CIA-RDP96-00788R001900680008-1

THE WEEK
Fans Definir 12 May 87
d For Release
JA-RDP96-00788R001900680008-1
/USA probes mystery cloud
reported off Japan
By .Derek Wood
AMERICAN EXPERTS are investigating a mystery cloud, possibly resulting
from some form of explosion, which caused an airline pilot to call for an
emergency course deviation over the Pacific last month.
On 9 April at 1409 GMT, a Japanese
Airlines Boeing 747 freighter en route
Tokyo-Anchorage, at . 33 000 ft,
encountered the phenomenon 370 km cast
sof Miyako on the coast of .Honshu." The
captain, a former US Air Force B-52 pilot,
made a mayday call and reported a cloud
form resembling the top half of a ball which
quadrupled in size in 30 seconds and rose to
over 18 280 m. He was given permission to
change course on the airway to avoid the
cloud.
His sighting was confirmed by KLM and
JAL passenger flights in the area and by
two Flying Tiger cargo aircraft. All five
airliners were checked on arrival in Alaska
for radioactivity but none was found.
The US Federal Aviation Authority
issued a NOTAM warning of a possible
radiological event before the aircraft
arrived for checking. The NOTAM was still
in force at the time of writing.
US military sources reported no seismic
or nuclear activity at the time. The National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
satellite surveillance section had pictures
about two hours after the report, showing a
clear high pressure area bui obscured by
cirrus cloud. Some 18 hours later the
satellite found thin cirrus cloud over the
area, with a 'boomerang' shaped cloud near
the surface but well to the west over Japan,
at 40°N, 141ºE. NASA has since been
doing computer work to determine the
cloud's height and temperature.
The week before the incident the FAA
issued a NOTAM on possible Soviet tests at
47°N, 150°E but there is nothing to relate
these to the cloud.
New Jersey
transits
Panama Canal
.
A The 45 000 ton battleship. USS New Jersey
squeezes through the Panama Canal locks on 27
April en route to Long Beach, California, after an
extended tour of duty off the coast of Lebanon
(AP Laserphoto)
Mexico buys
Panhard VBL
scout car
By Adrian English
THE MEXICAN Government has
become the first recorded purchaser of
the new Panhard véhicule blindé léger
(VBL) scout car with an order for '27
vehicles.
The VBL, developed in response to a
requirement-by the French Army for a
light armoured reconnaissance vehicle in
the three tonne range, accommodates a
normal crew of three in a fully enclosed
"body measuring 3.7 m long by 2.02 m
wide and has a nett height of 1.70 m to
top of hull.
The front-mounted 2500 cc Peugeot
XD3T water-cooled four-cylinder diesel
engine produces 95 hp at 4150 rpm and
gives a maximum road speed of
95 km/h and a maximum range of
750 km. :
Normal armament consists of a ring-
mounted 7.62 mm machine gun,
although a number of alternative
armament fits are on offer.
Barcelona air show
SPAIN IS TO join the international air
show scene this year with its own Cosmo-84
which is to be held in Barcelona 2-10 June,
with emphasis on the South and Central
American, African and Arab markets.
The material on show will range from
military aircraft and their equipment,
through items such as avionics and
navigation equipment, to the components
industry and general aviation. Cosmo-84 is
being held in co-operation with the
Barcelona Fair and the static exhibition will
be in Hall No 1 of the Barcelona Exhibition
Centre. Aircraft exhibitors will have air-
conditioned bungalows at the International
Airport.
Big expansion projected for Indian Navy
By Pushpinder Singh in New Delhi
CONCERNED. WITH the growing "militarisation of the Indian
Ocean", the Indian Government is understood to have stipulated
long-term perspective plans to enhance the blue-water capabilities
of the Indian Navy and give a new dimension to its strike power.
The plans include expansion of indigenous warship production
(missile-equipped Godavari class frigates and HDW-designed SSKs
are to be built at Mazagaon Dockyards, Bombay, while fast patrol
craft and other smaller vessels are built at Garden Reach
Workshops, Calcutta), as well as acquisition of a new generation of
cruisers, destroyers, long-range surface-to-surface missiles and the
conventional armament), 'Kresta-II' class cruisers and additional
"Kashin-II' class guided missile destroyers from the Soviet Union.
Also planned for acquisition are four more "Nanuchka-II"
missile-corvettes and up to six more' 'Natya' class ocean
minesweepers. The Indian Navy is interested in the longer range
ship-launched SS-N-14 missiles along with associated radar, for
fitment on the planned cruisers and destroyers.
Meanwhile, INAS 300 'White Tigers' are now fully operational
with the Sea Harrier FRS Mk 51 on board the carrier INS Vikrant
and discussions continue for a follow-on batch of more Sea
Harriers, both the FRS Mk 51 and T 60 two-seat trainer.
· latest ECM equipmentApproved For Release 2003/09/09 - CIA-PDP96-00788R001900680008-3W force is also being
Naval commentators believe the modernisation and expansi
the navy would require about 5000 more personnel in various
substantially augmented by 20 Sea King Mk 42B helicopters, fitted
with MEL Super Searcher radar. The Sea Eagle anti-ship missile
AntARArist