Defence`s Feeds

A dual-use R&T project aimed at developing advanced lightweight impact resistant materials, proposed by a Portuguese consortium and supported by the European Defence Agency (EDA), has been awarded a € 830 000 funding under the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF). It is the first of 30 EDA supported projects to have fully completed the new ‘Request for Projects (RfP)’ procedure that EDA introduced in 2015 in order to maximise project chance to access ESIF. Under the previous procedure, two EDA supported research projects, one Portuguese and one Polish, were assessed by the competent ESIF Managing Authorities and both were successful already. This means that all three EDA supported dual-use R&T projects which have gone so far through the entire ESIF assessment process have been awarded funding – an exceptional 100% success rate!

The latest successful Portuguese project called “Advanced Lightweight Impact Resistant Materials, Components and Structures” (ALIR-MCS) aims at developing, within a 3-year timeframe, a new kind of composite material with high-impact resistance, for the production of components and structures. The objective is to make sure the new material can have both civilian applications (especially in the aeronautical sector) and defence applications, mainly in bulletproof equipment.

Of the total required investment (€ 1.21 million), ESIF will fund € 0.83 million (69%). Project leader is X AERO SYSTEMS, S.A., a Portuguese SME based in Vila Nova de Gaia, a municipality near Porto. The consortium is composed by a wide variety of stakeholders: INEGI- Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (a Research Centre), Critical Materials (another SME), the University of Aveiro as well as the Portuguese Ministry of Defence (Estado Maior Do Exército). Under EDA supported R&T projects, this is the first time that an MoD is directly funded by ESIF.

Since 2013, EDA has been providing technical assistance in order to improve the ESIF eligibility of dual-use R&T projects. The Portuguese ALIR-MCS project, which has now been granted funding, was first selected by EDA within the EDA’s ‘ESIF RfP’ process; it then received technical assistance to enhance and finalize its ESIF application, which proved to be successful.

EDA Chief Executive Jorge Domecq welcomed the third successful ESIF application in a row for EDA supported dual-use R&T projects. “It proves that with the right support and expertise of EDA, dual-use research projects, even proposed by small consortia led by SMEs, can access EU funding. It’s a great success that confirms there are funding opportunities for defence-related stakeholders available within the EU’s multiannual financial framework running till 2020, especially for SMEs with dual-use R&T projects”, Mr Domecq stated.

 

More information:

• EU funding opportunies (EDA project page)
• Dual-use research (EDA project page)
• Polish dual-use R&T project co-funded by ESIF (EDA news)
• New funding opportunity for dual-use research

 

Americas

• A MQ-8B Fire Scout was used to laser designate a moving target for an AGM-114N Hellfire missile fired from an MH-60S for the first time. Conducted on September 14, the test was part of a program to use the drone as a remote designater for the helicopter to shoot moving targets . The successful Hellfire shot marks a significant milestone in the integration between Navy-manned helicopters and unmanned assets.

• The Canadian government is currently assessing data from defense manufacturers for this summer’s request for up-to-date information on options for the replacement of its CF-18 fighters. Specifics wanted by the government were on areas including fighter capabilities and potential economic benefits any sale would bring. In a bid to be selected, Boeing has been citing the work opportunities that would be available to Canadian firms across the country if the federal government were to purchase their F/A-18 Super Hornet, with other competitors coming in the form of France’s Dassault, Sweden’s Saab and the Eurofighter consortium. Data from Lockheed Martin is also being considered, even though Ottawa has vowed not to select its F-35.

• Initial operational capability has been given by the USAF Air Combat Command for the QF-16 full-scale aerial target (FSAT). All 15 QF-16s located at the 82nd Aerial Target Squadron at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida have been approved for target operations. Due to replace the legacy QF-4 aerial target, the QF-16 will introduce fourth-generation fighter capabilities in the aerial target mission, maintaining all inherent capabilities of the baseline F-16 Fighting Falcon, including supersonic flight and 9 G maneuverability.

• Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) Heron 1 could be produced in Brazil, if the platform is selected for a new requirement with the nation’s air force. Local firm Avionics Services have teamed with IAI to offer the UAV, having experience already servicing Heron’s operated by the Brazilian police force. A tender for the deal is expected to be released early next year.

Middle East &North Africa

• 516 additional US troops will be sent to Iraq as Baghdad gears up for its offensive to take the city of Mosul, occupied by the Islamic State since June 2014. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi stated that the US is adding what he calls a “final increase” of American forces. US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter confirmed the upcoming deployment and reiterated that the troops would not act as front-line combat troops, instead advising Iraqi security forces and militias as well as Kurdish Peshmerga fighters.

Africa

• The US Army has awarded Bell Helicopters a total of $86.9 million in foreign military sales contracts to supply Huey II helicopters. Kenya and Uganda will receive five helicopters each in deals worth $52.1 and $34.5 million respectively. Work for both projects will be performed in Ozark, Ala., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 29, 2017. Both governments operate a mishmash of Russian, Chinese, and US-made helicopters.

Europe

• A proposal by MBDA to offer its Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) to Germany will be “scrutinized” by the Defense Ministry prior to submission for parliament approval next Spring. The $ 4.5 billion missile defense system, developed in conjunction with US giant Lockheed Martin, won out against Raytheon’s Patriot system, but the companies have been tasked to meet tough performance milestones in order to retain the contract. Lockheed and MBDA had hoped to finish negotiations with Germany by the end of year, but those prospects dimmed after the companies missed their goal of submitting a proposal by the end of July.

• The EU Commission has submitted a plan to invest some 90 million euro ($100 million) in a joint research project lasting between 2017-2019, in order to boost the bloc’s joint defense and security. The pilot scheme marks some what of a turning point for the EU, which has seen defense research spending drop by a third since 2006. When compared to the US, the EU Commission’s funding allocation into new defense technologies pales in comparison to the $18 billion set aside Washington. Meanwhile, the EU’s duplication of defense items outnumbers that of the US; they have 19 types of armored infantry fighting vehicle, compared with one in the US.

AsiaPacific

• Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), an Indian defense electronics giant, aims to develop into a leading missile systems integrator within the next five years. An investment of more than $120 million is being pumped into the development of a Defence Systems Integration Complex at Palasamudram in Andhra Pradesh in southern India which, when completed, will be that country’s largest missile systems integration facility where missile systems such as navigation, seeker, radar, fire control and guidance will be manufactured. BEL won’t delve into missile development however, instead focusing on the development of electronics for missiles as well as building technical expertise and infrastructure for the integration of missile systems.

Today’s Video

Having just been awarded IOC, a look back at the QF-18’s first full flight:

South African Denel Africa Truck Protected Container Carrier

QF-16: 1st flight
(click to view full)

QF-16s are former F-16 fighters that will be fitted with equipment for remote-controlled flight, and used as aerial targets and decoys for testing against air-air missiles, radars, surface-air missiles, etc. Could they be used for more than that?

The QF-16 is a follow-on to the QF-4 aerial target drone, which are converted by BAE Systems. The USAF is running out of F-4 family airframes to convert, and production is set to end in FY 2013. The QF-16s will be their replacements, but the conversion process must still be developed and tested. BAE Systems won’t be leading the QF-16 program, however; Boeing won that contract.

Contracts and Key Events click for video

The initial contract involves 126 jets, but the overall program involves 210-220 QF-16 aircraft. Most will be taken from dry storage at the AMARG “boneyard,” at Davis Monthan AFB, AZ. Note that QF-16s aren’t fully autonomous, as they have pilots who sit on the ground and direct the planes via remote control. Tying the F-16’s systems into the new set of remote control systems was apparently quite an involved and challenging project.

FY 2012 – 2016

1st unmanned flight
click for video

September 29/16: Initial operational capability has been given by the USAF Air Combat Command for the QF-16 full-scale aerial target (FSAT). All 15 QF-16s located at the 82nd Aerial Target Squadron at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida have been approved for target operations. Due to replace the legacy QF-4 aerial target, the QF-16 will introduce fourth-generation fighter capabilities in the aerial target mission, maintaining all inherent capabilities of the baseline F-16 Fighting Falcon, including supersonic flight and 9 G maneuverability.

May 20/14: Lot 2. Boeing in St. Louis, MO receives a $27.7 million contract modification for QF-16 Production Lot 2: 23 QF-16 conversions, with 4-year warranties for the onboard systems that turn them into remote control aircraft. This brings the contract’s total value so far to $158.7 million.

All funds are committed immediately, using FY 2013 procurement & 2014 R&D budgets. Work will be performed in St. Louis, MO, and will be complete by May 20/16 as the warranties expire. The USAF Life Cycle Management Center/EBYK (Aerial Targets) at Eglin AFB, FL manages the contract (FA8678-10-C-0100, PO 0058).

Lot 2

May 7/14: QF-16 UCAVs? With the USAF looking for just 210 QF-16s at most, and hundreds of F-16s in storage and headed for storage, Boeing is thinking bigger. Boeing’s QF-16 chief engineer Paul Cejas told IHS Jane’s that they’re thinking of using them as Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles, for close-air support and deep strikes against the most dangerous targets.

Step 1 is giving the QF-16s control options that don’t require line of sight, which is currently the case at Tyndall AFB, FL and White Sands Missile Range, NM. Step 2 would involve thinking through mission performance very carefully. Contested airspace is the main reason to use a QF-16 over an MQ-9 Reaper, but UAV pilots have very limited fields of view. That’s a problem for contested strike missions, let alone aerial dogfights. Now add the inevitable delays of latency to magnify the problem, unless the QF-16s are given another level of autonomy for evasion and flight. Range will be limited without aerial refueling, though parallel R&D programs may be about to solve that issue.

On balance, this may be one of those ideas that needs to wait for another iteration or 2 of technology before it really makes sense. Sources: IHS Jane’s 360, “Boeing touts operational QF-16 UAV'”.

September 2013: 1st unmanned flight. The first unmanned F-16 flight takes place at Tyndall AFB, FL. The jet reaches Mach 1.47 and 40,000 feet, performing barrel rolls and other maneuvers before returning with a safe landing.

Boeing has modified 6 QF-16s so far, and this initial test plane had last flown 15 years ago. Conversions will continue, while the next step for converted planes is live fire testing at Holloman AFB, NM. Sources: Boeing feature, “On target: QF-16 flies with an empty cockpit”.

1st unmanned flight

Dec 11/12: More EMD. Boeing in St. Louis, MO receives a $17 million contract modification for Engineering, Manufacturing and Development Phase Option 1. Work will be performed in St. Louis, MO, and is expected to be complete by March 2014. The AFLCMC/EBYK at Eglin AFB, FL manages the contract (FA8678-10-C-0100, PO 0028).

Nov 19/12: Testing. The 1st QF-16 drone arrives for developmental testing at Tyndall AFB, FL. Boeing Global Services and Support will conduct testing on the QF-16, which will undergo approximately 6 months of testing to validate their capabilities and ensure compatibility with the Gulf Range Drone Control System. Next, the aircraft will deploy to Holloman AFB, NM, for 4 more months of integrated testing.

When all test milestones are complete, the aircraft will return permanently to the 53rd WEG, complete a transition period, and achieve initial operational capability at Tyndall AFB. The first production QF-16 is scheduled to be delivered in 2014. USAF | Boeing.

May 4/12: 1st flight. Boeing and the U.S. Air Force complete the 1st QF-16 Full Scale Aerial Target flight at Cecil Field in Jacksonville, FL. For safety reasons, initial flights take place with a pilot on board. Boeing.

1st flight

FY 2010 – 2011

1st “voluntold” F-16
(click to view full)

July 7/10: Sub-contractors. Herley Industries’ subsidiary Micro Systems, Inc. in Fort Walton Beach, FL announces a development and production contract from Boeing for a QF-16 command and control transponder and a ground systems module. This development contract has an initial award of $2.3 million, and a total potential value of $19 million.

April 22/10: F-16 arrives. The first retired F-16 Falcon arrives at Boeing’s Cecil Field facility near Jacksonville, FL to begin conversion into a QF-16 aerial drone. The team will receive 6 F-16s during the program’s development phase, which will be modified and serve as prototypes for engineering tests and evaluation prior to low-rate initial production. Boeing.

March 8/10: QF-16 EMD. Boeing in St. Louis, MO announces a $69.7 million contract to develop and provide QF-16 “optionally manned” full scale aerial targets. Phase I covers engineering, manufacturing and development. Under the terms of the remainder of the contract, expected to be awarded in coming years, up to 126 QF-16 drones will deliver beginning in 2014, and 2014 is also the expected year for full rate production. The USAF expects to buy 220 QF-16s over time.

QF-16 design and development will take place in St. Louis. MO. Ground and flight testing and production will be completed at the Boeing facility in Cecil Field, FL, near Jacksonville. The Boeing-led QF-16 team also includes BAE Systems in Johnson City, NY, who led the QF-4 program. For the Boeing QF-16 contract, $950,000 is committed at the outset by the 691st Armament Systems Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, FL (FA8678-10-C-0100). See also Boeing release.

Development contract

QF-4: fading away
(click to view full)

October 2009: QF-4s. In a presentation to the NDIA, Deputy Director of the 691st Armament Systems Squadron Mike VandenBoom sketches out the remaining QF-4 program. As of October 2009, they had completed Lot 13 production and begun Lot 14 deliveries, with 256 QF-4s delivered to date. Production is now down to using RF-4C reconnaissance aircraft instead of F-4E fighters, which will provide another 3 years of full production capability until Lot 17, the final production lot.

QF-4 Lots 15-17 will comprise 36 aircraft, with deliveries lasting until July 2013, which is expected to provide enough inventory through FY 2015. Successor “QF-16” aircraft will need to pick up the job from there.

Additional Readings

• Boeing Feature (Sept 23/13) – On target: QF-16 flies with an empty cockpit

• Boeing feature (Sept 4/12) – QF-16 Takes Flight

• USAF, via WayBack (October 2009) – Air Force Aerial Targets: October 2009 NDIA Brief [PDF]

Austal Australia's High Speed Support Vessel (HSSV) 72 defence support vessels were built to meet the unique naval operational requirements of the Royal Navy of Oman.

IAP Worldwide Services, a managing member of IAP-ECC, has been awarded a position on the US Navy’s $900m global contingency support multiple award contract II (GCSMAC II).

BAE Systems has received a contract from the US Navy to upgrade four additional Mk 45 gun systems installed on its Arleigh Burke-class, DDG 51, guided missile destroyers.

In August 2016, the contract for a Definition Study of the European MALE RPAS (Medium Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft System) Programme was awarded by OCCAR to Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Dassault Aviation and Leonardo S.p.a.. The contract kick-off meeting chaired by OCCAR and involving the three companies as well as the programme Participating States was held on 6 September 2016 at Airbus premises in Manching/Germany.

The Definition Study Contract award marks the initial phase to deliver this important European capability. The MALE RPAS Programme will further develop and strengthen the European industrial expertise and skills in this essential technological area. OCCAR awarded the contract in the name of the four programme Participating States France, Germany, Italy and Spain. The three companies Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Dassault Aviation and Leonardo S.p.a. are working together as co-contractors to perform the Definition Study. OCCAR and the European Defence Agency (EDA) will cooperate in respect of air traffic insertion of MALE RPAS and the potential participation of other states in future phases of the programme.

“The EDA congratulates OCCAR, the four contributing Member States and the companies involved on this important step towards the development and delivery of a European MALE RPAS capability. This is a decisive step in the direction set by Heads of States and Government at the European Council in December 2013 to prepare the next generation of MALE RPAS in Europe. It is also a concrete example of the need to ensure the necessary European strategic autonomy as foreseen in the EU Global Strategy. The Agency will continue to support the programme building on the work already achieved”, said Jorge Domecq, EDA Chief Executive.

MALE RPAS will be a remotely piloted air system for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions. The first step of the programme is a two-year definition study to define the baseline specifications/design for the future MALE RPAS. The definition study includes both a System Requirement Review (SRR) and a Preliminary Design Review (PDR). Air traffic integration and certification of the MALE RPAS is a key objective of the programme. Preparation for the potential next steps (development and production) will be part of the activities to be performed during the second year of the definition study. The entry into service of MALE RPAS is aimed at the 2025 timeframe.

Prior to the contract award, the MALE RPAS Programme was formally integrated into OCCAR with the signature of the respective Programme Decision by the members of the OCCAR MALE RPAS Programme Board. The OCCAR MALE RPAS Programme Division will be located in Munich/Hallbergmoos.

More information:

• EDA project page on RPAS
• OCCAR website

On September 28, the Syrian army and the National Defense Forces (NDF) launched an offensive on the ISIS terrorist group positions in the northeastern part of Homs province. The loyalists reportedly seized the Al-Sawwanah Hill and the surrounding areas. Clashes are ongoing near the Al-Sha`ar gas field.

Pro-government sources argue that this is a “big advance.” However, this is not likely. The Syrian government just does not have enough manpower for intense operations at 3 frontlines, simultaneously. Full-scale military operations have been already ongoing in the provinces of Aleppo and Hama.

The post Syrian Army Clashing with ISIS in Northeastern Homs appeared first on .

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The video originally appeared at SouthFront in June 2016

Coping with NATO’s recent aggressive behavior has been unquestionably the most important issue on the Russian foreign policy agenda, an issue around which all other issues revolve. Considering that NATO is a military alliance, Russia’s responses have necessarily been military in nature so as to find a way out of the current crisis in a way consistent with Russia’s national interests.

From Moscow’s perspective, the relationship with NATO can take one of five forms, in reverse order of desirability:

1. Hot, “shooting” war.
2. Post-“color revolution” Russia as a raw materials colony of the West, deprived of its sovereignty, industry, and great power status.
3. Another “cold war” accompanied by hybrid conflicts, covert warfare, proxy struggles, arms races, and military forward deployments.
4. Armed neutrality, in which Russia and NATO delineate and respect their corresponding spheres of influence and have no further interaction, for better or worse.
5. Partnership in resolving global problems.

Needless to say, at the moment the Russia-NATO relationship is close to the “cold war” stage as a result of the Kiev coup d’etat and “color revolutions” being promoted not just against Russia’s allies and neighbors but also against Russia itself. Since the idea of a Russia-NATO partnership seems inconceivable at the moment, and will remain so for as long as the Obama/Cameron/Merkel/Erdogan/Hollande crew is calling the shots in NATO (though that situation could radically change in the next several years, due to term limits, electoral challenges, and all-round unpopularity), the goal of Russia’s policy has been to ratchet the tension down to the level of “armed neutrality” while at the same time preparing for the worst–a “hot war”. Already the ancient Romans knew that “si vis pacem, para bellum”–if you wish peace, prepare for war. Which means that Russia’s military responses have centered at establishing a credible deterrence posture while at the same time signalling the readiness to ratchet down the level of military confrontation. It is not an easy task–one of the lessons of the late 1940s is that responses to crises at hand which are intended to be temporary can quickly become permanent and lock succeeding leaders and administrations into the confrontation which is then passed on, as it were, from generation to generation.

Russian actions also indicate that NATO is not viewed as a unitary actor, which indeed it is not. There is the US, there is also Germany and France, there is Poland and the Baltics, and of course there is Turkey. Each of those sets of countries represents a faction within NATO with its all interests and the ability to pursue them independently of the rest of NATO. It would be a mistake to believe that Warsaw, Ankara, Berlin, Paris, etc.,  all take their orders from Washington. Nevertheless, they do have a certain commonality of interests, for otherwise NATO would have long fallen apart. In regards to Russia, the structure of preferences looks something like this, again, in reverse order of preferability:

1. Hot, “shooting” war.
2. Another “cold war” accompanied by hybrid conflicts, covert warfare, proxy struggles, arms races, and military forward deployments.
3. Partnership in resolving global problems.
4. Armed neutrality, in which Russia and NATO delineate and respect their corresponding spheres of influence and have no further interaction, for better or worse.
5. Post “color revolution” Russia as a raw materials colony of the West, deprived of its sovereignty, industry, and great power status.

The current predatory model of capitalism that the West is pursuing means the West’s priorities at the moment are quite incompatible with that of Russia. . Western regime change policies are driven by economic imperialism, pure and simple, though nicely disguised as “globalization”. It is simply colonialism through indirect, local rule, whose aim is to yield economic benefits to the Western powers at the expense of the “neo-colonies”. It means that, fortunately, Western powers are leery of another prolonged “cold war” because of the sheer expense that would be associated with it. Therefore if Russia is to persuade the West that “armed neutrality” is actually desirable, it has to show the ability to engage in a prolonged “cold war” and even a “shooting war” if need be, while at the same time demonstrating its resilience against “color revolutions”. It is admittedly debatable whether armed neutrality is preferable to partnership, from NATO’s perspective. It would appear the West is opposed to cooperation with Russia on matters like international terrorism simply because the West doesn’t view terrorism as the problem. If anything, Russia’s participation in resolving the problem would mean Western “spoils of war” would be greatly reduced. We have seen the West’s twisted priorities in action in Syria, after all.

Given the problem at hand, the various and disparate military measures undertaken by the Russian Federation in the last couple of years that have been chronicled in various issues of the Russia Defense Report should be viewed as pieces of a larger puzzle.

Thus the creation of the Russian Guard is intended to show the West that “color revolution” strategies are bound to fail when used against Russia. Re-establishing Ground Forces’ divisions and even Tank Armies, in addition to the Airborne Forces’ expansion, sends a message to the Baltic States and Poland plus any NATO countries contemplating establishing military presence in these countries  that there is no way NATO can attain conventional superiority over Russia in that part of the world. Potential deployments of Iskander and Kalibr missiles to Kaliningrad and Crimea sends a message to NATO countries further afield, including Germany, France, and Turkey, that they can’t count on staying above the fray–the long arm of Russia’s conventional deterrence can reach them too.  Finally, the US is being put on notice that any effort to undermine Russia’s nuclear deterrent will face a multifaceted response of targeting anti-ballistic missile sites and deploying new ICBMs and SLBMs that can overcome and/or bypass US missile defenses.

Is this approach, now at least two years in the offing, working? It is too early to say, though the upcoming Warsaw NATO summit will no doubt shed some light on NATO preferences. For now, the apparent unwillingness to commit to permanent troop basing in Eastern Europe and favoring troop rotations instead (which will no doubt prove very onerous for the thinly stretched, demoralized, and underfunded NATO land forces that have not recovered from the Afghanistan and Iraq debacles) suggests that the “armed neutrality” is at least being considered in NATO high councils. On the other hand, should the West’s apparently terminal economic crisis take a turn to the worse, there is no telling what NATO might do in desperation. For that reason, one should not expect anything better than Russia-NATO “armed neutrality” for many years to come, until the West adopts a more sustainable economic model that is not dependent on constant aggression.

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The Ukrainian Army has received about 200 pieces of the Molot mortar launchers since the country lost all Soviet mortars during the hostilities in eastern Ukraine.

M120-15 Molot mortar launcher (Photo: na.mil.gov.ua)

About 200 pieces of the Molot mortar launchers of the local production have already entered service of the Ukrainian Army, the Interfax news agency reported, citing Chief of the Weapons of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Major General Nikolai Shevtsov. Practically the entire arsenal of mortars, which remained in the country since the times of the Soviet Union, was destroyed during the hostilities in eastern Ukraine.

“Practically the entire arsenal of mortars was lost during the hostilities. Military units that started to restore the combat capability at landfills have mortars, which have exhausted its resources. Therefore, there is such hurry in production and purchase of mortars,” Shevtsov said.

“As of today, troops have received about 200 mortars, produced at the Mayak plant. Its further delivery is expected. But we will not voice absolute figures for obvious reasons. The mortars enter the Ukrainian Army and are already being used on the front line,” he stressed.

Earlier, in July, Ukrainian military said that they are not satisfied with the quality of the M120-15 Molot mortar launchers, provided to the army for testing. According to the military, cosmoliners had some problems with the vertical mechanisms and couldn’t change the angle of the laying for range. Militaries also had claims to the quality of the metal. Two months after the start of the using of the launchers, its tubes had started to rust. The paint had started to peel off and erase.

The post Ukraine Lost All Soviet Mortars in Donbass appeared first on .

Click to see the full-size map

On September 28, the Syrian army, the National Defense Forces (NDF), Hezbollah and Liwaa Al-Quds (a Paletsinian pro-government militia), supported by the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Syrian Arab Air Force, officially launched a full-scale military operation in order to liberate the militant-controlled eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo city.

Indeed, military operations of the Syrian government forces in Aleppo city started much earlier. On September 25, the  army, the NDF and Hezbollah entered the Sheikh Sa’eed Neighborhood and advanced along the road leading to the Hajj roundabout in eastern Aleppo.

TIP: Some readers have aksed why the fuel depot is shown as a militant-controlled area. The answer is the loyalists withdrew from there during the ceasefire.

However, September 28 was the official start of the full-scale operation in the city. It started after five days of intense air and artillery strikes on militant targets in the besieged areas. Local sources also reported that Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra or al-Nusra Front) and its allies had almost now manpower reserves in eastern Aleppo.

Click to see the full-size map

The government forces started advance in the Old Quarter towards the Farafra Neighborhood and from the Aleppo Citadel area towards the Bab Al-Nayrab District. Hour after the start of the advance, the Syrian army and Hezbollah took control of the Farafra Neighborhood adn engaged militants in heavy clashes in the Bab Al-Nayrab District.

By September 28, the loyalists have fully secured the Farafira Neighborhood, the area northwest of the Aleppo Citadel and Osama Bin Zaid Mosque. The government forces have also advanced in the al-‘Amiriyah neighbourhood. However, there are no confirmed reports from the area. The army and Liwaa Al-Quds also attacked the Handarat refugee camp in northern Aleppo. The loyalists entered the camp after securing the Shaher area.

We recall some 8,000 fighters of various Iranian-backed militas had been deployed in the area of Aleppo city prior to the advance.

Click to see the full-size map

Amid clashes in Aleppo, Moscow confirmed that it will continue to support efforts of the Syrian government against terrorists despite the displeasure of the United States by these actions. In turn, Washington de-facto announced that some MANPADs may be supplied to the so-called “Syrian opposition” (Jabhat al-Nusra & co).

The post Overvew of Military Situation in Aleppo City on September 28 appeared first on .

The Syrian government forces, led by the Tiger Forces, have launched a counter-attack against Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra), Jund al-Aqsa (a terrorist group with links to Al Qaeda and Jabhat al-Nusra) and the Free Syrian Army in the northern part of Hama province where the joint terrorist forces seized few sites yesterday.

The loyalists have entered the villages of Talisiyah and Sha`tha controlled by terrorists and engaged the terrorist alliance in the area of Ma’ardas. Clashes have been also ongoing in the areas east of Sha`tha.

Click to see the full-size map

The post Government Forces Counter Attack on Al-Nusra, Jund al-Aqsa & Co in Northern Hama appeared first on .

AlMasdarNews reports: The Syrian Arab Army’s Republican Guard, backed by Liwaa Al-Quds (Palestinian paramilitary), launched their second large-scale assault at the Handarat Refugee Camp today, targeting the eastern neighborhoods that are under Fatah Halab’s control.

According to local sources in northern Aleppo, the Syrian Armed Forces and Liwaa Al-Quds entered the Handarat Camp after securing the Shaher District, which is located at the eastern sector of this former refugee camp.

Intense clashes are ongoing inside the camp, as the Syrian Armed Forces and Liwaa Al-Quds attempt to reestablish control over this key district in Aleppo’s northern sector.

Handarat Camp was initially recaptured by Liwaa Al-Quds last week; however; a swift counter-offensive by the jihadist rebels forced the pro-government forces to withdraw east towards the nearby Bureijj District.

The post Liwaa Al-Quds, Syrian Army Storm the Handarat Camp in Northern Aleppo appeared first on .

Americas

• The F-35 could be getting new engines by the mid-2020s, with the potential for either an upgraded version of the Pratt & Whitney F135 design currently in use or a new engine from a competitor. Lt. Gen. Chris Bogdan, head of the Joint Program Office, made the announcement at last week’s Air Force Association conference. The USAF is currently in the early stages of funding their Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP) competition, with both P&W and General Electric Aviation securing contracts worth $1.01 billion to research if its possible to “demonstrate 25 percent improved fuel efficiency, 10 percent increased thrust, and significantly improved thermal management.”

• E-8C JSTARS aircraft grounded due to maintenance concerns are back flying again. Issues surrounding a radar mishap had resulted in four E-8Cs undergoing a USAF launched independent investigation following their delivery from depot maintenance at Northrop Grumman’s facility in Lake Charles, Louisiana. One aircraft experienced water damage to the Northrop APY-7 radar after the glassfibre canoe did not properly drain water.

• If you missed/managed to avoid what was a rather strange first US presidential debate, candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton sparred on national security, ISIS, supporting Gulf and Asian allies (should they pay more?), cyber warfare, and aging military hardware. Choice highlights include Trump asserting that Clinton’s website is handing out tips to ISIS, that our troops are utilizing “B-52s old enough that your father or grandfather could be flying them,” and suggesting that China should go into North Korea.

Middle East &North Africa

• US officials have hinted that Gulf allies may arm Syrian anti-government militants with more shoulder-fired weapons following the collapse of the latest ceasefire and reports of bunker busting bombs being used by Russian warplanes on civilian and aid targets. Until now, Washington has so far prevented significant numbers of man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) being supplied to the militants, instead favoring training and sending infantry weapons. The supply of MANPADS could help negate Russian and Syrian air power in cities such as Aleppo, as seen by their use by the Mujahideen against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan.

Africa

• Kenya and Jordan are to cooperate on counter-terrorism training with the Gulf state to help train Kenyan Air Force pilots. The announcement was made during King Abdallah II Ibn Hussein’s one-day visit to the Kenyan capital Nairobi, which focused largely on security and CT issues. Alongside the meetings, King Abdullah and Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta, both dressed in military fatigues, watched joint military exercises, with the president tweeting “Our cooperation is underpinned by our common interests. Together we must fight against emerging security threats.”

Europe

• Hypersonic weapons being researched by Russia’s Tactical Missiles Corp. should be capable of hitting targets by the early 2020s. The group is collaborating with scientists from the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Advanced Research Foundation under the Military-Industrial Commission and hope to produce a missile capable of reaching Mach 5 (3,800 mph). Moscow’s hypersonic development lags behind that of the US, who are currently looking to develop and demonstrate critical technologies to enable an effective and affordable air-launched hypersonic cruise missile.

• The UK government is to prosecute ejection seat maker Martin Baker in relation to the death of a Red Arrows display team pilot in 2011. The pilot, Flt Lt Sean Cunningham, died after the MK10 ejector seat parachute failed to deploy. While the company has failed to comment on the legal action, it represents a second setback for the company following safety issues with the US-16E ejection seat it is supplying for the entire F-35 program. It was suggested during the summer that the USAF consider an alternative ejection seat supplier for the next-generation fighter.

Asia Pacific

• Following a series of protests, head shavings, and eggings, South Korean and US military officials are to announce an alternative site for the controversial deployment of the THAAD anti-missile system this week. Originally destined for the southeastern county of Seongju, three alternative sites neighboring Seongju include a golf course owned by chaebol (conglomerate) Lotte Group in Chojeon-myeon, Mt. Yeomsok in Geumsu-myeon and Mt. Kkachi in Suryun-myeon. The decision to allow THAAD on the Korean peninsula comes amid North Korea’s steaming ahead with ballistic missile and nuclear tests over the last year.

Today’s Video

Pakistan Air Force jets landing and taking off from highways near Lahore:

Kiev continues to intensify its artillery groups near the contact line with Donbass and fire territories of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR).

Kiev has intensified its artillery group near Mariupol and Yasinovataya with tanks, howitzers and self-propelled guns, Deputy Commander of the Operational Command of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), Eduard Basurin, said at a briefing on Tuesday.

“Our intelligence continues to reveal facts of presence of prohibited weapons of the Ukrainian Armed Forces along the contact line,” Basurin said.

According to the Deputy Commander, three self-propelled guns, two tanks and two trucks with ammunition were discovered in the village of Granitnoye near Telmanovo, half a kilometer from the front. Moving of the nine Giatsint-B field guns was spotted near Yasinovataya, on the Yasnobrodovsky landfill.

“In addition, our intelligence spotted supply of ammunition to the settlements of Novognatovka, Nikolaevka, Marinka, Zarya and Rybinskoye,” Basurin added.

According to Basurin, over the past day, the Ukrainian Armed Forces fired frontline territories of the DPR 46 times. The villages of Zaytsevo near Gorlovka, Aleksandrovka and Trudovskiye to the west of the capital, Novolaspa in the area of Telmanovskiy, the territory of Dokuchaevsk, suburbs of Yasinovataya and the Mayorsk checkpoint near Zaytsevo were under the enemy fire.

“Nineteen 82 mm and 120 mm shells were fired from prohibited weapons by the enemy. In addition, fire was opened from grenade launchers and light weapons,” Basurin pointed out.

Later on Tuesday, it was reported that Spartak village on the northern outskirts of Donetsk was fired by Ukrainian military, who used heavy mortars.

According to the DAN news agency, citing a source in power-wielding agencies of the DPR, the Ukrainian side used 82 mm and 120 mm mortars, as well as a heavy machine gun. The source also added that two hours before to start the shelling, surroundings of the industrial zone near Yasinovataya were fired with a tank by units of the Ukrainian Army.

The post Ukraine Expands Its Artillery Group near Mariupol & Intensifies Shelling of Yasinovataya appeared first on .

The US Navy’s Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 has successfully demonstrated the use of MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned air system to remote designate targets for a MH-60S Seahawk helicopter to fire an AGM-114N Hellfire missile.

The Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) first Hobart-class air warfare destroyer (AWD), Hobart, has successfully completed builder sea trials at Techport Australia in Adelaide.

Aras’ product lifecycle management (PLM) platform has been chosen by Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) to support the complex engineering processes in the development of technologically advanced warships for the US Navy and the US Coast Guard.