SPACEWAR.Com brings you daily news on war in the 21st century - military space news, nuclear weapons, missile defense 05-NOV-09 en-us Taipei (AFP) Nov 4, 2009 - Taiwan said Wednesday that its giant neighbour China has started building its first aircraft carrier, a move analysts have said could raise military tensions in the region.]]> Charlotte NC (SPX) Nov 04, 2009 - General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products has been awarded a $17 million contract to produce gun systems for the Phalanx Block 1B Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) and the Centurion Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System by Raytheon Missile Systems of Louisville, Ky. General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products is a business unit of General Dynamics.]]> London (UPI) Nov 4, 2009 - Several adjustments related to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program could make the plane more expensive for European buyers.]]> Islamabad (AFP) Nov 4, 2009 - Pakistani troops were Wednesday locked in deadly street battles with Taliban fighters, pushing a ground offensive deeper into militant-held territory, the military said.]]> Washington (UPI) Nov 4, 2009 - The debate over what to do next in Afghanistan has been politically polarized between those who attack the Obama administration for "dithering" and supporters who believe the president needs ample time to be a "decider." Unfortunately, this is a wrong and false debate. The reason is, as this column has frequently observed, there are no good choices regarding Afghanistan -- only bad and worse ones. No matter what this or any other administration decides, the outlook for Afghanistan is for further tragedy, violence and instability. Hence, quickness of decision is not relevant.]]> Farnborough UK (SPX) Nov 04, 2009 - BAE Systems will submit its bid for the British Army's most important programme on Thursday 5 November. The bid is for "Recce Block 1", the GBP2 Bn first phase of the FRES SV (Future Rapid Effect System - Specialist Vehicles) programme.]]> Havana (AFP) Nov 4, 2009 - Cuba's Fidel Castro slammed US President Barack Obama Wednesday for treating Latin America with "scorn" on the annniversary of the US leader's election as president.]]> Koror (AFP) Nov 4, 2009 - Six Chinese Muslim Uighurs freed from Guantanamo Bay were the guests of the president of Palau Wednesday, swimming in tropical waters and enjoying a barbecue lunch at a famous beauty spot.]]> Hunt Valley MD (SPX) Nov 04, 2009 - AAI Corporation has announced that its Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems (TUAS) have completed 100,000 missions. With 113 systems ordered and 87 delivered, Shadow systems are deployed with the U.S. Army, Army National Guard, Army Special Forces and Marine Corps.]]> Fort Bragg NC (AFNS) Nov 04, 2009 - Soldiers with 3rd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery, drove their High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) out the rear of an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., Oct. 22, with a new advancement that will get them into the fight faster.]]> Kabul (AFP) Nov 5, 2009 - A "rogue" Afghan policeman shot dead five British soldiers in Afghanistan Wednesday, raising new questions about the safety of coalition troops as world leaders work to boost training of local forces.]]> Seoul (AFP) Nov 4, 2009 - The United States and North Korea have agreed to hold two rounds of bilateral meetings before the North returns to multilateral nuclear disarmament talks, a US news report said.]]> Canberra, Australia (SPX) Nov 04, 2009 - Greg Combet, Acting Minister for Defence, has announced that a contract had been signed with the United States RAND Corporation to complete a Domestic Design Study for the Future Submarine Project, SEA 1000.]]>