Saturday 30 September 2017

Russian forces receive modernised T-72B3 tanks

Modernised T-72B3 – Image from the net

11th September 2017 - 08:09 GMT | by The Shephard News Team

The Western MD tank formation of the Russian armed forces has received modernised T-72B3 tanks, the Russian Ministry of Defence announced on 7 September.

The combat vehicles are equipped with more powerful 1,130hp engines, enhanced weapon system, and a new sighting system with a digital display and rear-view camera.

The tank has also been reinforced with side skirt Relikt armour elements, mounted slat armour as well as new reactive armour systems in a soft case.

Original post: shephardmedia.com


T-72B3M/B4 MBT: Details

Russia’s MC-21 passenger jet to get worldwide presentation in 2018


September 26, 16:26UTC+3

MC-21 is a new twin-engine short-to mid-range Russian jet airliner

MOSCOW, September 26. /TASS/. The Russian passenger jet MC-21 will be officially presented at the international stage in 2018 most likely, Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov told reporters on Tuesday.

"I think early next year, at exhibitions held during that time," Manturov said.

"I would sacrifice an exhibition but would not sacrifice a testing cycle," the minister said responding to a question whether the aircraft can be presented at the Dubai Air Show in November 2017.

MC-21 is a new twin-engine short-to mid-range Russian jet airliner with a capacity of 150-212 passengers.

Original post: tass.com

Related post:


Irkut MC-21: Details

Royal Thai Army M60A3 TIFCS MBT - 17th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Regiment - Video

M60A3 TIFCS - thaidefense-news.blogspot.com

M60A3 MBT  have been upgraded with new fire control. From analog systems to computer systems and new turret propulsion. To increase 105 mm artillery firing accuracy and speed.

The M60A3 MBT Upgrade was implemented last year by Elbit Systems, Israel. Improved M60A3 main tank performance to allow the M60A3 main tank to perform day and night operations. By replacing the two main systems of the M60A3 main tank, the TIFCS and the Electronic Guns and Turrets (EGTDS) propulsion systems on the turret roof were fitted with HMA (Head Mirror Assembly). These fire control systems. Israel has deployed a new version of the Merkava Mk IV tank. It also has an Index Loader for ammunition. Makes it easier to load the ammunition. In the 105 mm M68 tank gun, the new casing was changed, with the first five being 17 and carrying five more from the M5. Source: thaidefense-news.blogspot.com

Published on Sep 22, 2017

"Admiral Makarov" completes sea trails


Completed the program of state tests of a frigate "Admiral Makarov"

2017-09-27 15:15:17

The main program of state tests of a frigate "Admiral Makarov" completed, the timing of its transfer to the fleet will be agreed with the customer, according to RIA Novosti the representative of the Baltic shipyard "Yantar" Sergei Mikhailov.Completed the execution of the main program of state tests of a frigate "Admiral Makarov". The timing of the transfer of the ship of the Navy will be determined in coordination with the customer - the Russian defense Ministry, said Mikhailov. In turn, the head of the office for armament and military technique management of the plant "Yantar" Sergei Illarionov, who participated in all stages of testing, reported that "the main tasks of the last part of the tests was to shutdown anti-aircraft missile complex "Shtil", remarks to the state of the main power plant, as well as re-checking the radar detection of surface targets". Despite the fact that "weather conditions have made adjustments to the timing of the tests, the commissioning team and the crew of the ship showed a good result, successfully after shooting complex "Calm"," he said. 

Illarionov said that "there was lots of work, with all tasks, the plant managed to "excellent"". "Admiral Makarov" was laid on the "Amber" in February 2012, launched on 2 September 2015. This is the third ship in a series of frigates of project 11356 (development of the Northern design Bureau), built for the black sea fleet.

Original post: weaponews.com



Frigate Admiral Makarov

Published on Dec 8, 2016

Friday 29 September 2017

KAI to conclude an export contract with Argentina for 600 billion won for 12 FA- 50

RoKAF_T-50_Golden_Eagle - Image from the net

[Separate] KAI contracted for export of 60 billion FA-50 with ARCHEN in December ..

Enter the article 2017.09.28 at 4:52 pm
Last modified 2017.09.28 at 7:39 pm

Korea Aerospace Industries ( KAI ) will conclude an export contract with Argentina for an export of 600 billion won for the FA- 50. KAI and the Korean government agreed to complete the contract by December , with the South Korean government to export 12 FA- 50s…….Read rest of article: HERE

Related artcles:


KAI T-50 and FA-50 Golden Eagle: Details

Military delegation of the Republic of the Philippines visited Russian test site


09/28/2017 (08:30)

Representatives of the military delegation of the Republic of the Philippines visited the range of the Far Eastern Higher Combined Arms Command School named after Marshal of the Soviet Union K.K. Rokossovsky.

During the dynamic show, the guests appreciated the capabilities of the T-72B3, BPM-2, BTR-82AM armored personnel carriers for overcoming the bridge bridge and anti-tank ditch and other obstacles on the route of the tankcade.

On the tactical sector of the training ground for the military of the Republic of the Philippines, the cadets showed an element of the training battle (unit in reconnaissance patrol) with the use of ATVs (quads).

Then, cadets of the Armed Forces of the Republic of the Philippines demonstrated to the servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Republic of the Philippines the firepower of small arms, in particular, the Kalashnikov machine guns, the Pecheneg, the sniper rifle of the SVD, the AGS-17/30 grenade launcher, the RPG-7B hand-held antitank grenade launcher, the RPG-18 "Fly".

Translated by Google - Original post: mil.ru

More images of Tu-95MS 27 red armed with 4 x Kh-101 ALCM on external pylons

RussianDefence.com
RussianDefence.com
RussianDefence.com
RussianDefence.com


A few more images of Tu-95MS 27 red armed with 4x Kh-101 #ALCM on external pylons. Pretty sure that those are by Vadim Savitsky for RuMoD. Source: RussianDefence.com

Tu-95MS Strategic Bomber: Details

During Air Sino-Pakistanais "Shaheen VI" a J - 11b "beat" two JF-17 in a dogfight 1 vs 2

Lors de l'exercice aérien sino-pakistanais "Shaheen VI", un J-11B a "battu" deux JF-17 dans un combat aérien 1 vs 2. http://zqb.cyol.com/html/2017-09/28/nw.D110000zgqnb_20170928_1-11.htm … Source: East Pendulum

Lors de l'exercice aérien sino-pakistanais "Shaheen VI", un J-11B a "battu" deux JF-17 dans un combat aérien 1 vs 2. http://zqb.cyol.com/html/2017-09/28/nw.D110000zgqnb_20170928_1-11.htm … Source: East Pendulum


际范儿的新锐一代中国空军飞行员


-中巴空军联训中,空军航空兵某旅副参谋长辛鑫,凭借精湛的飞行技巧,赢得了同乘的巴基斯坦南部空军司令哈希布少将的称赞。刘应华/摄 ("Eagle-VI" CMB Air Force joint training, air force aviation brigade deputy chief of staff Xin Xin, with superb flight skills, won the same number of Pakistani air force commander Hashibu major praise. Liu Yinghua / photo)

Source: zqb.cyo.com

Shenyang J-11: Details


JF-17 “Thunder”: Details

Second Royal Navy City-class Type 26 Frigate to be Named HMS Belfast

Published: Thursday, 28 September 2017 09:41

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon unveiled the name of one of the new Type 26 frigates as HMS Belfast during a trip to Northern Ireland. The second to be named in the City Class of eight brand new, cutting-edge, anti-submarine warfare frigates, HMS Belfast will provide advanced protection for the likes of the UK’s nuclear deterrent and Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers. The Defence Secretary revealed the name at Belfast shipyard Harland and Wolff, which built the Royal Navy’s last HMS Belfast, in 1938.

HMS Belfast will enter service with the Royal Navy in the mid 2020s.

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said:

I’m hugely proud that the second name announced of our eight cutting-edge new Type 26 frigates will be HMS Belfast. She and her sister ships will form the backbone of our Navy well into the 2060s, keeping us safe by protecting the country’s nuclear deterrent and new aircraft carriers.

It’s apt to name this ship at the famous site which built the very first HMS Belfast. Thanks to our ambitious new National Shipbuilding Strategy, this shipyard once again has the chance to be involved in building a British warship thanks to the competition to build a new class of light frigates for our growing Royal Navy.

The Defence Secretary launched the ambitious National Shipbuilding Strategy earlier in the month, and as part of that laid out plans for a first batch of another new class of frigates – the Type 31e.

The last Type 26 scale model design on BAE Systems stand at DSEI 2017. Navy Recognition picture.

Read rest of article: HERE

Related articles:


Type 26 Global Combat Ship (City-class): Details

Thursday 28 September 2017

China's COMAC says C919 jet completes 2nd test flight

C919 performed 2nd flight test this morning at Pudong airport, which lasted 2h 46m. Photos by 枫. Source: dafeng cao

Brenda Goh

SEPTEMBER 28, 2017 / 12:36 PM

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China’s domestically developed C919 passenger jet completed its second test flight on Thursday, the jet’s maker said, but there were questions about its duration and on the near five-month gap between the two test flights.

The narrow-body aircraft, which will compete with Boeing’s 737 and the Airbus A320, is a symbol of China’s ambitions to muscle into a global jet market estimated to be worth $2 trillion over the next 20 years. It first flew on May 5 after numerous delays.

“The plane has made a smooth return,” a spokesman for its manufacturer, Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC) [CMAFC.UL], told Reuters.

COMAC said the plane flew up to 10,000 feet after taking off from Shanghai’s Pudong Airport at 07:22 a.m. (2322GMT). It landed at 10:08 a.m. COMAC said, a flight time of 166 minutes. In comparison, its maiden flight was 80-minutes long.

“The interval between the C919’s first two flights is extraordinary,” said Bradley Perrett, a veteran China watcher and reporter at Aviation Week in an article on Wednesday.

“The conclusion must be that COMAC was not really ready for flight testing in May... A common view is that the C919 was put into the air so early for strictly political reasons, although there is no suggestion that doing so was unsafe,” he said.

The Mitsubishi Regional Jet, Japan’s first passenger aircraft, took its second flight eight days after it first flew in 2015 while the gap between the first and second flight for the Airbus A350 was five days, Perrett said.

A report published earlier on Thursday by state-backed news website ThePaper.cn said that the C919 was expected to fly between 07:20 a.m. and return at about 11 a.m. COMAC did not immediately reply to questions on whether the flight was shorter than expected.

Strongly backed by Beijing, the C919 has so far announced orders for 730 planes from 27 customers, many of which are Chinese leasing companies.

Last week, Agricultural Bank of China (ABC) Financial Leasing Co Ltd became the first customer to make a second order for the C919 jet.

Reporting by Brenda Goh; Editing by Stephen Coates and Muralikumar Anantharaman

Original post: reuters.com

Comac C919: Details

Orbital ATK received a $359 million contract to continue full-rate production of AGM-88E AARGM missiles

F-18F - flightglobal.com

Navy contracts Orbital ATK for additional AARGM missiles

Orbital received the $359 million contract to continue full-rate production of AGM-88E advanced anti-radiation guided missiles.

By Richard Tomkins   |   Sept. 27, 2017 at 1:50 PM


Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Orbital ATK announced Wednesday a U.S. Navy contract to continue full-rate production of AGM-88E advanced anti-radiation guided missiles.

The contract, worth $359 million, included an initial award of $157 million for Lot Six full-rate production of the missiles and an option for Lot Seven.

"Today's battlefield is rapidly evolving and the number of threats emerging around the world continues to grow," Cary Ralston, vice president and general manager of Orbital ATK's Defense Electronic Systems Division, said in a press release.

"AARGM is an affordable solution that provides advanced capabilities to those protecting our nation and allies each and every day."

The AARGM is a supersonic, air-launched tactical missile system that upgrades legacy AGM-88 HARM system. It is able to engage traditional and non-traditional advanced land- and sea-based air-defense threats and time-sensitive targets.

Orbital ATK said the contract covers all-up round missiles and captive air training missiles for the U.S. Navy, Italian Air Force and other allies through Foreign Military Sales program. The missile is integrated into the weapons systems on the FA-18C/D Hornet, FA-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft.

Original post: upi.com

About the AGM-88:


The Raytheon AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) is an air-to-surface tactical missile designed to seek out and destroy enemy radar-equipped air defense systems and transmitters. The AGM-88 can detect, attack and destroy targets with minimum aircrew input. Production of the HARM missile commenced in 1982 and was approved for Full Rate Production (FRP) in March 1983 and was used the first time against Libyan targets in 1986. Also, the AGM-88 was used extensively by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force in Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and in 2003, in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the firing of more than 400 HARM missiles quickly eliminated enemy radar.

The AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) is a new and upgraded version of the AGM-88B/C HARM. AARGM is a cooperative effort between the governments of the United States and Italy to provide the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and Italian Air Force with the latest and most advanced weapon system to engage and destroy enemy air defenses and time-critical mobile targets. AARGM is an air-to-surface supersonic, medium-range, tactical missile compatible with U.S. and Allied fighter and attack aircraft. Compared to the legacy AGM-88 HARM, the AARGM features an advanced digital anti-radiation homing sensor, an MMW-radar terminal seeker to counter enemy shutdown capability, precise GPS/INS guidance, net-centric connectivity, and a Weapon Impact Assessment (WIA) subsystem. AARGM is produced by Alliant Techsystems (now Orbital ATK) in a cooperative effort with MBDA Missile Systems. 

In September 2013, Orbital ATK announced the delivery of the 100th AARGM to the U.S. Navy. Initial Operational Capability (IOC) was declared for AARGM in July 2012 and the missile has been in Full Rate Production since August 2012. 

On September 25, 2013, Orbital ATK was awarded a $102.4 million contract to convert 112 AGM-88B HARM missiles to AGM-88E AARGM all-up-rounds. On August 11, 2014, Orbital ATK was awarded a $96.2 million contract by the U.S. Navy for the third full-rate production lot of AGM-88E AARGM missiles (HARM upgrade missiles). On September 2015, Orbital ATK was awarded awarded a $119 million contract for the fourth FRP lot of AARGM missiles + for a fifth lot for up to $141 million. 

Raytheon has developed a HARM upgrade, called the AGM-88F HARM Control Section Modification (HCSM). HCSM adds a GPS receiver, an improved inertial measurement unit for precision navigation and also features a digital flight computer that merges targeting solutions from navigation and seeker systems. The HCSM is more precise and accurate, thus reducing potential collateral damage. HCSM is available through Foreign Military Sales (FMS).

Applications/Platforms: 
The AGM-88 HARM is fielded on the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the F/A-18C/D Hornet, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, and on the electronic attack fighters EA-18G Growler and EA-6B Prowler (retired). The AGM-88E AARGM is currently fielded on the U.S. Navy F/A-18C/D Hornet, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, and EA-18G Growler, as well as on Italian Air Force Tornado ECR aircraft. In the future, the missile may also be fielded on the F-35 Lightning II.

Source: fi-aeroweb.com

General Characteristics
Primary Function: Air-to-surface anti-radiation missile
Contractor: Raytheon Co.
Power Plant: Thiokol dual-thrust rocket motor
Thrust: Dual thrust
Length: 13 feet, 8 inches (4.14 meters)
Launch Weight: 800 pounds (360 kilograms)
Diameter: 10 inches (25.40 centimeters)
Wingspan: 3 feet, 8 inches (101.60 centimeters)
Range: 30 plus miles (48 plus kilometers)
Speed: Supersonic
Aircraft: Used aboard the F-16C
Guidance System: Proportional
Warheads: High explosive 
Source: af.mil


Orbital ATK is Delivering Software Upgrade for Anti-Radiation Guided Missile to U.S. Naval Fleet
AARGM Block 1 Software Upgrade to Provide Higher Performance Capabilities
Dulles, Virginia 28 August 2017 -- Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies, in conjunction with the U.S. Navy, is rolling out the Block 1 software upgrade to the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM).  Earlier this year, Orbital ATK and the U.S. Navy completed testing, demonstrating the effectiveness of the software upgrade.

“Fielding Block 1 software provides U.S. and allied forces with higher performance against air defense systems,” said Cary Ralston, vice president and general manager of Orbital ATK’s Defense Electronic Systems Division of the Defense Systems Group. “Our ultimate goal is to protect warfighters and AARGM allows them to quickly, safely and accurately locate and destroy targets, whether on land or on sea, while remaining out of harm’s way.”

AARGM is a supersonic, air-launched tactical missile system, upgrading legacy AGM-88 HARM systems with advanced capability to perform Destruction of Enemy Air Defense missions. AARGM is able to rapidly engage traditional and advanced land- and sea-based air-defense threats, as well as non-radar targets leveraging a Global Positioning System (GPS)/Inertial Navigation System (INS) guidance and millimeter wave (MMW) guidance.

AARGM is a U.S. Navy and Italian Air Force international cooperative major acquisition program with the U.S. Navy as the executive agent. AARGM is currently deployed and supporting operational requirements for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. The missile is integrated into the weapons systems on the FA-18C/D Hornet, FA-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft. AARGM is anticipated to achieve Initial Operational Capability on the Italian Air Force’s Tornado ECR aircraft in 2018.

Orbital ATK’s Defense Systems Group is an industry leader in providing innovative and affordable precision and strike weapons, advanced propulsion and hypersonics, missile components across air-, sea- and land-based systems, ammunition and related energetic products.

About Orbital ATK
Orbital ATK is a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies.  The company designs, builds and delivers space, defense and aviation systems for customers around the world, both as a prime contractor and merchant supplier.  Its main products include launch vehicles and related propulsion systems; missile products, subsystems and defense electronics; precision weapons, armament systems and ammunition; satellites and associated space components and services; and advanced aerospace structures. Headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, Orbital ATK employs approximately 13,000 people across the U.S. and in several international locations.  For more information, visit www.orbitalatk.com.

F-35B HOT LOADS WITH AIM-120'S

U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 Load Ordnance on a F-35B Lightning II

U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 load ordnance on a F-35B Lightning II while conducting a hotload during Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course (WTI) 1-18 in Yuma, AZ, on Sept. 21, 2017. WTI is a seven week training event hosted by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron (MAWTS-1) cadre which emphasizes operational integration of the six functions of Marine Corps Aviation in support of a Marine Air Ground Task Force. MAWTS-1 provides standardized advanced tactical training and certification of unit instructor qualifications to support Marine Aviation Training and Readiness and assists in developing and employing aviation weapons and tactics.

By Pfc. Ethan Pumphret, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma

25 Sep 2017

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. -- MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. – Hot-loading is when an aircraft lands and has ordnance loaded while the engine is still running. Marines from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 conducted a hot-load in F-35B Lightning II’s at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. on Sept. 21, 2017. This hot-load was conducted using AMRAMM AIM-120 missiles. VMFA-121 is a part of Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.

The exercise was a validation/verification conducted during Weapons and Tactics Instructors course 1-18. WTI is an exercise that takes service members from all over the world in a joint training exercise for mission readiness. WTI is hosted by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron one.

“They will now have a publication to use,” said Cpl. Matthew Donovan an aviation ordnance technician with VMFA-121. “We took it out there and we validated it. We know it works so now in the future they will have it in writing.”

The hot-load exercise was conducted to ensure both pilots and ground crew have a real example of operations should those units deploy. The F-35B’s were loaded with the AIM-120 missile and took off horizontally immediately after.

The AMRAMM AIM-120 is an air-to-air missile that will be used in conjunction with a Tactical Air Launch Decoy. The TALD was loaded onto an AV-8B Harrier II to be launched and used as a target for the AIM-120. The TALD is an expendable glide vehicle that can mimic the heat and radar signatures of a full-sized aircraft.

“You can't shoot an air-to-air missile unless you have something to shoot at,” said Donovan. 

“The TALD is just a glider that comes off of the Harrier and then it glides straight and the Harrier moves out of the way.”

Donovan said the AIM-120 is the only missile currently in the F-35’s arsenal for the Marine Corps.

This hot-load exercise is to verify theory and validate publication and give the Marines involved a chance to load live ordnance while the aircraft is still hot. While the F-35B has been loaded hot before, this is the first time it has been conducted with these air-to-air missiles.

“Decreasing aircraft turnaround time and increasing sortie generation due to the aircraft not having to power down, receive maintenance and start up again,” said Staff Sgt. Kevin Knight an Aviation Ordnance Technician with VMFA-121. “It’s critical in developing our expeditionary capabilities.”

During WTI, VMFA-121 will also use GBU-12 and GBU-32, laser and GPS guided 500 lbs bombs in their F-35B’s. This combat themed-training will provide the training and practical application to project Marine Corps air power on the battlefield.