Tehran - Iranian senior lawmaker Alaeddin Bouroujerdi said that if Russia does not keep its contractual obligation to deliver S-300 missiles, Iran would start developing their own SAM systems. Iran claims they will have the capability to create their own systems in the near future.
Russia is currently six months late on delivering the S-300, but Russia has said they would not cancel the contract. Russia is also under pressure from the US and Israel to delay or cancel the shipment. Iran has urged Russia not to concede to any western pressure, specifically involving the Radar and Interceptor missile agreements with the US.
Sources:
Iran warns it may produce S-300 system
Iran urges Russia to deliver overdue missiles
Iran urges Russia to meet its contractual obligations in S-300 deal
18 November 2009
Iran Refusing Uranium Shipment Agreement
Tehran - Manouchehr Mottaki, Iranian Foreign Minister, said on Wednesday that the Islamic Republic refuses to send uranium to other countries. The deal between Iran, the US, Russia, France, and the UN was for Iran to ship uranium to Russia for enrichment. France would take the uranium and prepare it for Iran's nuclear reactors.
Iran has hinted at agreeing to simultaneously swapping uranium for nuclear fuel. Their catch is that the trade must happen inside of Iran under their supervision.
Sources:
Iran will not send enriched uranium abroad - foreign minister
Iran rejects sending uranium abroad
Iran has hinted at agreeing to simultaneously swapping uranium for nuclear fuel. Their catch is that the trade must happen inside of Iran under their supervision.
Sources:
Iran will not send enriched uranium abroad - foreign minister
Iran rejects sending uranium abroad
Release of Names - Top Officials Aware of France's Arms Trade
France - Charles Pasqua, former prime minister of France, said former president Jacques Chirac knew about the arms trade with Angola. Pasqua also names Dominique de Villepin (Chirac's chief of staff), Charles Millon (defense minister), and Herve de Charette (foreign minister) with Chirac. Pasqua was found convicted along with Russian born Israeli businessman Arkadi Gaydamak.
Pasqua presented secret documents confirming the sales plus the illegality of the trade. The arms came from the former Soviet states, and were shipped to Angola between 1993 to 1998.
Source:
French ex-minister accuses Chirac over Angola arms sales
Pasqua presented secret documents confirming the sales plus the illegality of the trade. The arms came from the former Soviet states, and were shipped to Angola between 1993 to 1998.
Source:
French ex-minister accuses Chirac over Angola arms sales
11 November 2009
The Kremlin: IMINT Project
Kremlin - Image One - Satellite
Kremlin - Image Two - Aerial
Kremlin - Image Three - Aerial
The subject of the IMINT project is the Moscow Kremlin. There are three images used for the project. image one is a satellite image from Google Maps. The area is triangular shaped with walls surrounding a majority of the land. Within the walls are various buildings, many of them having inner courtyards. Image two is an aerial image, obtained from Wikipedia, showing the southern wall of the Kremlin. Image three is another aerial view, found in Wikipedia's image database, showing the eastern wall that faces Russia's Red Square.
Usefulness
Looking at Image One, the Kremlin has very few entrances. The wall completely surrounds the buildings. There are numerous trees blocking the northwest wall. The southern wall is bordered by a highway and a river. The eastern wall is directly across the Red Square. There is visitor parking near the lower part of the eastern wall.
The satellite image shows the inner streets hidden by the wall, and trails inside and outside the Kremlin wall that might not be visible from ground level. The image shows only one vehicle entrance found in the southwest corner.
Image Two shows the detail of the buildings' sides. This image shows no entrance from the southern wall. The walls obscure any visibility of the buildings from ground level. The inner streets are wider than the highway lanes. Very few cars are seen inside. Most of the buildings are about two to three floors tall. This image shows another entrance in the northwest wall, walk-in only.
Image Three shows the eastern building in greater detail. Very few crowds are standing in the center of the Red Square. They seem to follow the border of the Square. The crowd is also lining up near a wall tower on the left side of image three. This must be a second walk-in entrance into the Kremlin. This image indicates that only the top floor is visible from a ground level view.
Looking at Image One and Three, there might be a third walk-in entrance on the north side of image one and on the left on image three. Image one shows the corner of the inner road touching the wall where a tower is situated. One the bottom left of image three, the tower is very similar to the other tower entrance on the right. The problem in this image is that the tower is blocked by a building in front of the camera.
Shortcomings
In Image One, what is noticeable in the Kremlin is that there are few parking spaces visible. There is no way of knowing how many people might be working withing the walls. While Image Two shows the best detail, very little activity is seen in this image. The entrances themselves are covered, so there is no way of knowing how many are guarding the entrances and what styles of gates they use. The smaller towers in the walls hide any guards or observers watching the wall.
Image Three might be more useful for visitors, knowing which way the crowd flows. It does show the size of the crowd visiting the Red Square. This picture alone shows no paths within the walls.
Summary
The images might have more value if studied as a group. Images Two and Three give a bitter perspective on how high the wall is compared to the people and vehicles. Image One hos a better view of the layout of the building and roads. Each image adds more meaning to the other.
Kremlin - Image Two - Aerial
Kremlin - Image Three - Aerial
The subject of the IMINT project is the Moscow Kremlin. There are three images used for the project. image one is a satellite image from Google Maps. The area is triangular shaped with walls surrounding a majority of the land. Within the walls are various buildings, many of them having inner courtyards. Image two is an aerial image, obtained from Wikipedia, showing the southern wall of the Kremlin. Image three is another aerial view, found in Wikipedia's image database, showing the eastern wall that faces Russia's Red Square.
Usefulness
Looking at Image One, the Kremlin has very few entrances. The wall completely surrounds the buildings. There are numerous trees blocking the northwest wall. The southern wall is bordered by a highway and a river. The eastern wall is directly across the Red Square. There is visitor parking near the lower part of the eastern wall.
The satellite image shows the inner streets hidden by the wall, and trails inside and outside the Kremlin wall that might not be visible from ground level. The image shows only one vehicle entrance found in the southwest corner.
Image Two shows the detail of the buildings' sides. This image shows no entrance from the southern wall. The walls obscure any visibility of the buildings from ground level. The inner streets are wider than the highway lanes. Very few cars are seen inside. Most of the buildings are about two to three floors tall. This image shows another entrance in the northwest wall, walk-in only.
Image Three shows the eastern building in greater detail. Very few crowds are standing in the center of the Red Square. They seem to follow the border of the Square. The crowd is also lining up near a wall tower on the left side of image three. This must be a second walk-in entrance into the Kremlin. This image indicates that only the top floor is visible from a ground level view.
Looking at Image One and Three, there might be a third walk-in entrance on the north side of image one and on the left on image three. Image one shows the corner of the inner road touching the wall where a tower is situated. One the bottom left of image three, the tower is very similar to the other tower entrance on the right. The problem in this image is that the tower is blocked by a building in front of the camera.
Shortcomings
In Image One, what is noticeable in the Kremlin is that there are few parking spaces visible. There is no way of knowing how many people might be working withing the walls. While Image Two shows the best detail, very little activity is seen in this image. The entrances themselves are covered, so there is no way of knowing how many are guarding the entrances and what styles of gates they use. The smaller towers in the walls hide any guards or observers watching the wall.
Image Three might be more useful for visitors, knowing which way the crowd flows. It does show the size of the crowd visiting the Red Square. This picture alone shows no paths within the walls.
Summary
The images might have more value if studied as a group. Images Two and Three give a bitter perspective on how high the wall is compared to the people and vehicles. Image One hos a better view of the layout of the building and roads. Each image adds more meaning to the other.
AK-47 Designer Celebrates 90th Birthday
Moscow – Mikhail Kalashnikov celebrated his 90th birthday on Tuesday as he was honored for designing the AK-47. Kalashnikov was awarded Russia’s highest honor, the Hero of the Russian Federation Medal. Kalashnikov said he would continue working as a military designer for the Russian Federation.Kalashnikov began working on a design for a better rifle in a hospital after being wounded in combat in 1941 during the Nazi invasion. He finished his design in 1947, which is part of the rifle’s name Automat Kalashnikov 47 (automat meaning automatic rifle).
The rifle became standard issue in the Soviet army as well as one of the Soviet Union’s major exports. More than 100 million rifles have been sold world wide. However, about 80 percent of the rifles circulating the world are illegal copies which add up to $2 billion in lost sales. The most popular weapon for terrorist, the iconic image of the AK-47 (a.k.a. the Kalashnikov) is used in the flags of Mozambique and Hizbullah.
Source:
Father of Kalashnikov assault rifles celebrates 90th birthday
Father of the AK-47 receives Russia's top honor
Russia Licenses the AK-47
Moscow – Rosoboronexports, Russian state-run arms exports, said that ten countries have applied for licenses to construct plants to manufacture Kalashnikov weapons.
A majority of the countries are in Latin America and the Middle East. Two known countries interested in licenses are China and Venezuela. Venezuela has agreements for two plants. One is to create Kalashnikov rifles and the other to create its ammunition.
Russia is making up for its loss of sales from the illegally manufactured AK-47 copies mostly in the former Soviet states.
Source:
Ten countries to build Kalashnikov assault rifle producing plants
Russia to build 2 Kalashnikov factories in Venezuela by 2010
Russia, China draft Kalashnikov copyright deal
A majority of the countries are in Latin America and the Middle East. Two known countries interested in licenses are China and Venezuela. Venezuela has agreements for two plants. One is to create Kalashnikov rifles and the other to create its ammunition.
Russia is making up for its loss of sales from the illegally manufactured AK-47 copies mostly in the former Soviet states.
Source:
Ten countries to build Kalashnikov assault rifle producing plants
Russia to build 2 Kalashnikov factories in Venezuela by 2010
Russia, China draft Kalashnikov copyright deal
Bout Using American Shell Companies
Viktor Bout, illegal arms trader, has been linked to numerous shell companies that he used as legitimate business fronts to conduct his operations. Bout is only one of many arms/drug traffickers and money launderers who have used U.S. companies to conceal their activities.
Investigators were able to link a Delaware based holding company to Bout. The company operated in the late 90s selling cargo planes to the Taliban government of Afghanistan.
U.S. officials blame the lenient state laws for not requiring the name and information of the owner before a company is established. The setback preventing any change is the source of funding to collect company information as investigate possible criminal activity.
Source:
Lax laws allow US companies to be used for crimes
Investigators were able to link a Delaware based holding company to Bout. The company operated in the late 90s selling cargo planes to the Taliban government of Afghanistan.
U.S. officials blame the lenient state laws for not requiring the name and information of the owner before a company is established. The setback preventing any change is the source of funding to collect company information as investigate possible criminal activity.
Source:
Lax laws allow US companies to be used for crimes
Gadhafi to Purchase Jet Fighters from Russia
Libya – Colonel Moammar Gadhafi is planning on purchasing 12 to 15 Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker-E multirole fighters, four Su-30 Flanker-C, and six Yakovlev Yak-130 combat training aircraft. The contracts with Rosoboronexport, Russian state-run arms exports, could be signed before the year ends or by early next year.Libya’s arsenal is composed of old Soviet bought weapons that are now obsolete. During the 80s and 90s, Libya was considered a supporter of terrorist groups such as the IRA, and for a while had a nuclear weapons programme. Since abandoning the programme in December 2003, Gadhafi has been concerned in obtaining modern weapons. During a visit to Moscow by Gadhafi in November 2008, Putin agreed to write off his Soviet debt of $4.5 billion in exchange for energy and arms deals with Libya.
Libya is the latest country of the Arab states of North Africa (the Maghreb) to join the region’s arms race. Since 2006, the Maghreb states, including Algeria and Morocco, have been signing contract with arms exporting states in order to improve their own arsenals.
Source:
Libya shopping for Russian arms
04 November 2009
Russia ICBM Launch Creates Controversy
Barents Sea – Russia test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile on November 1 while submerged. The Defense Ministry claims the missiles hit their target successfully. Russia is developing a new ICBM called the Bulava in order to add them to its arsenal.
US officials are arguing that this test-launch violates the START agreement, which calls for the reduction of nuclear missiles and methods of delivery. The US and Russia are currently working on a new START agreement before the end of the year.
Sources:
Russian submarine successfully test-launches ballistic missile
Dmitry Donskoy submarine prepares for future Bulava missile tests
Russia Accused of Violating Arms Treaty
Background:
START Expiration Date: December 5
US officials are arguing that this test-launch violates the START agreement, which calls for the reduction of nuclear missiles and methods of delivery. The US and Russia are currently working on a new START agreement before the end of the year.
Sources:
Russian submarine successfully test-launches ballistic missile
Dmitry Donskoy submarine prepares for future Bulava missile tests
Russia Accused of Violating Arms Treaty
Background:
START Expiration Date: December 5
Arctic Sea to Deliver Shipment
Malta – The Arctic Sea, believed to be hijacked by pirates, prepares to set sail on Thursday to finish its original mission. The ship is carrying $2 million worth of lumber headed for Algeria.
The Arctic Sea is currently being held in Malta, where Russian investigators released control over the ship after an investigation found no weapons. Fifteen sailors have been sent back to Russia, including the four who stayed on board. Fourteen new sailors have flown in to Malta to continue the journey.
Sources:
Arctic Sea to resume voyage on Thursday
New crew flies from Russia to Malta to replace Arctic Sea sailors
Background:
Three Tales at Sea
The Arctic Sea is currently being held in Malta, where Russian investigators released control over the ship after an investigation found no weapons. Fifteen sailors have been sent back to Russia, including the four who stayed on board. Fourteen new sailors have flown in to Malta to continue the journey.
Sources:
Arctic Sea to resume voyage on Thursday
New crew flies from Russia to Malta to replace Arctic Sea sailors
Background:
Three Tales at Sea
Arms Cargo Blocked by Police
Ukraine – Police stop an escorted Russian truck carrying anti-ship missiles on Tuesday. The missiles were being taken for decommissioning, but Ukrainian police said that Russia’s Black Sea fleet had not coordinated any actions with the Ukrainian Navy. The Black Sea Fleet claims the police were not informed by the Ukrainian Navy and that they had documents allowing them to transport weapons for decommissioning.
The Russian Navy has been operating in Ukraine under a 1997 lease agreement which expires 2017. Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko seems more than eager to let the agreement expire.
Sources:
Ukrainian police stop Russian military cargo
Russia, Ukraine not seeking changes to Black Sea Fleet deal
The Russian Navy has been operating in Ukraine under a 1997 lease agreement which expires 2017. Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko seems more than eager to let the agreement expire.
Sources:
Ukrainian police stop Russian military cargo
Russia, Ukraine not seeking changes to Black Sea Fleet deal
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