Analysis: European defense contracts

BRUSSELS, July 7 (UPI) -- Turkmenistan buys six Russian multiple launch rocket systems

The former Soviet republic of Turkmenistan in Central Asia is buying Russian again. The Turkmens have ordered six Smerch multiple launch rocket systems from Russia. Two of those will be delivered by the end of the year, with the remaining four following them in 2009, Defense News reports.

The deal, which is thought to be worth about $73 million, is the largest ever between Russia and the impoverished Central Asian republic.

The systems, which can hit targets as far away as 54 miles, will be produced in the Russian city Perm at the Motovilikhinskiye Zavody plant.

The Smerch was developed 20 years ago by the Soviet military before the collapse of communism. The new versions for Turkmenistan will be updated with modern navigation and targeting systems.

The deal may have implications for the 27-nation European Union. Russia has long tried to dissuade Turkmenistan and neighboring, oil-rich Kazakhstan not to join the Nabucco pipeline project, which would connect Turkmenistan's vast natural gas resources directly to markets in the European Union, cutting out Russia as middleman.

Russia would prefer that the Turkmen gas pipeline went through its territory so it could retain its quarter-century lock on Western Europe's natural gas energy supplies. Some analysts believe the Smerch weapons deal may be tied to gas-exports commitments.

Belgian army plans new streamlined structure

Belgium is following France's lead in trying to cut its troop numbers and build a more compact, mobile security force that can quickly be dispatched worldwide in the near future.

Belgian Defense Minister Pieter de Crem hopes to increase the number of troops available for international peacekeeping operations from 890 to 1,200 by the end of 2011. He said Belgium must do its fair share and become a reliable partner to the United Nations, the U.S.-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Union.

The reshuffle will be funded by the closing down of four military barracks, getting rid of 20 percent of Belgium's current active-service generals, selling equipment and reducing regular combat personnel.

The 40,000-man armed forces should shed about 3,000 members within three years. The equipment on sale mainly will be a part of Belgium's U.S.-built F-16 combat fighter aircraft fleet, some of its German-built Leopard Main Battle Tanks and Agusta A109 helicopters.

The A109s were the subject of a massive bribery scandal in the 1990s, and their sale symbolizes the Belgian military's attempt to shed some symbolic baggage of past embarrassments.

Italy to help Turkey build attack helicopters

Italy and Turkey have begun the manufacture of 91 attack helicopters, worth almost $2 billion, for the Turkish armed forces. The first batch will consist of 50 helicopters with an option for a further 41 included in the deal.

TUSAS and Aselsan, two Turkish firms, will be the primary companies involved, supported by Italian AgustaWestland.

Agusta signed on after winning a competition last year against South African Denel, Russia's Rosoboronexport and German/French Eurocopter, and will be in charge of engines, flight control and monitoring systems. The rest of the tasks will be carried out by the Turkish companies in the deal.

The first unit should be delivered in June 2013. The helicopters are expected to be used in security operations against Kurdish guerrilla groups operating in southeast Turkey.

Study urges more Finnish-Swedish-Norwegian defense cooperation

A report by the Nordic Supportive Defense Structures has recommended that Finland, Sweden and Norway cooperate even more closely in order to move toward a common Scandinavian army, Defense News reports.

The three countries have been eager to join forces because, as Norwegian defense force chief Sverre Diesen said, "An ambitious cooperation is necessary as Norway, Sweden and Finland are seeing our defense budgets decline, and our material contracts continue to increase."

The report came up with 140 proposals to integrate the forces in order to save money and gain efficiency. It recommended that intelligence should be shared and air, sea and land forces should enter specific cooperation agreements.

Swedish Commander in Chief Gen. Hakan Syren said he would like to see at least 40 of the proposals implemented by the end of next year.