertemuan Dewan Rusia-NATO di Brussels pada hari Rabu (8/6), di mana Menteri Pertahanan Rusia Anatoly Serdyukov akan berusaha untuk meyakinkan Barat guna menandatangani perjanjian kerjasama yang mengikat secara hukum.
Moskow menginginkan rincian tentang jumlah maksimum dan jenis rudal pencegat, kecepatan mereka serta lokasi rudal dan radar, yang akan ditetapkan dalam perjanjian.
Rasmussen menekankan bahwa ekspansi NATO ke timur tidak akan mengancam kepentingan Rusia, tetapi sebaliknya, proses itu sendiri akan bermanfaat bagi keamanan Euro-Atlantik, termasuk Federasi Rusia.
"Saya juga bisa menjamin Anda (Rusia). Saya telah mengatakan itu secara terbuka pada banyak kesempatan bahwa NATO tidak akan pernah menyerang Rusia dan kami yakin Moskow juga punya pandangan yang sama tentang NATO," katanya. (IRIB/RM)

IRIB

Korut Diam-Dam Ujicoba Rudal di Laut Kuning

 Korea Utara mengujicoba rudal jarak dekat barunya pekan lalu. Kantor berita AFP dari Seoul hari ini (Rabu, 8/6) melaporkan, ini merupakan ujicoba rudal pertama kalinya oleh Korea Utara dalam 19 bulan terakhir.
Pada saat yang sama, kantor berita Yonhap juga mengutip keterangan sumber-sumber intelejen melaporkan, "Korut pertengahan pekan lalu, mengujicoba rudal jarak dekat KN-06 di Laut Kuning."
Sumber itu menambahkan bahwa tampaknya dalam ujicoba tersebut, Korea Utara berusaha meningkatkan daya tempuh rudal itu. Menteri Pertahanan Korea Selatan, menolak berkomentar tentang berita tersebut.
(IRIB/MZ/SL)

IRIB

Anggota DPR: Pramono Layak Jadi KSAD

Rabu, 8 Juni 2011 13:00 WIB | 414 Views

Letjen TNI Pramono Edhie Wibowo (FOTO ANTARA)

Pak Prabowo Subianto sendiri pernah bilang ke saya kalau Pramono Edhie memiliki IQ tertinggi dibanding teman-teman seangkatannya.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Pangkostrad Pramono Edhie Wibowo sudah pantas dan layak menggantikan Jenderal TNI George Toisutta sebagai Kepala Staf Angkatan Darat (KSAD), demikian dikatakan oleh anggota Komisi I DPR RI, Nurhayati Ali Assegaf, Rabu.

"Yang lain juga punya peluang, tapi saya menilai, beliau memliki peluang yang lebih besar. Beliau pantas dan sudah waktunya menjadi Kepala Staf Angkatan Darat," kata Nurhayati di Gedung DPR RI, Jakarta.

Ia menyebutkan karir Pramono Edhie bisa terbilang cemerlang karena pernah menjadi ajudan mantan Presiden RI Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Di samping itu, lanjut Nurhayati, Pramono Edhie juga memiliki tingkat kecerdasan di atas rata-rata.

"Pak Prabowo Subianto sendiri pernah bilang ke saya kalau Pramono Edhie memiliki IQ tertinggi dibanding teman-teman seangkatannya," kata Nurhayati.

Adanya anggapan bahwa Pramono Edhie adalah adik dari Any Yudhoyono sehingga karirnya bisa melaju demikian cepat, Nurhayati berpendapat anggapan tersebut tidak benar sama sekali.

"Jangan karena beliau adalah adik ipar SBY kemudian karirnya dihambat. Beliau pantas jadi KSAD, bahkan menjadi Panglima TNI karena beliau meniti karir dari bawah, dari nol," ujar dia.

Lebih lanjut Nurhayati mengatakan bahwa sebagai seorang prajurit, loyalitas Pramono juga telah teruji.

"Saat SBY dan Any Yudhoyono berkampenye, Pramono Edhie tetap ikut dengan Megawati Soekarnoputri. Itulah bentuk loyalitas seorang prajurit," kata dia.

Pramono Edhie Wibowo lahir di Magelang, Jawa Tengah, pada 5 Mei 1955.

Pada tahun 2009, ia menjabat sebagai Pangdam III Siliwangi. Semasa kepemimpinan Presiden Megawati Soekarnoputri, Pramono pernah menjadi ajudan presiden. (zul)

(ANTARA)