USMC KC-130J refuels USAF F-16 on the ground

 

Indian Navy - Republic Day 2021

 

RAFAEL's SPIKE LR missile successful firing from Slovenian Oshkosh JLTV

 

Leonardo Wins $600M to Provide U.S. Army’s IM-SHORAD Stryker

 

Leonardo DRS, Inc. announced today it has received an initial contract award for 28 Initial Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense (IM-SHORAD) Mission Equipment Packages (MEP) from General Dynamics Land Systems (GD) in support of the U.S. Army's recent IM-SHORAD production award.

Leonardo DRS will begin delivering the MEPs to General Dynamics for final integration onto purpose-built Strykers next year.The award, received on December 2nd 2020, is the first of a five-year contract valued at more than $600 million.The centerpiece of the MEP is Moog's Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform (RIwP) turret with multiple kinetic effectors including the XM914 30mm cannon and M240 7.62mm machine gun, along with Stinger and Longbow HELLFIRE missiles. The MEP also includes an on-board Multi-Mission Hemispheric Radar (MHR) to provide persistent 360 degrees of aerial surveillance, identification friend or foe and other mission essential technologies.

This production contract award marks the successful completion of an aggressive prototype program that delivered nine prototypes and completed government testing in just two years. 

Indian Air Force Rafale fighter aircraft - Google Earth

https://twitter.com/detresfa_/status/1352291411467636743

 

Insitu Conducts Training for RAN ScanEagle UAS Crews

 

Brisbane, Australia –  The first Royal Australian Navy (RAN) personnel to undertake training through Insitu Pacific’s new remote training and simulation capabilities have successfully gained their ScanEagle Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) pilot and maintainer qualifications.The remote training delivers elements of the ScanEagle UAS course virtually, and complements conventional onsite instruction at Insitu Pacific’s training and simulation facility in Brisbane, as well as at the home of Navy’s 822X Squadron at HMAS Albatross in Nowra, New South Wales.

Andrew Duggan, Managing Director Insitu Pacific, said that remote simulation and training had been in the advanced planning stage, but that the impacts of COVID-19 meant the project was prioritised to ensure effective, rapid fielding of training across a number of courses.“The completion of our first remote course elements for RAN achieved great results, with all students successfully passing the course, and remote instruction remaining at the same high quality as onsite course delivery,” Duggan said. “Our virtual training design builds on 10 years of expertise in providing quality Australian-based training to the RAN and the Australian Army, and offers flexibility for Navy in the future to conduct standard training courses at bases around Australia or overseas.”Remote classroom theory lessons, flight simulation training and virtual equipment demonstrations have all been made possible through the use of multimedia technology. Remote training will also open new opportunities to conduct shorter, cost effective training and simulation based activities, including re-certification and scenario-specific courses in virtual environments prior to operational deployments, or even during deployments as required.

“The combination of virtual and onsite training has delivered an effective outcome for the RAN,” CMDR Philip Woodward CO 822X Squadron said.  “It not only addressed the challenges posed by COVID-19, but also reduced the time away from home for some trainees and some of the instructors. There is significant potential to deliver flexible and cost effective training.”“Our comprehensive training approach delivers the theory, flight simulation and practical experience that our advanced UAS require.” Duggan said. “We’re embracing remote training methods in virtual classrooms to provide flexible options for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to reduce costs and the need for ADF members to be away from their home locations for lengthy periods.”

All Insitu Pacific training is delivered by highly qualified instructors, many of whom are ADF veterans with operational experience abroad. The new remote learning course builds on a decade of training with over 600 defence customers, including from Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, gaining qualifications on Insitu Pacific UAS in land and maritime environments.

28 Chinese military aircraft violated Taiwan's air defense identification zone ADIZ over the weekend

 13 ADIZ violations 23 Jan, 15 on 24 Jan are seen as a "stress test" for the new Biden administration 

Taiwanese military analysts said Sunday (Jan. 24) the weekend’s record number of Chinese military planes flying into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) symbolize Beijing’s commitment to the “one China” principle and also serve as a test for the Joe Biden administration.According to the Ministry of National Defense, 15 Chinese military planes intruded into Taiwan’s ADIZ on Sunday. Also, 13 Chinese aircraft entered the identification zone on Saturday.

Lin Ying-yu (林穎佑), an assistant professor at the Institute of Strategic and International Affairs at National Chung Cheng University, said the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) maneuvers were in a similar vein to Taiwan’s Lunar New Year combat readiness exercises, but were primarily targeted at the U.S. Lin noted there were three major reasons behind the ADIZ incursions: diplomatic, military, and “transfer of internal pressure," CNA reported.In terms of diplomacy, Lin pointed out that Beijing wanted to convey to Washington that no matter which party is in the White House, Democrat or Republican, China’s policy toward Taiwan will never change.Militarily, the exercises were in response to the USS Theodore Roosevelt strike group conducting operations in the South China Sea on Saturday. Lin speculated the strike group’s training may have included submarines, thereby explaining why Chinese H-6K bombers were seen armed with anti-ship missiles.Regarding internal pressure, Lin said that Beijing hoped to divert attention from a recent spate of COVID-19 outbreaks across China. By conducting military operations, it would demonstrate to its citizens the PLAAF has not suffered from the epidemic and is still able to fight. Lieutenant General Chang Yen-ting (張延廷), a retired Air Force deputy commander, stated the PLAAF’s incursions into Taiwan's ADIZ on Saturday and Sunday are akin to “hitting three birds with one stone.”

Chang observed that in contrast to former President Donald Trump’s unpredictable style, Biden’s approach to regional diplomacy seems easier to grasp. Therefore, China dispatched its military planes as a "stress test" to see how Biden would react.Chang also pointed out that although the H-6K bomber is a slow aircraft, it is a variant designed for offensive missions with a maximum range of up to 5,000 kilometers. The presence of such a plane proves the PLAAF has transformed from a defensive air force to an offensive one, he stated.The retired commander said that China’s ADIZ operations were “obviously targeted towards the U.S.” and were meant to “militarily intimidate Taiwan.”Chang suggested that Taiwan must avoid any incidents that could spark an all-out war. He then said that Taiwan’s fighter planes responding to ADIZ intrusions must undergo comprehensive safety and maintenance inspections to prevent any accidents.

Russia to Supply Air Defense Systems Pantsir-S1 to Myanmar

 Russia will supply to Myanmar a batch of missile and artillery air defense systems Pantsir-S1, unmanned aerial vehicles Orlan-10E and radars.

The agreement was signed at a ceremony attended by Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, who is in Myanmar on an official visit, and the Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar’s armed forces, Min Aung Hlaing. Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin inked the agreement for Russia.

Since 2001 a legal and regulatory base has been created for effective and mutually beneficial military-technical cooperation, which makes steady progress. Russia has supplied to Myanmar 30 planes MiG-29, twelve combat training jets Yakolev-130, ten helicopters Mi-24 and Mi-35P, eight air defense missile systems Pechora-2M and also radars, armored vehicles and artillery pieces. A contract has been concluded for providing six Sukhoi-30SME planes. Some have been delivered already.Military hardware undergoes repairs and maintenance at Myanmar’s joint special center for all types of equipment, both aircraft and armored vehicles.

Bilateral cooperation saw intensive development over the past five years. Myanmar’s delegations regularly participate in the international army games and combat training activities. Last year Myanmar’s contingent took part in the Kavkaz-2020 exercise. Also, in 2018 an inter-governmental agreement was concluded on simpler procedures for Russian naval ships visiting Myanmar’s ports.The command of Myanmar’s armed forces has shown interest in other advanced weapon systems of Russian manufacture.