Friday 31 August 2018

Russia plans to purchase weapons from China

Universal assault landing craft model Type 075


Translated by google


Russia intends to buy from China three examples of military equipment  


According to the Chinese edition of "Phoenix" , Russia plans to purchase weapons from  China . At the last military-technical forum "Army-2018" Podnebesnaya presented a model of a new frigate, which reminds the French "Mistral" and is intended for deliveries to Russia. In the conditions of aggravation of relations with the West, Moscow is turning to the East, and Beijing is launching new ships.

August 21 at the opening ceremony of the international military technical forum "Army-2018", organized by the Ministry of Defense of Russiain the suburban Kubinka, China demonstrated samples of the latest weapons and military equipment, including the main battle tank VT-4 and VT-5, a modern 155-mm artillery system of the PLZ-52 model, anti-tank missiles HJ-12. The Russian public was also presented with samples of combat, logistic and communication equipment produced by more than 10 Chinese companies that took part in the event. One Chinese shipbuilding company at the forum presented an export model of the 054A frigate, called 054AE, as well as mock-ups of a universal landing ship and a ship intended for use in coastal areas. In short, China managed to demonstrate samples of large military equipment, in which Russia can be very interested in import.

Having become acquainted with the Chinese exposition, one can discern its obvious focus on Russia. Firstly, it is an export model of the frigate 054AE, where the letter E at the end, as it were, hints that this model was modified specifically for Russia ("Russia" in Chinese begins on E-óluósī - ed.). Participating in the Russian-Chinese exercises "Marine interaction-2017" frigate 054A proved to be the best and attracted the attention of the Russian side with its excellent appearance and advanced functionality. According to Russian military experts, the fleet is in urgent need of modernization, and frigate 054A can save the situation.

Secondly, it is a new export model of the universal landing ship, displacement of 20 thousand tons, at first glance, a bit reminiscent of the French "Mistral". Everyone knows that due to the deterioration of relations between Russia and the United States, France has not sent out the already constructed Mistrals of Russia, but resold them to Egypt, depriving Russia of the chance to strengthen its forces at sea. Russia has long lost the ability to produce large ships, until now had no opportunity to provide the fleet with such ships on their own, they had to buy them from other countries. This chance was not slowed to take advantage of China and presented at the forum models of ships, which Russia so badly needs. According to reports, China has already produced four universal assault landing craft model 075, displacement of 40 thousand tons.

Third, multifunctional infrared thermal imagers, whose export to Russia is the most promising. Even before the deterioration of relations with the West began, most of the infrared devices for military equipment were bought by Russia in France. Now the supply of infrared equipment is prohibited. China has thoroughly taken up the development of this area and soon made a technological breakthrough in it, improving the quality of the manufactured infrared devices for military equipment to the western level. So almost all infrared devices installed on Russian tanks, military helicopters and reconnaissance vehicles were manufactured in China and saved the situation after the ban on supplies from France.

According to analysts, the military-technical forum "Army-2018" is an excellent opportunity for Russia to get acquainted with Chinese military technologies, which became especially important in the context of Western sanctions and worsening opportunities to provide materially for their army. The purpose of the Chinese military enterprises, which presented frigate 054A, a universal landing craft and infrared equipment at the forum, was not the sale of the goods. The main goal is to expand cooperation in the field of defense with Russia, which has fallen under Western sanctions, and the presented models of technology to that confirmation. The Chinese side is full of hope that military cooperation between the two countries will become bilateral in the future. 

Source: news.rambler.ru

Scale models of some kind of landing ship, Type 054AE frigate, and Littoral Mission Ship in CSSC (China State Shipbuilding Corporation) booth at "ARMY-2018" International Military Technical Forum, Moscow, August 2018. Source: redditcom

Type 054A (Jiangkai II): Details
Type 075 LHD Amphibious Assault Ship: Details

Another serial production Be-200ChC aircraft launched

uacrussia.ru


Translated by google


The next serial amphibian Be-200ChC aircraft


On August 25, 2018, the next serial Be-200ChS amphibian aircraft (on-board number RF-32768, serial number 307) was launched from the factory airfield of PJSC "Beriev TANTK" (part of PJSC UAC) , built for the Ministry of Civil Defense, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters within the framework of the State Contract of May 25, 2011.

It is planned that after passing the program of bearer and acceptance tests the aircraft will be handed over to the customer for operation in the Aviation Rescue Center of the Southern Regional Center of the Ministry of Emergencies of Russia.

Currently, the final assembly is the Be-200ChS (No. 308), the final contract for 2011 and the planned assembly of aggregates of amphibious aircraft of the next series.

Source: uacrussia.ru

Related articles:

Algeria interested in the purchase of 14 MiG-29M / M2 fighters

MiG-29M2 - Airguardian YouTube


Translated by google


The fighter went to the second Algerian circle


Air Force can buy a squadron of MiG-29M / M2


Kommersant learned that Algeria, one of the largest buyers of Russian aviation equipment, showed interest in the purchase of 14 MiG-29M / M2 fighters that could replace the Soviet-made MiG-29S from Byelorussia and Ukraine in the Algerian Air Force. The MiG Corporation will not only receive several hundred million dollars in profits, but will also ensure the loading of its production facilities for several years to come. Russia's last attempt to enter the Algerian market with the MiG-29SMT was made in 2006, but the customer, having received the first 15 cars, returned the fighters to the manufacturer due to the presence of substandard parts in them.

The fact that Russia and Algeria are conducting closed negotiations on the purchase of the MiG-29M / M2 squadron told Kommersant that two sources in the field of military-technical cooperation told the source, while the source in the Russian military department explained that the parties are discussing the sale of 14 new cars. The amount of the potential contract (taking into account the aviation defenses coming in the kit) is estimated at $ 700-800 million, one source at Kommersant says: "We presume that the signing of a firm contract will be possible in the near future." In the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, Rosoboronexport (negotiating with the Russian side) and the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), they refrained from commenting yesterday. The Algerian military delegation attended last week at the international forum "Army-2018" in Kubinka,

Algeria is one of the largest buyers of Russian aviation equipment. Over the last ten years, the fleet of their air force was updated with Su-30MKA fighters (44 units were received under a contract from 2006, 14 by agreement from 2015), Mi-26T2 transport helicopters (14 units), Yak-130 combat training aircraft (16 cars). In addition, the Algerian military began to receive Mi-28NE combat helicopters (42 units were contracted in 2013). According to the expert of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies Konstantin Makienko, the activation of Algerian purchases was facilitated by "NATO intervention in Libya": "If before 2011 they were still looking at the products of Western countries, then after these events they realized: partners are more reliable than Russia and China in such sensitive issues , as arms exports, just do not. "

Now the Algerian Air Force is armed with several dozen Soviet MiG-29S and MiG-29UB delivered from Ukraine and from Belarus. In 2006, Algeria wanted their park to be renewed, having contracted 28 new single-seat MiG-29SMTs from Russia and six two-seat MiG-29UBs. However, the deal fell through: after receiving the first 15 aircraft, the customer accused the Russian side of using used parts in them and insisted on returning the aircraft to the manufacturer ( see "Kommersant" on February 18, 2008 ). Subsequently, 28 MiG-29SMT units entered the arsenal of the RF Ministry of Defense, and in 2014 the military bought another 16 such fighters.

The Algerian order for the MiG-29M / M2, coupled with the ongoing supplies of 46 such aircraft to Egypt, will allow RAC MiG to load its capacities for several years ahead, says a source from Kommersant in the aviation industry: "Against the backdrop of the plans of the Russian military to purchase the MiG-35 ( in 2018-2023 in the army should be delivered 6 machines . - "Kommersant" ) this order will be a good help for the corporation. "

Note that, in addition to the "Migov" products, Algeria also looks at other aviation equipment: in particular, to the Su-32 bomber and the Su-35 multipurpose heavy fighter. In February 2016, the Su-35S, assigned to the 159th Guards Fighter Regiment of the 105th Mixed Air Division of the 6th Air Force and Air Defense Army of the Western Military District, flew to the Tamanrasset Algerian testing range for demonstration flights. Before the contract, however, it never came.

Ivan Safronov

Source: kommersant.ru

MiG-35/35D Fulcrum-F: Details

MiG-29M/M2 (iz.9.41S/9.47S)
 

Crew:    one pilot (or pilot / pupil and pilot / instructor, for the MiG-29M2)

Drive:        two Klimov RD-33MK twin-turbocharged motors with a maximum draft of 5,400 kp / 9,000 kp with auxiliary combustion off / on

Radar:         Multi-purpose impulse Doppler radar with flat slit antenna with FGM-129 (N010ME) electronic scanning Žuk-ME with field of view ± 85 ° in the horizontal plane and + 56 ° to -40 ° in the vertical plane installed inside the fuselage. This type of radar is used to search and track airborne, terrestrial and surface targets. Additionally, radar images of terrain with a resolution of 5 x 5 m can be used to help. The radar type Žuk-ME has a "look down" mode and is able to observe 10 air targets (and 4 of them to navigate the airplane) or 2 ground / objectives. Air targets with RCS 5 m 2this type of radar can be detected at a distance of 110 to 120 km. Its tracking range is 50 km. While a group of combat vehicles is a Juk-ME radar, it is able to detect a distance of 25 km, a massive bridge over a distance of 120 km, a surface craft of a size of 300 kilometer.

dimitrijeostojic.com

Equipment:    passive electro-optical sensor type OLS-UE. The sensor includes an IR locator and laser rangefinder with a TV viewfinder and serves for passive tracking of aerial targets. Its installation is located inside the dome cover, which is located directly in front of the cockpit, to the right of the hull axis.

Armament:      One 30 mm GŠ-30-1 cannon with 150 rounds of inbuilt left-hand swirl and 6,500 kg undercarriage, transported on eight wings and one body hull - Middle Range PLR ​​with active RL guidance R-77E ( AA-12 Adder ) (max. 6 pcs.), Short Range RCD with passive IR R-73E ( AA-11 Archer ) / TD ( AS-14 Kedge ) (max. 4 pcs) antiship RS active RL guided type Kh-31A ( AS-17 Krypton ) (max. 4 pieces) and Ch-35E ( AS-20 Kayak ) (max. 4 pcs), anti-radar control system with passive RL guidance type Ch-31P ( AS-17 Krypton) (up to 4 pieces), 500 kg bombs with passive TV type KAB-500Kr (up to 4 pieces), rocket blocks type B-8M1 (20 unmanned S-8 rockets 80 mm caliber) , 240 mm unmanned rockets type S-24B (max. 6 pieces), 250 kg uncontrolled bombs type FAB-250, 500 kg uncontrolled bomb type FAB-500 (max 11 pcs), submunitions KMG-U type, 2 150 l PTB type PTB-2150 (max. 1 pcs), 1 150 liters PTB type PTB-1150 (max. 4 pcs.) And PAZ-1MK refueling unit (max.) Source: ruslet.webnode.cz

dimitrijeostojic.com

Source: migavia.ru

Thursday 30 August 2018

U.S. Air Force poised to award a contract for its 350-plane next-generation trainer fleet

T-38 Talon - Aviation Photography Digest


When you should expect the Air Force to announce its next trainer aircraft


By: Aaron Mehta

WASHINGTON – With the U.S. Air Force having received final bids from industry, the service is now poised to award a contract for its 350-plane next-generation trainer fleet in just a few weeks.

An Air Force official, speaking on background, said the service expects to award the contract by the end of the fiscal year — in other words, before Sept. 30. Many have speculated that the days before the Air Force Association’s annual conference, being held Sept. 17-19 outside of Washington, would be a potential time for an announcement to come.

However, a source with knowledge of the situation said the current plan is to make the announcement after AFA concludes, likely the week of Sept. 24. If true, it could create an awkward environment at the event, where senior leaders will have to duck commenting on the soon-to-come T-X winner.

Three industry teams have submitted bids for the T-X competition, with an estimated price tag of $16 billion over the life of the program. Boeing and Swedish aerospace firm Saab have developed a new, clean-sheet design; Lockheed Martin and Korea Aerospace Industries are offering the T-50A, a take on KAI’s T-50 jet trainer; and Leonardo DRS is offering the T-100, a modified version of the Italian aerospace company’s M-346.

The contract represents more than just 350 jets, although that alone would make it one of the biggest U.S. Air Force programs in years. Whichever contractor captures the USAF market may have the inside track on a number of future trainer competitions around the globe, particularly among countries looking to buy the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. In addition, if the U.S. Air Force decides to purchase aggressor aircraft for live-flying training, something that has been discussed on and off in recent years, simply buying more T-X trainers would be a logical solution.

The contact has been a long time coming, and the contest has been filled with twists and turns.

The service has for years sought to replace its aged T-38 jet, which ended production in the early 1970s and has served as the primary training plane for fighter pilots for decades. However, other priorities and sequestration-related budget caps saw the T-X campaign pushed to the right; while companies began announcing their entries for the competition as early as 2010, it wasn’t until 2015 that the service revealed its actual criteria.

At this point last year, the Air Force was still pledging to announce a winner by the end of calendar 2017. That projected award was pushed to March, and then to the end of the fiscal year.

The expected winners have shifted over time as well. Around 2013, the conventional wisdom was that either Leonardo or the BAE Hawk, teamed with Northrop Grumman, would be the winner, as the service was looking for an off-the-shelf solution that has already been proven in service elsewhere. Boeing’s idea of a clean-sheet design was seen as a longshot, due to the associated costs and timeline.

However, that view shifted to the point that in 2015, Northrop and BAE scrapped plans to offer the Hawk and instead developed a new clean-sheet design of their own; the companies ultimately dropped out of the competition entirely in February of 2017. Meanwhile, the T-100 team struggled, with original partner General Dynamics dropping off the project in March 2015. GD was replaced by Raytheon in February 2016, but quit less than a year later.

Other competitors, including Textron AirLand’s Scorpion jet and a team-up between Turkish Aerospace Industries and Sierra Nevada, have come and gone, leaving only the three remaining competitors. Of those, industry analysts largely agree the winner will be either the Lockheed/KAI team or the Boeing offering.

Source: defensenews.com

Boeing T-X Trainer: Details
KAI T-50 and FA-50: Details
M-346 Master Advanced Fighter Trainer: Details

Washington's F-35 bluff against Ankara

Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35 - Frank Crebas


Melih Altınok

Disturbed by Ankara's determination to follow as independent agenda in the global system, the Trump administration continues to exacerbate the Turkish-U.S. crisis

Russia recently announced that the S-400 air defense missile system will be delivered to Turkey in 2019. Turkey has been planning to purchase the system from Russia for a while. The two countries will also cooperate in technology development for the S-400 systems. These developments have apparently disturbed the U.S., a NATO member and Turkey's ally for more than half a century. In fact, the Pentagon released a series of opposing statements concerning the topic recently.

U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis issued a press statement along with U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Joseph Dunford. Expressing their concerns over Turkey's planned purchase of the S-400 system from Russia, Mattis said: "Turkey had a choice to make, a sovereign decision to make. But clearly Turkey bringing a Russian anti-aircraft, anti-missile system into a NATO country, we cannot integrate that into NATO." Despite the fact that a Turkish pilot was conducting a test flight with an F-35 jet when Mattis issued the statement, it is clear the U.S. will try to use the new generation jets to manipulate the S-400 crisis.

Nevertheless, Turkey has other sources for new generation fighter jets just like it does for air defense systems. Viktor Kladov, one of the directors of Russian state-owned defense industry firm Rostec, provides an enlightening insight regarding the military and technical cooperation between Turkey and Russia. He stated that Turkey and Russia have the technological and industrial capability to jointly produce a fifth-generation fighter jet.

If Washington does not want to lose a key strategic partner that has effectively guarded the southern borders of NATO for years, they need to come to their senses and understand that they will get nowhere with threats. As the latest surveys indicate, an overwhelming majority of the Turkish electorate, including the dissident groups, support President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's policy of diversifying the Turkish defense industry and think that the Turkish government is right in the recent diplomatic rift with the U.S. Every sane person in Turkey realizes that Ankara cannot trust Washington to supply Turkey's defense needs as the U.S. openly provides weaponry to the PKK's Syrian offshoot, the People's Protection Units (YPG). The double standards of the U.S. are there for everyone to see. To illustrate, while the country is skeptical about Turkey, an indispensable participant of the modern world thanks to its strong judicial system and economy, it unquestioningly provides F-35 jets to an outdated regime like Saudi Arabia. Everyone also knows why Washington remains silent to Riyadh's S-400 orders from Russia while threatening Ankara for the same situation. Therefore, Turks have put their trust in Turkish authorities to ensure the national security of Turkey.This has left everyone wondering when Washington and its "partners" will realize the global impact of their game and how long it will take them to recover their losses. One can only hope they realize it before it is too late for Turkey-U.S. relations.

Source: dailysabah.com

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United States not ruling out sanctions on India if New Delhi goes ahead with planned purchase of S-400

TASS


Washington Warns of Sanctioning India Over Russian Missile System


The world’s two largest democracies have a burgeoning defense relationship. Moscow could play spoiler.

BY LARA SELIGMAN | AUGUST 29, 2018, 5:14 PM


The United States is refusing to rule out sanctions on India—a stated ally—if New Delhi goes through with a planned purchase of Russia’s new S-400 missile system this year, a top U.S. Defense Department official warned ahead of historic talks between the two countries next week.

The S-400 “is a system that’s particularly troubling for a lot of reasons, and I think our strong preference … is to seek alternatives,” said Randall Schriver, the U.S. assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs, during an Aug. 29 event in Washington. “If they choose to go down that route, like I said, I can’t sit here and tell you today that the waiver will necessarily be used.” The waiver Schriver referred to is a congressional loophole designed to insulate allies from ongoing U.S. sanctions against Russia.

Defying the Pentagon’s demands so far, New Delhi is reportedly poised to approve the purchase of the S-400 anti-aircraft system this year, with deliveries planned to start in 2020. India’s purchase of the S-400 is especially concerning to U.S. officials because the system is designed to track and destroy aircraft, even stealth aircraft, at unprecedented ranges. It also has the ability to glean information about the capabilities of aircraft in its vicinity, which could include the U.S.-built F-35 fighter jet.

The United States is facing a similar dilemma over Turkey’s planned purchase of the S-400 and has retaliated by blocking the transfer of F-35s to Ankara. As a member of NATO, Turkey’s use of the S-400 poses problems because integrating it with the alliance’s air defenses would give the Russian-built system critical data about NATO’s operating tactics and procedures. Washington has not yet imposed sanctions on Ankara.

Punishing India over its purchase of the S-400 would be a significant break with precedent. New Delhi has in the past skirted around some of Washington’s foreign-policy priorities—notably around its sanctions on Iran—and escaped punitive measures. Meanwhile, India has grown military ties with the United States in recent years and continued to participate in a long-running annual naval exercise between the two countries and Japan.

Until recently, it looked like India’s purchase of the S-400, too, would escape penalty. U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis fought hard this year for flexibility from sanctions on Russia; while the measures targeted Moscow for its meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, they could indirectly impact U.S. allies such as India. Mattis ultimately won the right to seek national security waivers for countries that have historically had a relationship with Russia but now want to buy U.S. weapons.

Since the days of the Soviet Union, Moscow has provided a significant chunk of New Delhi’s arms imports while Washington supplied very little, but the United States has worked hard over the past few years to narrow that gap.

Mattis’s strong push on Capitol Hill for the waiver authority, often citing India as a flagship example of a U.S. ally that would be hurt by the sanctions, created the impression that Washington would “insulate India from any fallout from the legislation, no matter what they do,” Schriver said. Indeed, several recent reports indicated that India’s S-400 purchase would escape the sanctions threat.

But “that’s a bit misleading,” Schriver clarified. “We would still have very significant concerns if India pursued major new platforms and systems.”

India’s proposed purchase of the S-400 will likely be part of talks in New Delhi next week at the inaugural 2+2 dialogue, when Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to India to meet their direct counterparts.

The final determination about whether to seek a waiver for India’s S-400 purchase would be made at the highest level of the U.S. government, Schriver said. The administration needs to weigh its concerns about the impact of India acquiring such a system against its desire to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries, he noted.

The United States is willing to discuss the possibility of selling India an alternative U.S. missile defense system to meet India’s defense requirements, Schriver said.

“When you invest in a system, you are investing in a relationship as well. Russia is not going to be a good partner to India or anybody else given the nature of that regime,” he said.


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Wednesday 29 August 2018

Legion Pod To Give the Eagle New Eyes

The Legion Pod is seen under an F-15C during the sensor system's first Eagle flight in September 2016. (photo: Lockheed Martin)


by David Donald

Boeing has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Air Force to perform work associated with the installation of the Legion Pod infrared search and track (IRST) system on the Boeing F-15C Eagle. The contract runs through November 30, 2020, and could potentially be worth more than $208 million. Under the deal, the Air Force has committed to a spend of $154.6 million for Boeing to conduct engineering, manufacturing, and development work, plus production, integration, test, and deployment. A total of around 130 pods is planned to equip the fleet.

Developed by Lockheed Martin, the Legion Pod houses the ASG-34 IRST21 sensor that is also part of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet modernization program. While the Super Hornet application has the sensor installed in a converted fuel tank, the F-15C Legion Pod is a dedicated store that also has the ability to house other sensors.

As prime contractor, source selection authority, and aircraft integrator for the F-15, Boeing selected the Legion Pod for the Eagle over Northrop Grumman's OpenPod proposal in September 2017. It has a common interface that permits it to be carried by a variety of types and a pod-to-pod datalink. Having begun trials in June 2015 under the starboard intake hardpoint of an F-16, the pod first flew under an F-15C in September 2016 at Jacksonville ANGB, Florida.....continue reading: HERE

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Boeing to award F-15C Legion Pod contract before end of year

Lockheed Legion Pod: Details
Talon HATE pods for F-15C/D: Details

Taiwan's F-16V give Taipei more power in the skies against China’s J-20

USAF F-16 - British Rally Media YouTube


F-16V to beef up Taiwan’s air defense against China’s J-20


Taiwan's F-16s will be upgraded to the V configuration in batches in Taichung and Texas to give Taipei more power in the skies

Taiwan’s Air Force now expects to take delivery of its first batch of four revamped F-16s by the end of the year. These planes are built around the latest F-16V standard of the all-weather, multi-role supersonic fighter series made by Lockheed Martin.

Taiwan shelled out about NT$129.6 billion (US$4.21 billion) in January 2017 on the Phoenix Rising Project to get the Maryland-based defense juggernaut upgrade for its fleet of 143 F-16A/Bs to the latest V configuration, which are dubbed V for “Viper.”

The Diplomat reported earlier this year that delays in software testing in the US had reduced the number of the initial upgrades from 10 to four. The first F-16 fighter jet in its V configuration from Taiwan’s Army took flight in Fort Worth, Texas, in 2015.

The island’s defense ministry wants the first F-16V squadron to be combat-ready by no later than 2019 to form a bulwark against the armada of Chinese bombers and spy planes that pierces the island’s airspace almost on a daily basis.

The island’s remaining F-16s are to be upgraded in separate batches of 20 to 24 per year in the central city of Taichung, in joint collaboration with Taiwan’s state-owned Aerospace Industrial Development Corp, Lockheed Martin’s local partner on the island.

Some of the aircraft will also be flown to Texas for retrofitting.

With a set of standards and specifications that can be retrofitted to suit and upgrade most in-service F-16s, the F-16V configuration features advanced avionics including an active electronically scanned array fire-control radar, new modular mission computer, electronic warfare suite, automated ground collision avoidance system as well as at least twice the situational awareness capability of the F-16A/B.

The upgraded fighters will also have a helmet-mounted cue system linked to the AIM-9X Sidewinder heat-seeking missiles, giving pilots the ability to “see and shoot,” according to available specification of the latest variant.

The new radar will enable Taiwan’s F-16s to detect and engage stealth aircraft including the Chinese Air Force’s J-20 fighters, according to the island’s former defense minister Feng Shih-kuan.

Other advanced weapons the F-16V is rated to carry and are likely to be included in future US arms sales are the AGM-154C joint standoff weapon – or glide bomb – and the AGM-88B high-speed anti-radiation missile.

IHS Jane’s has also noted that based on a 75% operational rate as well as maintenance and/or other life cycle support, Taiwan’s Air Force would have 79 F-16A/Bs operational at any given time for the duration of the upgrade.

Taiwan initially wanted to procure 66 new F-16s, but Barack Obama decided against it in 2011 and offered instead an upgrade to avoid a major rift with China. The Trump administration could revisit this decision.

Source: atimes.com

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28th Type 054A Frigate Xianning/咸宁 (hull number 500) commissioned on 28 Aug

Test Fire S&T K11 DAW (Dual-barrel Air-burst Weapon) - Video

유용원의 군사세계


유용원의 군사세계
Published on Aug 21, 2018
공중폭발탄 발사기와 소총을 일체화 시킨 K11 복합형소총 실사격 영상



K-11 assault rifle: Details

Admiral Grigorovich and Admiral Essen to join Russia’s Mediterranean task force

Admiral Grigorovich


Black Sea Fleet missile frigates to join Russia’s Mediterranean task force


Those are the Admiral Grigorovich and the Admiral Essen armed with Kalibr cruise missiles

MOSCOW, August 25. /TASS/. The Black Sea Fleet’s frigates Admiral Grigorovich and Admiral Essen armed with Kalibr cruise missiles will join the Russian Navy’s Mediterranean task force, the Fleet’s press office reported on Saturday.

"The Black Sea Fleet’s frigates Admiral Grigorovich and Admiral Essen are making a planned passage from Sevastopol to the Mediterranean Sea. Currently, the warships’ crews are passing through the Black Sea’s Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits," the press office said.

The warships will "augment the Navy’s task force in the Mediterranean Sea," the press office added.

"According to the plan, the warships will join the Navy’s permanent blue-water task force already by the end of the day," the Black Sea Fleet’s press office said.

During their voyage, the warships held several drills at the Fleet’s combat training ranges in the Black Sea. In particular, the crews of Kamov Ka-27PL helicopters practiced take-offs and landings on the warships’ decks and held training to search for and track a submarine.

The Grigorovich and the Essen are armed with Kalibr-NK missile systems. Earlier, the warships delivered several strikes with Kalibr cruise missiles against terrorists’ positions as part of Russia’s counter-terror operation in Syria.

Source: tass.com

Admiral Grigorovich fires a Kalibr cruise missile in the Black Sea in live-fire drill

Вести Севастополь
Published on Aug 16, 2018
Выстрел комплексом «Калибр» с фрегата «Адмирал Григорович» в Черном море



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Tuesday 28 August 2018

Russia offers to upgrade Indian Air Force's (IAF) Su-30MKI with the improvement programme of the Russian Air Force's Su-30SM

Su-30MKI - w-dog.net


Russia Offers India To Upgrade IAF's Su-30MKI; The Move Will Enhance Capabilities Of The Fighter Jet


Moscow, August 24: In the latest development, Russia has offered India to upgrade the Indian Air Force's (IAF) Su-30MKI fighter jets along with the improvement programme of the Russian Air Force's Su-30SM aircraft. This move would enhance features of the Su-30MKl. A.A. Mikheev, General Director of Russian Arms exporter, Rosoboronexport while interacting with media on Friday in Moscow said, “Such a move would lead to cost-effectiveness and would bring in some technologies and systems which have been planned for the Su-30SM aircraft.”

A total of 240 SU-30MKI are serving in the Indian Air Force (IAF) since October 2017. These jets are approaching its mid-life service period.  Mikheev said that carrying out the upgrade programme together with the overhaul would save time and money. Among the additions and improvements proposed to the Indian Ministry of Defence as part of the Su-30MKI upgrade are a new radar, avionics and communication systems besides some enhancements to its engine.

Russia has a contract with India to supply 272 Su-30MKI fighter jets to India. Around three-fourths of these jets have been assembled by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The Su-30MKI is currently the front-line fighter jet of the IAF, while 36 French fighter jets, Rafale will be inducted into the IAF in the 2019-20 timeframe.

The IAF issued the Request for Information (RFI) for the multi-billion dollar deal to procure 110 fighter jets. India has received a response to the RFI from six global aircraft manufactures. The entire deal will be of worth Rs $15 billion. Six companies which showed interest to provide fighter aircraft are Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Fighting Falcon, Dassault Aviation’s Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Saab’s Gripen and Russian United Aircraft Corporation’s MiG-35.

Source: latestly.com

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