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

[ UKDJ ] UK to help Japan develop engine for F-X fighter

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 8, 2021

Japanese media has reported that Japan has decided that it will develop the engine for the F-X fighter with help from Britain. Rolls-Royce will partner with Japan’s IHI Corporation and both will also offer the engine for the export market. Japan expects production of the first fighter prototype to begin in 2024, with flight tests…

[ National Interest ] South Korea Now Has a Second Mini-Aircraft Carrier

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 6, 2021

The flattop was designed by Hanjin Heavy Industries (HHIC), and can be utilized in amphibious assaults but also in military operations other than war (MOOTW), which can include disaster relief, promoting peace and supporting civil authorities in response to domestic crises. The warship had been launched in May 2018 and began sea trials last year.…

[ Mizzima ] Arms for Chin State intercepted in India’s Mizoram

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 5, 2021

In one of the major arms recoveries in recent times in Mizoram, the Assam Rifles on Tuesday seized a large haul of war-like stores being smuggled to Myanmar and apprehended two individuals, The Hindu reported. “These explosives are believed to be transported from Mizoram to Myanmar for use by the Chin national Army (CNA) against…

[ Asia Times] Israeli Sea Breaker missile touted for US Navy

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 3, 2021

aSources say the long-range, precision-guided missile is far superior to similar US Navy systems Flying at high subsonic speeds and following terrain or skimming the water, Sea Breaker has a multi-directional, synchronized, full-sphere attack capability for day/night all-weather use. Its datalink supports real-time, man-in-the-loop decision-making and features a 250 lb. penetration blast and fragmentation warhead…

[ Insider Asia ] Satellite images show China building what appears to be over 100 new silos for its nuclear missiles, analysts say

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 1, 2021

Satellite images show China building more than 100 new missile silos, analysts told the Washington Post. Altogether China is building at least 145 new missile silos across the country, a researcher said. The Pentagon has said evidence suggests China plans to build an “expanded silo-based force.”

Kashmiri Freedom Fighters conducted drone strikes on India Air Force’s Jammu Air Force Station | Lashkar-e-Taiba commander captured

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 28, 2021

According to a tweet by Aerospace & Open Source Intelligence Board (Pakistan Strategic Forum), Kashmiri Freedom Fighters utilised two drones to drop improvised explosive devices onto the India Air Force’s Jammu Air Force Station (Jammu AFS) at around 1am local time on 27 June 2021 The drones reportedly flew 14.5km from the border to the…

[ CNA ] Philippine military grounds Black Hawk helicopters after crash kills six

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 24, 2021

Philippine defence secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday (Jun 24) ordered the grounding of the military’s fleet of Black Hawk helicopters after a crash during training mission in an province north of the capital Manila killed six people. The S-70i Black Hawk helicopter, one of 16 purchased in 2019 from Poland, crashed on Wednesday evening after…

[ Eurasian Times ] China Admits Its Top Air Force Pilots Defeated By ‘Adversaries’ In Fighter Jet Dogfight

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 21, 2021

A mock combat exercise was held in which AI-enabled opponents outperformed many of the PLA Air Force pilots. According to the GT report, China has been investing heavily in AI and machine learning. This concept is now taking shape in the country’s military training as well. The AI-based aerial combat training simulator was reportedly developed…

[ National Interest ] F-35: How This Stealth Fighter Dominates Every Wargame It ‘Fights’ In

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 21, 2021

“Even in this extremely challenging environment, the F-35 didn’t have many difficulties doing its job,” said Col. Joshua Wood, 388th Operations Group commander. “That’s a testament to the pilot’s training and the capabilities of the jet.” As with the 2017 exercises, F-35 pilots raved about the fighter’s survivability and sensor fusion capabilities. “With stealth, the F-35 can…

[ Politico ] White House freezes Ukraine military package that includes lethal weapons

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 19, 2021

“The Biden White House has temporarily halted a military aid package to Ukraine that would include lethal weapons, a plan originally made in response to aggressive Russian troop movements along Ukraine’s border this spring. The aid package would be worth up to $100 million, according to four people familiar with internal deliberations. The National Security…

[ Politico ] Pentagon considering permanent naval task force to counter China in the Pacific

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 16, 2021

The Pentagon is considering establishing a permanent naval task force in the Pacific region as a counter to China’s growing military might, according to two people familiar with internal discussions. The plan would also involve creating a named military operation for the Pacific that would enable the defense secretary to allocate additional dollars and resources…

[ Yonhap News ] S. Korea to conduct Dokdo defense drill

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 16, 2021

South Korea was to stage an annual military exercise around its easternmost islets of Dokdo on Tuesday after Japan protested the planned drill and called off an agreed-upon summit between the two countries. The drill, named the East Sea Territory Protection Exercise, will involve the Navy, the Air Force and the Coast Guard, and be…

Karreni army confirmed to have fought in the battle between Myanmar military and the Karreni PDF in Demoso on Jun 11

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 16, 2021

AMee@MayZawHtoo2 The funeral of Karenni army’s Lt. Col. Shaw Reh (B) Shaw Phe, killed during a clash between Myanmar’s military junta and the Karenni People’s Defence Force in Demoso, Kayah, on Jun 11, was held today (June 14) in the KNPP-controlled area. Photo: KnIC #WhatsHappengingInMyanmar

Pegasus XL rocket launches secretive ‘space domain awareness’ satellite for US Space Force

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 15, 2021

A Northrop Grumman rocket successfully launched a secretive Space Force satellite for “space domain awareness” — or detecting artificial objects in orbit — on Sunday (June 13) in a rapid response mission for the U.S. military. A Northrop Grumman L-1011 carrier aircraft took off from the newly renamed Vandenberg Space Force Base and flew out over the Pacific Ocean, where it…

Defunct Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) reappeared on social media to pledge fight against the Military regime

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 15, 2021

The Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO), a political organisation founded in 1982, which armed branch had merged into the Rohingya National Army (RNA) in 1998, had reappeared on social media, pledging to fight the “facist military” and fight for the human rights of the Rohingya people. Formerly designed as a terrorist organisation, fighters from RSO were…

The First Two B 21 Bombers Are Ready To Fly

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 13, 2021

Speaking at a House Armed Services subcommittee on projection forces yesterday, US Air Force acting acquisition executive Darlene Costello also said it’s too soon to accelerate the programme. When speaking about whether the B-21 Raider development can be accelerated, Costello said the priority is “to get through the design, get completed, and not introduce concurrency”…

[ Al Jazeera ] Turkey’s troops should leave Afghanistan under 2020 deal: Taliban

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 12, 2021

Taliban spokesman tells Reuters Turkey should withdraw troops as part of deal with the US for pullout of foreign forces. Turkey should withdraw its troops from Afghanistan under the 2020 deal for the pullout of foreign forces, a Taliban spokesman has said, effectively rejecting Ankara’s proposal to guard and run Kabul’s airport after the United…

[ Times of Israel ] Key passages from outgoing Mossad chief’s unprecedented TV interview

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | June 11, 2021

In an interview with Ilana Dayan on Channel 12’s “Uvda” documentary series Thursday night, recently retired Mossad chief Yossi Cohen spoke with unprecedented detail and candor about his career, actions to thwart Iran, his ties with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and more. 

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