Taiwanese and Japanese warships team up in the East China Sea to shadow Chinese Type 054A frigate BINZHOU 515

https://twitter.com/CavasShips/status/1389095551841587202

 

Exercise Coral Soldier between Fijian and Australian Army

 Exercise Coral Soldier provided an opportunity for Fijian and Australian soldiers to share their knowledge by working together.With enemy role-players scattered throughout the bush and urban environments in the Greenbank Training Area in Brisbane, soldiers from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) and the 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (8/9RAR), teamed up to win the simulated fight.

Exercise Coral Soldier was held from March 15 to April 16, with the final full-mission stage held from April 11-13.RFMF Sergeant Loresio Sovea said the exercise allowed him to learn from 8/9RAR and pass on some of his own knowledge, too.“For me, [the exercise] is about enhancing regional relationships with our Anzac partners,” Sergeant Sovea said.

“We’ve been exchanging a few tips on building clearances, tackling obstacles, and of course those little jungle tips that we carry with us that our forefathers are well known for, especially during the Malayan campaign, Solomon Islands and East Timor.“We’ve developed those throughout the years and it’s a great opportunity to share some of those tips with our Australian mates. “I’ve worked with Australians before and it’s always a huge learning curve for us.”Sergeant Sovea said the exercise improved the bonds between the Australian and Fijian forces involved, and he looked forward to training with the ADF again.

Lieutenant Max Silvy, from 8/9RAR, echoed Sergeant Sovea’s sentiments about the combined training, saying he learned a lot from his experience working with the RFMF in the field.  

India, Australia cleared to buy $4.3B in US military gear

 The Biden administration this week approved a trio of potential foreign military sales cases for Australia and India, items worth a potential $4.36 billion for American companies.

On Thursday, Australia was cleared to purchase a package of Heavy Armored Combat Systems, with an estimated price tag of $1.685 billion, and four CH-47F Chinook cargo helicopters, with an estimated price tag of $259 million. On Friday, India was cleared to purchase six P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft, worth an estimated $2.42 billion.FMS notification figures represent potential arms sales that the State Department internally cleared, then passed to Congress through the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The notifications do not represent final sales; if Congress does not reject the potential sale, it then goes into negotiations, during which dollar figures and quantities of equipment can change.

The potential sales go to two key allies for the U.S. as it is increasingly focused on the Pacific. Both nations are part of the “Quad,” a group of like-minded partners that also includes the U.S. and Japan.The Indian package would include the six P-8I aircraft, as well as radio systems, engines, navigational systems, and contractor support. Boeing is the primary contractor, with work performed at its Seattle facility. The proposed sale “will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to strengthen the U.S.-Indian strategic relationship and to improve the security of a major defensive partner, which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia region,” according to the DSCA notification.India procured eight P-8I aircraft in Jan. 2009 via a direct commercial sale, and went under contract for another four in July 2016. The Indian Navy has operated the planes since 2013.

The Australian Heavy Armored Combat Systems package involves taking 160 M1A1 Tank structures and hulls provided from U.S. stock, and then using those to produce a variety of vehicles and equipment, including: 75 M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams Main Battle Tanks; 29 M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicles; 18 M1074 Joint Assault Bridges; six M88A2 Hercules Combat Recovery Vehicles; and 122 AGT1500 gas turbine engines.

France Successfully Tests an M51 Ballistic Missile

France successfully test-fired the M51.2 strategic ballistic missile on April 28 from its Biscarosse test site. (Courtesy of the French Armed Forces Ministry)

USS Gerald R. Ford Flight Operations with Carrier Air Wing 8

Russia - Victory Air parade rehearsal in Kaliningrad

A-10 Thunderbolt II Cockpit Vid • Cocoa Beach Airshow 2021

GAU-21 & M134 Close Air Support Helo Side Door Armaments