Russia seizes initiative in Syria crisis; France bombs Islamic State

Russia appeared to seize the initiative in international efforts to end the conflict in Syria on Sunday as Washington scrambled to devise a new strategy for the war-ravaged country and France sent warplanes to bomb Islamic State targets.

As leaders gathered in New York at the United Nations General Assembly, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry discussed Syria with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. He said that while it was vital to coordinate efforts against Islamic State militants this was not yet happening.

"I think we have concerns about how we are going to go forward," Kerry told reporters. U.S. officials said Kerry was working on a new political initiative in New York that would include Russia and key regional powers.

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On board an RAF spy mission over IS-occupied territory

It is now a year since MPs gave the RAF the green light to begin their bombing sorties over Iraq against the extremist group know as Islamic State.

Eight Tornado jets, based out of RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, along with 10 Reaper unmanned drones, flying from an undisclosed Middle East airbase, have now carried out more than 1,300 combat sorties, including more than 300 air strikes.

It costs a lot to take out an IS fighter using so called precision weapons.

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Updated J-31 unveiled, expected to hit global market in 5 yrs

China has unveiled an updated version of the J-31 "Gyrfalcon" fighter jet, which is expected to be marketed internationally within the next five years, reports the Beijing-based Sina Military Network.

An updated model of the J-31 — a single-seat, twin-engine, fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter developed by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation — was recently on display at the 16th China Aviation Expo in Beijing from Sept. 16-19.

With a redesigned tail, the J-31's aerodynamic and stealth capabilities are said to have already surpassed most traditional fighter jets and will soon have an upgraded avionics system.

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India Surges to Second-Biggest U.S. Weapons Buyer

As China rises as a military power in Asia, India is buying more and more U.S. weapons.

Monday’s meeting between President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlights the converging strategic interests between the nations, which had strained relations during the Cold War. India was the second-biggest buyer of U.S. arms last year behind Saudi Arabia, up from almost nothing five years ago.

The latest purchase came last week, when India’s cabinet approved a $3 billion deal for Boeing Co. military helicopters. The 22 Apache attack choppers and 15 Chinook cargo choppers comprised the biggest defense contract since Modi came to power.

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Russia Stole Ukraine's Old Navy: Now Ukraine Needs a New One

Once upon a time, Ukraine had a Navy. Then Russia stole it.

On February 27, 2014, unidentified gunmen stormed the parliament building in Ukrainian Crimea, initiating a chain of events that culminated in Russia's annexing the Crimea three weeks later.

Along the way, Russian forces seized millions of dollars worth of Ukrainian military equipment based in Crimea, including the bulk of the Ukrainian navy.

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Navy looking to save money on futuristic warship fleet by stripping parts off decades-old vessels

Canada is considering saving money on its future warship fleet by stripping equipment from its surplus destroyers and Halifax-class frigates, according to a document obtained by the Ottawa Citizen.

The Canadian Surface Combatant or CSC will form the backbone of the future navy from 2025 onwards.

But, worried about a lack of government funding, the Department of National Defence is looking at stripping off parts from the existing Halifax-class frigates and the 44-year-old Iroquois-class destroyers.

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India may get US, French cos as partners for building nuclear submarines

For the first time India has options when it comes to finding a partner to build a military nuclear asset. Besides Russia, ship builders from France and the US have started initial conversations with the defence ministry on participating in an Indian effort to build a new class of nuclear-powered attack submarines.

Russia has been the traditional ally of India when it comes to sensitive technology and strategic systems.

But a Navy plan for constructing six new nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) to patrol the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and beyond has prompted 'discussions' with the two western nations, sources familiar with the development told ET. The Cabinet Committee on Security had cleared Navy's proposal in February.

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China's Undersea Nuclear Submarine Capabilities - A Critical View by Robert Potter

The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is presently undergoing a substantial modernization effort. This process has been the center of significant analysis for the better part of the last twenty years.

It is quite clear that the development of a modern navy is a core component of Chinese government policy. However, this effort is presently stuck between competing efforts. On the one hand, the People’s Republic is attempting to develop a naval capability that is modern and maximizes China’s present advantages.

On the other hand, there sits a desire to have a navy of a great power.

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Rail Phantom: Russia Developing Invisible 'Death Trains' With Nukes

For the first time since 2005, Russia is set to resume the manufacturing of its "death trains" - covert railway complexes with ballistic missiles - but on a higher technological level which will make them even more untraceable now.

The Soviet Union decided to produce combat railway missile complexes (BZhRKs) with ballistic missiles in 1969 in response to the US' powerful system of nuclear-capable submarines.

The USSR operated 12 BZhRKs with three missile launchers each, and it was an efficient and intimidating solution. The vehicles travelled across the system of railroads on the country's vast territory and closely resembled ordinary cargo trains, bringing to naught the capabilities of satellite surveillance.

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Chinese Super Manoeuvrable Air-to-air Missile Closer to Deployment

China’s short-range air-to-air missile, the PL-10, which has been test fired 30 times, is close to deployment abroad fighter jets such as the J-20 and the J-11.

The PL-10 is ‘nearly ready’ according to comments made by Liang Xiaogeng, chief designer of the Luoyang Electro-Optical Research Institute, which designed the missile. The missile has largely competed development and testing on various aerial platforms, the designer added.

This new missile is fitted with a multi-element imaging infrared seeker with anti-jamming capabilities, weighs 89 kg, has a length of 3 m, and a range of 20 km.

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Rafale talks to take one more month: defence sources

Talks between India and France about the Rafale fighter jets is going on at a "hectic" pace and is likely to be wrapped up in one month, top defence sources said.

"The talks have been very hectic. There are a lot of fine prints that both sides look into. The talks will most likely take one more month," defence sources told PTI.

"The French side is here three times every month and every effort is on to wrap up the talks fast," they said.

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Russia's T-50 5th Generation Fighter Jets to Enter Service in 2017

The T-50 is currently undergoing flight tests that have so far been successful, Bondarev said. Previous reports stated that the aircraft would enter into service in 2016.

“Under the program, we will finish testing next year and will begin to receive the T-50 jets in 2017," Bondarev said.

According to Bondarev, the aircraft fully meets the requirements.

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China may launch Type 001A carrier on Mao's birthday: report

China is ready to launch its first domestically built aircraft carrier, known as the Type 001A, on Dec. 26 to mark the 122th birthday of Mao Zedong, according to Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao on Sept. 24.

President Xi Jinping reportedly visited the Dalian Shipyard to inspect the progress of work on the carrier in August.

The shipyard had previously overseen the retrofitting of the Varyag, China's first aircraft carrier purchased as a hulk from Ukraine and finally commissioned in 2012 as the Liaoning.

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Viraat to make a last call at Kochi

The world’s oldest aircraft carrier in service, INS Viraat (R 22), will make one last visit to the Cochin Shipyard, which has carried out some 12 cycles of routine refit of the vessel, by the middle of next year for its decommissioning refit.

Also flying into sunset will be its integral, now depleted, fleet of Sea Harrier jump jets.

“They — the Harriers and the carrier — have a symbiotic relationship and it’s in the fitness of things to phase out both together,” Captain Rajesh Pendharkar, commanding officer of Viraat , told the media on board the vessel, which is slated to set course for Mumbai in a day or two after a short refit that lasted two months at the Cochin Shipyard.

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Repairs in Subic Bay urgent for air support in West PH Sea row

Plans to renovate an air base near Manila, enabling Philippine fighter jets to respond quickly to any Chinese moves in the disputed West Philippine Sea, may face delays due to a spending ban before general elections, a senior official said on Friday (September 25).

New fighter jets and two frigates are to be stationed at the former U.S. naval facility in Subic Bay northwest of the capital from early next year, the first time the massive installation will have functioned as a military base in 23 years.

Robert Garcia, chairman of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority — which is overseeing the conversion of the industrial and commercial complex — said the military had to move quickly to repair the base's airfield because a pre-election ban on military spending starts in March.

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INS Trikand to visit Toulon

In continuation of Indian Navy’s overseas deployment to West Asia, Africa and Europe, INS Trikand entered Toulon on Saturday for a three-day visit.

The ship will engage extensively with the French Navy during its stay in the country. Apart from professional interaction, a number of sports and social engagements are also planned, which would go a long way in enhancing cooperation and understanding towards mutually beneficial issues of maritime interest.

The Indian and French Navies routinely undertake bilateral maritime exercises known as VARUNA which is the fulcrum of maritime engagement between the two navies.

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Stranded: Ageing British nuclear submarine in top-secret mission is undergoing repairs off the coast of Iran

A British nuclear submarine has been caught on camera after it apparently became stricken with technical problems while on a top-secret mission in one of the most dangerous parts of the world.

Satellite images show the Royal Navy vessel undergoing repairs at a port less than 100 nautical miles from Iran.

The nuclear-powered submarine is pictured docked at Fujairah, one of the United Arab Emirates, in the politically sensitive seaway of the Gulf of Oman.

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Boeing, U.S. Air Force KC-46A Tanker Completes Successful First Flight

The Boeing and U.S. Air Force team successfully completed the first flight of a KC-46A tanker aircraft today, taking off from Paine Field at 1:24 p.m. (PST) and landing four hours later at Boeing Field in Seattle.

This was the first flight of a KC-46A tanker-configured aircraft, following ongoing flights of the program’s first test aircraft, a 767-2C. During the flight, Boeing test pilots performed operational checks on engines, flight controls and environmental systems and took the tanker to a maximum altitude of 35,000 feet prior to landing.

“This first tanker flight is a key milestone for the program and we’ll now begin free air stability tests and flight controls of the boom and wing aerial refueling pods (WARPs) before conducting aerial refueling tests where the KC-46 will make contact with other military aircraft down the road,” said Col. Christopher Coombs, U.S. Air Force KC-46 System program manager.

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New maritime capability developed for MQ-9

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has introduced a new sonobuoy capability for its MQ-9 Guardian maritime unmanned air vehicle which, alongside a number of other developing technologies, could make it a contender to help fill the UK’s maritime patrol gap.

A concept was presented at the Royal Navy’s maritime awareness conference at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall on 24 September, which showed a number of sonobuoys being released from a bay on the UAV.

While a requirement for a maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) acquisition has yet to be released from the UK government, the developments that General Atomics is incorporating into the MQ-9 suggests that it will look to offer a modified Guardian to complement a manned MPA that is expected to be procured.

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Polish Parliament agrees to ratify military base

US base missile base at Redzikowo
The Sejm lower house of Parliament on Friday authorised the president to ratify the technical agreement on a US base missile base at Redzikowo in northern Poland.

As many as 422 MPs voted for the bill, with three voting against, and five abstaining.

The agreement, which accompanies the decision to locate anti-ballistic missile bases in Poland, concerns the conditions of the proper functioning of the US missile defense system.

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The real reason for stationing Russian fighter jets in Belarus

Russia's plans to deploy airbases in Belarus could be interpreted as another headache for the West and, in particular, for the Baltic states, at least, because it could fuel the arms race in Europe.

Last week Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed Defense and Foreign Ministries to hold talks with Minsk on the possibility of establishing a Russian airbase in Belarus.

Although Russian SU and MIG jets have yet to be relocated closer to Poland and Lithuania, a number of experts have correctly described Moscow's actions as a response to NATO's increased air reconnaissance in the Baltic States and Poland.

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Chinese Navy sets off for Syria

According to the Russian Senator Igor Morozov, Beijing has taken decision to take part in combating IS and sent its vessels to the Syrian coast.

Igor Morozov, member of the Russian Federation Committee on International Affairs claimed about the beginning of the military operation by China against the IS terrorists.

"It is known, that China has joined our military operation in Syria, the Chinese cruiser has already entered the Mediterranean, aircraft carrier follows it," Morozov said.

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Research vessel Neil Armstrong delivered

The Auxiliary General Purpose Oceanographic Research Vessel, R/V Neil Armstrong, AGOR 27, delivered to the U.S. Navy, Sept. 23.

R/V Neil Armstrong will carry on the legacy of the naval aviator and astronaut who stated, “Research is creating new knowledge.”

AGOR 27 is a well-equipped modern oceanographic research platform capable of satisfying a wide range of research activities conducted by academic institutions and national laboratories involved in oceanographic research.

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USS Carney’s arrival in Rota marks missile shield milestone

The European missile defense shield moved one step closer to completion Friday as a fourth American warship capable of shooting down ballistic missiles pulled into port here for permanent stationing.

Naval officers and family members greeted the crew of the USS Carney, an Aegis missile defense destroyer that left Mayport, Fla., earlier this month for Rota. The ship will make its first missile patrol in November, part of a four-ship rotation based in the nearby U.S. naval base here.

“You are bringing a vital capability in a very challenging, volatile and dynamic time,” Navy Adm. Mark Ferguson, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, told sailors. “But we know you are ready.”

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UK Royal Navy frigates demonstrate firepower capabilities

The UK Royal Navy's two frigates, HMS Iron Duke and HMS Somerset, have demonstrated their firepower capability with firings in the English Channel and Cape Wrath, Scotland, respectively.

Portsmouth-based HMS Iron Duke operated its five different weapon systems, including general purpose machine guns (GPMGs), the Minigun, 30mm Cannon, 4.5in medium-range gun and the seawolf missile system.

Devonport-based HMS Somerset fired new infra-red illumination rounds that are designed to light up the battlefield.

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