Defence`s Feeds

The United Nations' top relief official on Wednesday released $14 million in emergency funding to provide life-saving assistance to thousands of Rohingya refugee families, after a massive fire ripped through the Kutupalong camp in southern Bangladesh, earlier this week.

The United Nations' top relief official on Wednesday released $14 million in emergency funding to provide life-saving assistance to thousands of Rohingya refugee families, after a massive fire ripped through the Kutupalong camp in southern Bangladesh, earlier this week.

Members of the Burmese military have taken increasingly disturbing actions aimed at their own citizens since February 1. In response to the military's refusal to disavow the coup and continuing violence against peaceful protestors, today the United States is taking its most significant action to date to impose costs on the military regime.

Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated two military holding companies, Myanma Economic Holdings Public Company Limited (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation Limited (MEC).

The Foreign Secretary announces UK sanctions against military-owned conglomerate Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited.

London is following the lead given by Washington and Brussels, which have already introduced restrictions against the Myanmar armed forces after the military staged a takeover in the Asian country.

The independent UN Special Rapporteur investigating human rights in Myanmar has called on the international community to hold an "emergency" summit of all stakeholders, including the parliamentarians who were democratically elected prior to February's military coup.

One day after a "silent" strike that left the streets of many cities across Myanmar practically empty, demonstrators were out in force Thursday in a continued show of opposition against the ruling military junta.

Thousands of people have taken part in several anti-coup protests across Myanmar amid calls for big demonstrations a day after a nationwide silent strike.

Singapore on Thursday joined Malaysia and Indonesia in calling for an urgent summit of Southeast Asian leaders to discuss the post-coup crisis in Myanmar, as its top diplomat wrapped up a three-nation tour with Myanmar on the agenda at each stop.

The United States is shocked and deeply saddened by reports that Burmese security forces continued to use lethal force against the people of Burma last weekend, resulting in the deaths of at least 27 people, including several children.

The crash of a Taiwanese F-5E fighter plane off Taiwan's east coast in October 2020 that resulted in the death of a pilot might have been caused by mechanical problems, Air Force Chief of Staff Huang Chih-wei (黃志偉) said Thursday, citing a preliminary investigation report.

Taiwan has started mass producing and developing new long-range missiles amid growing tensions with China.

Americas

HMX-1 and the White House Military Office is testing the VH-92A at Joint Base Charleston this week. The military says this is part of operational testing for Marine Helicopter Squadron One. It is unknown how much longer the process will last. The new Marine One, also referred to as VH-92A, is the next-generation presidential transport helicopter being developed for the US Marine Corps (USMC). Scheduled to enter service this year, the VH-92A helicopter will provide safe and reliable helicopter transportation for the US president and vice president.

Raytheon won a $35.9 million deal, which provides for the procurement of follow-on software system architecture and design, software analysis, coding, integration and testing, and associated software and systems engineering in support of the MQ-8 tactical control system. The Fire Scout air vehicle is a Schweitzer 333 helicopter based on the proven design of the Schweitzer 330 commercial lightweight manned utility helicopter. A benefit of selecting the commercially available design is that Schweitzer company based in Elmira, New York has an established worldwide spares and support infrastructure. Work will take place in Virginia and California. Estimated completion is in March 2026.

Middle East & Africa

Sikorsky won a $99.9 million contract modification for 25 modified UH-60M Black Hawk aircraft in support of the Saudi Arabian National Guard. As with a previous order for 17 UH-60Ms for the SANG and Royal Saudi Land Forces Airborne Special Security Forces (RSLFASSF) announced in January 2018, it is unclear if this deal represents additional or previously announced platforms. Work will take place in Connecticut. Estimated completion date is October 31, 2024.

Europe

France will offer its anti-air frigate Jean Bart and anti-submarine destroyer Latouche-Tréville if the French naval industry is select by Greece to build new warships for the Hellenic Navy. This will be a stop-gap solution that Team France – Naval Group, Thales, MBDA – is offering to Greece while it waits for the new frigates to be built.

According to Defense News, the Czech Air Force has selected the Airborne Missile Protection System from Bird Aerosystems to protect its Mi-17 fleet. Under the contract, of which the value was not disclosed, Bird Aerosystems will provide additional AMPS missile verification systems with the MACS. The contract builds on a different deal announced in September 2020 for the company to upgrade the AMPS previously provided to the Czech Air Force and prepare it for future installation of the MACS.

Asia-Pacific

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) commissioned its 12th and final Soryu Class diesel-electric attack submarine (SSK) in a ceremony held on March 24 in Hyogo Prefecture in west-central Japan. Named JS Toryu (with pennant number SS 512), the 84-m-long boat was inducted into the Escort Division 6 of Escort Flotilla 2, which is homeported at the Yokosuka naval base in Kanagawa Prefecture, shortly after being handed over by shipbuilder Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) at its facility in Kobe.

Today’s Video

Watch: Kawasaki Presents the Twelfth Soryu Class Submarine to the Japanese Navy!

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Kenyan authorities have ordered the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) to make plans to close two refugee camps that are home to more than 400,000 refugees, mainly Somalis and South Sudanese. While it's not the first time Kenya has threatened to close the camps, rights groups say the order could endanger refugees' lives.

Indian Naval Ship INS Shardul made a port call at Antsiranana, Madagascar as part of First Training Squadron's (1TS) Overseas Deployment from 21 – 24 Mar 21. Officer trainees of the 99th Integrated Officer Training Course are embarked onboard during the ship's visit.

Towards further bolstering existing defence relations between India and Bangladesh in the maritime domain, 7th Staff Talks between Indian Navy and Bangladesh Navy were conducted from 23 to 25 March 2021 at New Delhi. Bangladesh

The Lynx helicopter was the backbone of the British Army and the Royal Navy before it was replaced by the AW159 Wildcat. On Mar. 21, 1971, the yellow prototype of the Westland Helicopters Lynx helicopter [...]

The post Leonardo Celebrates 50th Anniversary Since First Flight Of Iconic Lynx Helicopter appeared first on The Aviationist.