Military and Aviation News Thread (NO DISCUSSION)

[Emu]

http://sputniknews.com/military/20151010/1028306037/north-korea-new-ballistic-missile.html

 

During a military parade, North Korea displayed the KN-08 intercontinental ballistic missile which has a range of to 10,000 kilometers.

 

http://sputniknews.com/us/20151009/1028237905.html

 

Washington believes that North Korea has a nuclear weapon capable of reaching the US homeland, and is prepared to defend against such an attack, a Pentagon senior official said on Wednesday.

[Emu]

http://www.defensereview.com/berkeley-lab-team-develops-ultrathin-flexible-gold-nano-brick-invisibilty-cloak-adaptive-camouflagevisual-cloaking-tech-for-any-3d-object/

 

Berkeley Lab Team Develops Ultrathin, Flexible Gold-Nano-Brick ‘Invisibilty Cloak’: Adaptive Camouflage/Visual Cloaking Tech for any 3D Object!

 

 

http://www.defensereview.com/patented-boeing-anti-blast-arc-generatorelectromagnetic-force-field-tech-bends-shockwave-around-vehicle-or-soldier/

 

[Heli]

 

The U.S. Army has bought a batch of Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) from BAE Systems for use in Afghanistan and Iraq.

 

To meet the urgent requirement, the Army will take its laser-guided rocket stock directly from the current Navy inventory.

 

http://alert5.com/2015/10/14/u-s-army-bought-apkws-for-use-in-afghanistan-iraq/

[Lucas_From_Hell]

An interesting tidbit is that medium altitude flights seem to be strictly forbidden in the Russian AF area. The Sukhois are dropping lead from 5.000m out of SHORAD reach, and the Mi-24s are hitting hard and extremely low to mix in with ground clutter due to reports that Saudi Arabia, despite being advised against it by American officials, is supplying MANPADs to unidentified groups in the RuAFs area of operation.

[Bucic]

Guys, if you get this thresd closed I'm going to find you and do things to you that are not nice :)

Don't you think a third world war deserves a separate discussion-friendly thread?

[Emu]

40mm Missile Extends Grenade Launcher’s Range Beyond 2,000 Meters | Defense Update:

 

Raytheon Company successfully fired two Pike 40 mm precision-guided munitions from a standard tube grenade launcher during flight tests at Mile High Resources in Texas. Both rounds landed within the targeted impact area after flying more than 2,300 yards. (2.1 km). Weighing less than two pounds and measuring just 16.8 inches (42.6 cm) in length, Pike can be fired from a conventional, single-shot grenade launcher such as the M320 orEGLM (Enhanced Grenade Launching Module). The maximum range of M320 grenade launcher is 437 Yards (350 meters).

 

 

Pike uses a digital, semi-active laser seeker to engage both fixed and slow-moving, mid-range targets. The missile’s rocket motor ignites eight to 10 feet after launch and is nearly smokeless for reduced launch signature. Photo: Raytheon

“Pike uses a digital, semi-active laser seeker to engage both fixed and slow-moving, mid-range targets,” said J. R. Smith, Raytheon’s Advanced Land Warfare Systems director. “This new guided munition can provide the warfighter with precision, extended-range capability never before seen in a hand-held weapon on the battlefield. Pike will become smarter and smarter as we continue to develop its capabilities,” said Smith. “In the current configuration, the warfighter will enter programmable laser codes prior to loading Pike into its launcher. Spiral development calls for multiple-round simultaneous programming and targeting with data link capabilities.”

 

Pike’s rocket motor ignites eight to 10 feet after launch and is nearly smokeless for reduced launch signature.

 

Additional Pike upgrades include the ability to fire it from platform-mounted launchers on small boats, all-terrain vehicles and small unmanned aircraft systems. The missile will extend the effective range of grenade launchers currently reaching 1,600 yards (1.5 km) using ballistic computing sights.

[vicx]

This is very recent footage from Damascus.

[Emu]

An interesting tidbit is that medium altitude flights seem to be strictly forbidden in the Russian AF area. The Sukhois are dropping lead from 5.000m out of SHORAD reach, and the Mi-24s are hitting hard and extremely low to mix in with ground clutter due to reports that Saudi Arabia, despite being advised against it by American officials, is supplying MANPADs to unidentified groups in the RuAFs area of operation.

Qatar already have supplied rebels with MANPADS and they've found their way to ISIS:

 

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/10/20/can-manpads-be-controlled-in-syria.html

 

Can MANPADS Be Controlled in Syria?

 

Theoretically, yes, but it’s an untested — and highly dangerous — proposition.

In recent weeks, Syrian opposition groups have renewed calls for the United States and other countries to supply man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) to Syria’s beleaguered rebel forces. Senator John McCain has proven a lone voice in advocating for the provision of MANPADS to American –trained rebel forces in what he openly describes as a prospective replay of Washington’s covert war against the Soviets in Afghanistan. Russian media have highlighted some of the many dissenting expert opinions.

 

Other states may not be quite as cautious, however. Qatar is believed to have delivered Chinese FN-6 MANPADS to Syrian rebel groups. Several of these have since been acquired by the Islamic State. Saudi Arabia, which has increased arms shipments to the Free Syrian Army in response to the Russian intervention, reportedly “hasn’t ruled out” supplying these advanced surface-to-air systems.

[Lucas_From_Hell]

Sometimes I wonder what on Earth goes through one's head to make a move like that. It's as if nobody has learned from the Afghanistan case :noexpression:

 

ISIS has used an FN-6 to shoot down an Iraqi Mi-35, and Ahrar ash-Sham has previously shot down a Syrian MiG-21 in - guess what - Latakia, back in 2013. That being said, the altitude the Sukhois are flying at right now means anyone who shoots from a MANPAD will only help the aircraft place their bombs in the right place.

 

Anyhow, to the news :)

 

The Belarusian Defense Ministry is eyeing to replace its MiG-29 fighter jets with Su-30SM aircraft after 2020.

 

 

“Naturally the existing aviation fleet, particularly fighter jets MiG-29, is getting out-dated. It is time to decide on replacing these aircraft. We are considering buying Su-30SM aircraft from Irkut Corporation. It may be done after 2020.” said Major-General Oleg Dvigalev, Chief of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defense on 20 October.

 

(From defenseworld.net)

[shagrat]

A-10s to the rescue... (I see a pattern there). ;)

 

http://www.thearabweekly.com/?id=2483

 

EDIT: They talk about "low attack profile"...some posts ago, someone mentioned MANPADs? That might get interesting in a bad way... :(

Edited October 20, 2015 by shagrat

[Lucas_From_Hell]

Qatari-supplied FN-6 MANPADs which found their way to ISIS, specifically.

 

The article is pretty generic though, it isn't directly stated that the A-10C will be flying low, only that they usually fly 'lower and slower' than the F-16.

 

The closest comparable aircraft in the area is the Su-25SM, and at the moment it seems these are delivering (surprisingly very accurate) medium altitude strikes using dumb munitions and CCRP. The FN-6 has a pretty short maximum range and altitude so any aircraft with a decent targeting system can deliver a reasonably accurate hit with dumb bombs without getting shot at.

 

I can't see the USAF sending them in the kind of CAS they are used to doing in Afghanistan and previously in Iraq if the AA threat is considerable.

 

A more concerning issue is that Osa SAM (NATO: SA-8 Gecko) destroyed by a Su-34. While this one in particular was sitting there doing nothing and its range is not impressive either, the fact that more capable SAM systems are up for grabs can cause a lot of trouble if it falls in the wrong hands.

 

Hopefully we won't see any pilots from any country shot down in this mess, there has been enough horror about this already (even before the horrific Kasasbeh incident).

[Lucas_From_Hell]

Canadian Liberal prime minister designate Justin Trudeau has confirmed that Canada will withdraw its fighter jets from the US-led mission against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

 

(Source)

[Emu]

Qatari-supplied FN-6 MANPADs which found their way to ISIS, specifically.

 

The article is pretty generic though, it isn't directly stated that the A-10C will be flying low, only that they usually fly 'lower and slower' than the F-16.

 

The closest comparable aircraft in the area is the Su-25SM, and at the moment it seems these are delivering (surprisingly very accurate) medium altitude strikes using dumb munitions and CCRP. The FN-6 has a pretty short maximum range and altitude so any aircraft with a decent targeting system can deliver a reasonably accurate hit with dumb bombs without getting shot at.

 

I can't see the USAF sending them in the kind of CAS they are used to doing in Afghanistan and previously in Iraq if the AA threat is considerable.

 

A more concerning issue is that Osa SAM (NATO: SA-8 Gecko) destroyed by a Su-34. While this one in particular was sitting there doing nothing and its range is not impressive either, the fact that more capable SAM systems are up for grabs can cause a lot of trouble if it falls in the wrong hands.

 

Hopefully we won't see any pilots from any country shot down in this mess, there has been enough horror about this already (even before the horrific Kasasbeh incident).

How good is the FN-6 though? Is it IIR or just IR?

 

Oh bugger.

 

http://defenseupdates.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/chinese-fn-6-fn-16-manpads.html

 

Developed by China National Precision Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CPMIEC), the FN-6 is a fire-and-forget, Man Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS). The FN-6 is designed to be easy to use and maintain, reliable, upgradable and resistant to jamming.

 

The FN-6 can be mounted on vehicles, small vessels and helicopters and can be used to engage aircraft, helicopters and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. The latest version is designated FN-16. Performance has been improved with an extended range of 6000 m and an imaging infrared seeker.

 

FN-6 specifications

Seeker: multi-color infrared

Range: 500 - 5500 m

Altitude: 15 - 3800 m

Speed: 600 m/s

Length: 1495 mm

Diameter: 71 mm

Missile Weight: 10.77 kg

Total Weight: 17 kg

Edited October 21, 2015 by Emu

[Emu]

F-18 crashes near Lakenheath, UK.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-34593948

[Lucas_From_Hell]

Canada may scrap F-35, opting for an open competition instead.

 

This is old news of course, but now that Trudeau has been elected it looks like the most likely outcome. (Source 1 and 2)

[Python]

F-18 crashes near Lakenheath, UK.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-34593948

 

 

Sad news, the pilot punched out but didn't survive unfortunately.

[mvsgas]

Northrop wins long-range bomber contract

[Yurgon]

Yesterday a Russian Airbus A321-200 crashed in Egypt, killing all 224 aboard.

 

I've opened a separate thread.

 

RIP

[Lucas_From_Hell]

Further cooperation between Air Forces over Syria

 

Moscow and Washington have started to cooperate in the skies over Syria as Russian and US aircraft have conducted a joint exercise on the actions in case of a near collision over the war-torn country. Russian and US jets have practiced a close approach to a minimally safe distance of 5.5 kilometers, he added.

 

"Today at 11 a.m. Moscow time, Russian and US air forces carried out joint drills on actions by crews and land personnel in cases when aircraft fly in close proximity to each other," Kartapolov said.

 

"In the course of the training, issues of warning, organization of interaction and information exchange between the staffs of the operational groups and control centres of the Russian Air Force at the Hmeymim airbase and the US Strategic Air Operations Center in Qatar as well as the mutual informing of dangerous military activities in the air space of Syria were practiced."

 

"During the drills in a specially designated zone, the crews of Russian and international [uS-led] coalition planes maneuvered to a safe distance of 3 nautical miles from each other, established radio contacts on a designated frequency and exchanged messages on the parameters of their flights in Russian and English."

 

A 24-hour hotline is established between the control center at the Hmeymim airbase and the command center of the Israeli Air Force to exchange information on flights over Syria, he said.

[Lucas_From_Hell]

Syrian opposition passing target coordinates to Russian aircraft

 

Syrian opposition provided coordinates of 24 terrorist targets in Syria to the Russian military.

 

"We have reached an agreement on joint actions against terrorists and established contacts for information transfer. Thus, Russia’s warplanes flew 12 sorties today to hit 24 terrorist targets with the use of boosted devices and high-precision air bomb KAB-500 in the areas of Tamdor, Deir ez-Zor, Itria and east of Aleppo. Coordinates of these targets were referred by the opposition," Gen. Andrey Kartapolov said.

[rrohde]

Further cooperation between Air Forces over Syria

 

Nice! Guess it's a first that both US and Russian fighter jets are on the same IFF frequency. :)

[Lucas_From_Hell]

The Interstate Aviation Committee has suspended the certificate for all Boeing-737 aircraft in Russia until receiving a joint notice of the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency and the US Federal Aviation Administration on the aircraft airworthiness. Such a statement is contained in IAC letter to heads of Russian and US authorities posted on the IAC website.

 

IAC letter signed by the Air Register Chairman Vladimir Bespalov also says Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency was corresponding with the relevant US authority concerning urgent improvements of Boeing-737 aircraft rudder control system.

 

(Source)

[NineLine]

[Lucas_From_Hell]

Su-35 News

 

Russia’s state technologies corporation Rostec head Sergey Chemezov:

 

Jakarta decided to purchase newest Russian Su-35 Fighters and discusses the construction of service centers in Indonesia.

Russia is negotiating with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) possible deliveries of Sukhoi Su-35 fighters.

 

Sources: http://sputniknews.com/business/20151108/1029778588/indonesia-russia-su-35.html and http://sputniknews.com/business/20151108/1029772698/russia-uae-su-35.html

[Lucas_From_Hell]

"My colleague and friend [Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov] has already said that we do agree on all the issues that were raised having in mind Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Libya, the Middle East settlement and the fight against terrorism," Kuwait’s foreign minister told reporters following the Russian-Kuwaiti summit.

 

 

"We have a sincere desire and aspiration to further advance relations with Russia in all areas. We will continue to work to deepen and strengthen cooperation."

 

 

 

"We have a common stance on the Syrian crisis. It is necessary to stop the military hostilities, end the bloodshed and start a political process as soon as possible between Syrian government representatives and all opposition groups," Lavrov stressed.

 

 

Sources: http://tass.ru/en/world/835310 and http://tass.ru/en/politics/835288