Military

Successful Airbus A330 MRTT flight test campaign for F-15 fighters automatic refuelling

By DPA NewsDesk | October 11, 2023

Singapore, 11 October 2023 – Airbus and the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)worked together to successfully complete the automatic air-to-air refuelling (A3R) flight testcampaign with the Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) and F-15 fighter, aheadof its certification in the first half of 2024. Over the course of three weeks in August, a…

Implications of Exodus of Soviet-Era Weaponry Around the World to Ukraine

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | August 16, 2023

Since the beginning of the Ukraine War, all the former Soviet countries had been ejecting their soviet weapons to Ukraine, as military aid – and with the promise of free/discounted replacement with western/american models of similar, but modern type of the same weapons. As the war drags on, European Soviet weapons are exhausted, but an…

The Second Mexican-American War

By Nikolaos Passalis | July 10, 2023

This article is part two of a two-part series. Read the first part here: https://defensepoliticsasia.com/the-second-pacific-war/ As the world looked away, enthralled, with the actions of America abroad, primarily in Afghanistan and Iraq, but not exclusively so and then as it became enthralled, in more recent years, with the various developments that have occurred, ranging from…

ARTICLES

[ The Korea Times ] Hyundai, Daewoo in race to win Korea’s 1st aircraft carrier order

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | October 26, 2021

Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) are in a heated race to win a 2 trillion won ($1.7 billion) order to build Korea’s first aircraft carrier, known as the CVX. The sheer size of the first aircraft carrier project for the two shipbuilders could lead to additional deals for such…

[ Washington Post ] Navy nuclear engineer and his wife charged with trying to share submarine secrets with a foreign country

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | October 12, 2021

A Navy nuclear engineer and his wife have been charged with repeatedly trying to pass secrets about U.S. nuclear submarines to a foreign country, in an alleged espionage plot discovered by the FBI, according to court document The court papers say that in December 2020, an FBI official received a package that had been sent…

Dutch frigate, HNLMS Evertsen’s voyage so far as part of the UK Carrier Strike Group 21 (CSG21); will arrive in Singapore on 10 October 2021

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | October 9, 2021

The Dutch frigate HNLMS Evertsen will arrive in Singapore tomorrow (10 October 2021) in their first deployment of a Royal Dutch Navy vessel to the region under the Indo-Pacific Guidelines, announced by Netherland in late 2020. HNLMS Evertsen is part of the Carrier Strike Group 21 (CSG21) deployment led by the HMS Queen Elizabeth, the…

[ Intelligencer ] U.S. Troops Have Reportedly Been in Taiwan for Over a Year

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | October 9, 2021

According to the Wall Street Journal, a small contingent American troops have been deployed in Taiwan for over a year, involving a special-operations unit of around two dozen and supporting Marines. U.S. officials told the Journal that the troops are working with local maritime forces on training missions involving small boats. DPA Notes: Curious that USA would actually…

[ Forbes ] It’s Official: After A 75-Year Gap, The Japanese Navy Has An Aircraft Carrier

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | October 9, 2021

On Sunday, a pair of U.S. Marine Corps F-35B jump jets from the Japan-based Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 landed on, then launched from, the Japanese carrier JS Izumo. The proof-of-concept comes just months after the 813-foot Izumo, which the Japanese built as a helicopter carrier, completed the first of two rounds of modification—so far costing around…

PLA Navy to build anime-inspired aircraft?

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | September 27, 2021

According to Georgio Zagkas (@GZakas) on twitter, an aircraft concept of China’s People Liberation Army – Navy (PLAN) is revealed at Zhuhai 2021 / Airshow China 2021. In the tweet, it explains that the aircraft is meant to replace the Shenyang J-15, a reverse-engineered Su-33. However, for fans of Japanese anime/manga/games, especially those interested in…

[ The Defenstar ] Argentina to buy inferior and more expensive JF-17 over FA-50 due to UK

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | September 20, 2021

Argentia has decided to buy 12 FC-1 ‘Xiaolong’ a.k.a. JF-17 Block-3 jets from China for 664 million USD (55 million per unit) rejecting other fighters on offer including the South Korean FA-50. India had not offered its Tejas fighter due to geopolitical reasons, however this deal helped to finally reveal the unit price of the…

UK’s Babcock sell Arrowhead 140 (AH140) frigate design to PT PAL Indonesia (Persero) – 2 vessels licensed in the deal

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | September 18, 2021

Indonesia has acquired the rights and license to build 2 x Arrowhead 140 frigates with bespoke design modification for its Navy. The agreement was signed at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) 2021 event in London, on board HMS Argyll, by David Lockwood CEO Babcock and Kaharuddin Djenod, CEO PAL. And was witnessed by…

[ PNA ] PH can’t get F-16 jets for now due to budget woes

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | September 16, 2021

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday said the Philippines is unlikely to acquire Lockheed Martin F-16 jet fighters for its multi-role fighter (MFR) program for now due to budgetary constraints. “For now, it is very unlikely that we will be able to acquire F-16s as our budget for (the MRF project) will only allow us…

[ The Sydney Morning Herald ] Australia, the US and UK to announce landmark new defence pact

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | September 16, 2021

Australia, the United States and Britain will unveil a landmark new security pact to share advanced technologies, including nuclear submarine technology, in a major international announcement on Thursday morning. As part of the pact, to be known as AUKUS, the US would help Australia develop a nuclear submarine capability, which could result in Australia dumping…

[ Business Insider ] First US Navy carrier strike group to deploy with F-35C stealth fighters sails into the South China Sea

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | September 15, 2021

The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group sailed into the South China Sea this week carrying stealth fighters. The Carl Vinson is the first US Navy aircraft carrier to deploy with F-35Cs. Chinese state-affiliated media criticized the carrier’s arrival, calling it a “provocative deployment.” A deployed US Navy aircraft carrier sailed into the South China Sea…

[ TODAY / AFP ] North Korea test-fires new ‘long-range cruise missile’: KCNA

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | September 13, 2021

North Korea test-fired a new “long-range cruise missile” over the weekend, state media reported Monday, calling it a “strategic weapon of great significance” amid a long standoff with the United States over its nuclear programme. The test launches took place on Saturday and Sunday, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The missiles travelled…

Philippines Air Force to decide between the Fighting Eagle (FA-50PH) and the Fighting Falcon (F-16C/D)?

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | September 12, 2021

On June 24 this year (2021), US State Department had approved the sale of 12 x F16 Block 70/72 fighters to the Philippines – 10 x single seat F16C and 2 x two seater F16D…. although collectively, Block 70/72 are also known as F16V “Vipers”. However, the Philippines defense secretary, Delfin Lorenzano told the Philippines…

Kazakhstan joins the Airbus A400M club, becomes the 9th country to operate the aircraft

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | September 9, 2021

According to the press release by Airbus, the Republic of Kazakhstan has placed an order for 2 Airbus A400M, to become the 9th operator of the aircraft, after Germany, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Turkey, Malaysia and Luxembourg. The delivery of the first aircraft is schedule for 2024. The deal includes a complete suit of maintenance…

Ukraine discovered to be exporting aircraft parts to the Tatmadaw

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | September 9, 2021

Ukraine has developed deep links to the Myanmar military, with arms exports and technology transfers continuing, even after the Myanmar military has committed mass murder amounting to atrocity crimes following its illegitimate coup attempt. According to Ukrainian export data, accessed via Import Genius, Motor Sich exported engines and parts to Myanmar twice since the military’s…

Taliban has captured Panjshir, the final resistance in Afghanistan

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | September 7, 2021

Despite multiple conflicting reports from both side’s supporters, it is becoming clearer that Panjshir have effectively fallen to the Taliban. Taliban had taken the Panjshir governor house and raised the Taliban flag symbolically. The Taliban showed video of them capturing a few more of the Aghan National Air Force helicopters that had previously fled to…

[ The Straits Times ]Taiwan scrambles jets after 19 Chinese planes enter air defence zone

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | September 6, 2021

Taiwan’s air force scrambled on Sunday (Sept 5), with its defence ministry reporting that 19 Chinese aircraft, including nuclear-capable bombers, had flown into the nation’s air defence identification zone. The latest Chinese mission involved 10 J-16 and four Su-30 fighters as well as four H-6 bombers, which can carry nuclear weapons, and an anti-submarine plane, Taiwan’s…

[ New York Post ] I ran Team Trump’s Afghan withdrawal — Biden’s attempt to blame us is just sad

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | September 5, 2021

I’m intimately familiar with former President Donald Trump’s Afghanistan strategy. In November 2020, I was named chief of staff at the Pentagon, where one of my primary responsibilities was to wind down the forever war in Afghanistan. Trump instructed me to arrange a conditions-based, methodical exit plan that would preserve the national interest. The plan…

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