Biden administration set to approve F-35 sale to UAE

  U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration has told Congress it is proceeding with more than $23 billion in weapons sales to the United Arab Emirates, including advanced F-35 aircraft, armed drones and other equipment, congressional aides said on Tuesday.A State Department spokesperson said the administration would move forward with the proposed sales to the UAE, “even as we continue reviewing details and consulting with Emirati officials” related to the use of the weapons.

The Democratic president’s administration had paused the deals agreed to by former Republican President Donald Trump in order to review them. The sales to the Gulf nation were finalized right before Trump left office.The Trump administration told Congress in November it had approved the U.S. sale to the UAE as a side deal to the Abraham Accords, a U.S.-brokered agreement in September in which the UAE agreed to normalize relations with Israel.

In the last months of the Trump administration, Israel reached deals with the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco as part of the accords.

Tu-160 practice mid-air refueling for Victory Day parade

RAAF - Dancing with Hornets

RAN Conducted Combat System Exercise in Southern California

 HMAS Sydney conducted a passage exercise with USS John Finn in the waters off the coast of Southern California in early April.Sydney has deployed to San Diego to conduct combat system sea qualifications trials on its Aegis weapons system with the US Navy.

Conducting live fire missile events will provide the data required for Navy senior leadership to assess Sydney for final operational capability, allowing all three of Australia's guided missile destroyers to be operationally deployed.Sydney arrived in Pearl Harbor on March 25 for a logistics port visit to replenish fuel and supplies, and provide her crew with respite ahead of transiting to the Southern California Exercise Area. 

John Finn was deployed as an integral part of a US carrier strike group in the north-east Indian Ocean before joining Sydney.The exercise improved interoperability between the two navies and enhanced the ability to plan, communicate and conduct complex maritime operations efficiently and effectively.

F-35B Vertical Landing Practice • MCAS Yuma

 

UH-1Y Helo Hits Moving Ground Targets With M134 Minigun

 

Thunderbirds 2021 Aerial Demonstration Update

 

North Korea may amass almost 250 nuclear weapons by 2027: report | New York Post