August 17, 2016 Military Aviation News
08/17/2016
Judging by fresh reports, China won’t be folding to stern threats over the South China Sea any time soon. In a bold move that would be sure to raise tensions, the emerging superpower may be ramping up its attempt to reclaim the Scarborough Shoal, a key disputed territory in the area. On the weekend, the South China Morning Post reported that the country could begin reclamation work in the shoal as early as next month.
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08/17/2016
The Afghan air force is limited not only by its size. Despite numbering only 130 aircraft, there are not enough pilots and crews to fly them all. The shortage is hampering Afghan security forces' ability to fight Taliban terrorists, who are once again gaining territory in the north and south of the country. Troops on the ground are crying out for more air support, which ranges from firing on the enemy to evacuating casualties from the battlefield.
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08/17/2016
Navy pilots say piloting the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter on to the flight deck of U.S. aircraft carrier is almost like flying a plane that flies itself. The software aboard the new fighter could enable the military to train pilots faster and, in the event of a major conflict, possibly fly more sorties against the enemy.
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08/17/2016
The slick presentation from the Russian Ministry of Defence was recently released to mark Air Force Day. In it Russia’s most advanced combat aircraft can be seen being put through their paces. There’s the Mig-29KUB naval fighter, which we’re likely to see a lot more of in coming months if Russia’s only aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, is deployed to Syria next month as announced.
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08/17/2016
Russia launched a fleet of bombers bound for Syria on Tuesday from an Iranian air base, becoming the first foreign military to operate from Iran’s soil since at least World War II. Russian use of the base, with Iran’s obvious support, appeared to set back or at least further complicate Russia’s troubled relations with the United States, which has been working with Russia over how to end the Syria conflict.
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08/17/2016
MBDA has been awarded a £184 million ($238 million) contract for the provision of advanced short range air-to-air missiles (ASRAAMs) for the UK’s Lockheed Martin F-35B Joint Strike Fighter.
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08/17/2016
Two General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9 Reaper unmanned air vehicles have demonstrated the system’s ability to track missiles, during ballistic defence testing in Hawaii.
The test was carried out in late June, during the Pacific Dragon exercise at the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai: a multilateral ballistic missile defence training event involving the US Navy, the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force and the South Korean navy.
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08/17/2016
Amid ongoing tensions in the East China Sea, Japan’s coast guard has released video showing Chinese vessels entering disputed waters near the Senkaku Islands. Over the weekend, reports surfaced that Tokyo has plans to develop new land-to-sea missiles to be deployed to the southernmost point of Okinawa prefecture. With a range of 186 miles, the projectiles could easily reach the Senkakus.
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08/17/2016
Turkey could provide its Incirlik airbase for the Russian Aerospace Forces jets in the anti-terrorist campaign in Syria, member of Russia’s upper house of parliament Igor Morozov said Tuesday. He clarified that the decision could be taken based on similar agreements made with Syria on the use of the Hmeymim facility and the latest use of the Hamadan airfield in western Iran to carry out airstrikes against terrorist groups in Syria.
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08/17/2016
US forces ensured the safety of Russian bombers en route to Syria from an Iranian airbase as the aircraft traversed areas controlled by the US-led coalition, Operation Inherent Resolve spokesperson Col. Christopher Garver said during a press briefing on Tuesday.
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