German DW - NATO troops evacuate Afghan headquarters Bagram

Italian AF - Oceanic search and rescue training activity

17 Dead After Military Plane Carrying 92 Crashes In Philippines

 At least 17 people were killed and 40 injured when a Philippine military aircraft carrying troops crashed after missing the runway in the country's south, officials said.

Ninety-two people, most of them army personnel, were on board the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft when the accident happened as it tried to land on Jolo island in Sulu province around midday, Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement."So far 40 wounded and injured were rescued and 17 bodies recovered," Lorenzana said.

Photos taken by local media outlet Pondohan TV and posted on their Facebook page showed the wrecked body of the plane engulfed in flames. A plume of thick black smoke rose above houses located near the crash site.Armed Forces Chief General Cirilito Sobejana said the aircraft had been carrying troops from Cagayan de Oro on the southern island of Mindanao when it "missed the runway" as it tried to land on Jolo.The plane tried to "regain power but didn't make it," he told local media, describing the accident as "very unfortunate".

"Responders are at the site now, we are praying we can save more lives," Sobejana told AFP.Sobejana said the 40 rescued were being treated at the nearby 11th Infantry Division hospital.

HISTORY - Intense Footage of the Pacific War in Color | Smithsonian Channel

First spacewalk on the China Space Station

Britain to help Japan develop engine for F-X fighter

https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASP726S4CP71UTFK008.html

 Asahi reports that Japan has decided that it will develop the engine for the F-X fighter with help from Britain.Britain’s Rolls-Royce will partner with Japan’s IHI Corporation. Both will also offer the engine for the export market.Anonymous Japanese officials told the news outlet that Japanese Prime Minister Suga spoke on the issue with British Prime Minister Johnson during the G7 summit last month.At the end of June, officials from Japan’s Defense Ministry traveled to Britain for talks on the issue.Britain’s Rolls Royce is currently involved in the Tempest program as well.

Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Boosts Smart Airbase Initiative with Hope Technik's CLAW Munitions Loader

 

The indigenously developed Compact Loader for Aircraft Weapons is designed to manoeuvre easily in confined spaces using its Mecanum wheels, which enable it to perform omnidirectional movement . A prototype system is seen here (photo : Jane's)The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is trialling a new combat aircraft munitions loader that it believes will increase the precision and efficiency of ground crew during munitions loading for timely air power generation, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) announced on 30 June.

According to MINDEF, the enhanced munitions loader incorporates a range of technology enablers such as data analytics and robotics developed by the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) in partnership with the RSAF, enabling the loader to be operated by only one personnel compared to the typical three-person loading team required for the service’s existing systems, translating into potential manpower savings of up to 66%.The RSAF operates several types of munitions loaders including the MJ-1 ‘Jammer' hydraulic stores lifter, which has seen widespread use by international air forces since the 1950s.The MINDEF said that the enhanced munitions loader is undergoing trials and is expected to be deployed for operations by the end of the year, although it did not disclose the number of systems acquired or detailed specifications.

However, Janes can confirm that the enhanced munitions loader was originally developed by HOPE Technik, a local technology developer specialising in bespoke research and manufacturing for the commercial, defence, and government sectors.The company first unveiled a prototype, which it calls the Compact Loader for Aircraft Weapons (CLAW), at the 2020 edition of the Singapore Airshow exhibition.

Malaysia to Set Up HQ Naval Region 4

 MALAYSIA has affirmed its status as a "maritime nation" in the 2019 Defence White Paper (DWP). Keeping this in mind, there is a convincing need for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) to constantly construct its navy towards becoming a more resilient and forceful fleet.Therefore, there is an urgent need for the government to inaugurate the Headquarters (HQ) Naval Region 4 in Bintulu, Sarawak, also referred to as Markas Wilayah Laut 4 (MAWILLA 4).

At the moment, the Sarawak coast and its Economic Exclusive Zone is overseen by HQ Eastern Fleet in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.With the length of the Sabah and Sarawak coastlines recorded at 1,743km and 1,035km, respectively, the navy is expected to face challenges in allocation of assets and personnel between these two points of contact.A country that has extensive coastlines and access to sea but limited ports, harbour and base will lead to poor accessibility and response time during a crisis, exposing it to external threats.

Currently, RMN has five main naval bases at important maritime flashpoints.HQ Western Fleet in Lumut, Perak, manages Peninsular Malaysia and HQ Eastern Fleet manages East Malaysia.HQ Western Fleet and the HQ Naval Region 3 (MAWILLA 3) in Langkawi, Kedah, watch over the west of the peninsula, which is connected to the Bay of Bengal and Andaman sea, a hotspot for illegal seaborne threats, smuggling and trafficking activities. It also looks out over the Malacca Straits, the busiest international trading route.

HQ Naval Region 1 (MAWILLA 1) is located in Kuantan, Pahang, and shields the east coast of the peninsula, a common area for foreign fishermen encroachments.HQ Eastern Fleet is cardinal to guard Malaysia's maritime interest in the South China Sea (SCS) and the HQ Naval Region 2 (MAWILLA 2) is pivotal for Sandakan to oversee the Sulu Sea. It also keeps an eye on the Celebes Sea in Indonesia.

With the construction of MAWILLA 4, the RMN can beef up its readiness to protect the nation's maritime interest in SCS. Beting Patinggi Ali (BPA) is a point to stress, a frequent area for China's maritime incursions. Its recent air intrusion demonstrates the challenges faced by RMN.At the moment, RMN has a continuous presence in BPA and Spratly Islands. Setting up base will reduce the overstretched logistical support from Sabah to oversee these areas. Moreover, the physical existence of MAWILLA 4 will deny China's effort to persistently seek to the alter status quo there.Although Indonesia adheres to its non-claimant status in SCS, the Badan Keamanan Laut Republik Indonesia, or Bakamla, has beefed up its efforts to prevent Chinese intrusions in the Natuna Islands, close to Sarawak waters. In this sense, MAWILLA 4 can better support the RMN in the area.

MAWILLA 4 can also be a supporting ground for economic activities. Geological provinces of Sarawak, namely West Baram Delta, Balingian, Central Luconia, Tinjar, Tatau, West Luconia, and North Luconia have fish stocks and hydrocarbons.Oil and gas is abundant there. In enhanced oil recovery projects, predominant companies have invested heavily in Sabah and Sarawak, and the profit it can generate is enormous.In 2019, Petronas paid RM2.95 billion in sales tax back to Sarawak, a five per cent profit from a total RM59 billion income generated from the state's oil production.

Hence, the RMN plays a significant role in ensuring security of the area and providing support for accessibility and continuity of offshore projects. It is worth noting that in many cities and towns, military bases serve as a driver for the local economy.For these reasons, the MAWILLA 4 project must begin promptly. This base will affirm our claims in SCS, provide security assurance to the local maritime community and impact the socioeconomy of Bintulu positively in the long run.