The ridiculous irony is that the US have bases all over Asia-Pacific to supposedly control/contain the threat of PRC. Yet at the same time accusing PRC of wanting to control Asia-Pacific.

Who exactly is threatening who, actually?



This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Sep 17 2014, 10:43 PM

Malaysia in modern era more of playing a neutral game, we play both sides US & China, especially during Tun Razak era. We got a bit anti-west during Mahathir era,but now reestablished relationship with Obama's US.

Indian military extends order of HAL Rudra reconnaisance/light attack helicopter


HAL Rudra reconnaissance/light attack helicopter

After receiving the initial batch of 20 airframes in 2013, the Indian Army is keen to extend the order for the HAL Rudra reconnaissance/light attack helicopter by 76 airframes. The Indian army is reportedly very satisfied with the performance of the initial units.

The Rudra light attack helicopter is developed and constructed locally by HAL (Hindustani Aeronautics Limited) in Bangalore and is derived from the HAL Dhruv light transport helicopter. The Rudra is a weaponized version of the Dhruv and is fitted with an all-weather FLIR and thermal camera system for the ElBit ComPASS optoelectronic suite. The helicopter is unarmored but still retained the capability to carry 10 Special forces or other reconnaissance troops.

The Rudra is armed with a 20mm cannon in a remote turret, 2 pods of 70mm rockets and 4 SRAAM or ATGM missiles.

To be fair, in most cases the payment of tributes in the form of gold or other treasures is just a token and symbolic gesture. The act of submission and the agreement by a smaller government to accept tributary status from a superpower is far more important. So it's probable we never did send shiploads of gold at the Ming dynasty at any time, probably just small symbolic gifts.

Also, according to Ming emperor policy, a kingdom had to accept tributary status and pay just to trade with China. So we have a weird situation where the Ming Dynasty even had the Byzantine empire and Islamic Umayyad empire in its list of tribute states.

So yes, we probably overstated the worth of the Malacca-Ming dynasty relationship.

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Sep 18 2014, 10:29 AM

Russian Nuclear bombers tracked to 50 miles off US coast


Tupolev Tu-95 Bear-H

US defense radars tracked two Russian nuclear bombers up to 50 miles off the US coast,near California in early September.

The Tu-95 bombers is believed to conduct maneuvering drills to get into position to a set 'missile box', a position off the coast of the US where according to Russian doctrine, air-launched nuclear missiles is to be launched onto targets in the US mainland.

The US DoD have noticed a significant spike in Russian bomber activity in northern Europe and US western seaboard after the Ukraine crisis and the annexation of Crimea by Russia. In mid-August NATO radars in Europe detected Russian bombers encroaching the airspace its member states up to 16 times in a single week.

Very,very long range due to economic turboprop engine, they are very reliable and still useful for missions like marine reconnaissance and long-range flights. In the bomber role the Tu-95 would be probably near-obsolete,though. Anyway, Russia has more capable bombers with greater speed and payload than Tu-95 (Tu-160, Tu-22M) but for peace time reconnaissance missions, Tu-95 are the best plane they have for the job.

You're welcome

About time also. lately I see people only post 2-3 posts a day....I need my latest military news to satisfy my fanboism.

Anyway,did anyone mention that Eksesais Keris Strike 2014 is already going on now? I just learn from MalaysianDefence that it started last week (12.9.2014).

Fuhh....Stryker rupanya.....ingatkan AV8 tadi....

So basically an army of Highlanders?

Tupolev Tu-22M3 with 3 Kh-32 Anti-Ship missiles. These missiles would make the BrahMos look like a firecracker.

PLA soldiers undergoing a tank familiarity course. Quite harrowing!!

"Paket Menggiurkan" WTF?

Cutout of what is inside a Boeing P-8 Poseidon Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft

Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) starts operation of new Maritime Patrol Aircraft


Kawasaki P-1 Maritime Patrol Aircraft

After decades of conducting maritime patrols using US P-3 Orion patrol aircraft, the JMSDF have welcomed into service the Kawasaki P-1 Maritime Patrol Aircraft. The 4-engined aircraft is 38 meters long with a wingspan of 35 meters and carries 2 flight crew plus up to 11 specialists for maritime patrols. As tensions with the PRC over maritime territory in the East China Sea continue to heat up, the aircraft will bring an added advantage to the JSDF.

No problem if u can afford. Japan is really reliable,you pay for Gundams u can expect to get Gundams.

PLA Navy ship on inaugural port visit to Iran


An Iranian family takes pictures of the visiting PLA destroyer Changchun


Iranian Navy personnel greet Changchun commander Rear-Admiral Huang Xinjian (right)

The PLA Navy's Type 052C Destroyer Changchun made an unprecedented first port visit between the PRC and the Islamic republic of Iran on the port of Bandar Abbas, Iran. The ship is on a four day visit to foster closer ties between the PRC and the Islamic republic of Iran.

The Changchun, part of the PLA Navy's 17th Naval task Force is on its way back to its home port after conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since June 2014.

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Sep 22 2014, 09:18 PM

Bolivian Army receives Chinese Z-9 Helicopters


Bolivian Army Z-9 helicopters during the handover ceremony


Chinese diplomatic representative Zhen Shiliang poses with Bolivian foreign minister Carlos Romero during the handover ceremony

The Bolivian Army have received its order of 6 Chinese-made Z-9 helicopters for medium-lift operations. The $104 million USD deal ,which includes pilot and technical crew training, a training simulator, accesories and spare parts represents a significant foray of Chinese military hardware into markets in the American continent. The Bolivian government is a consistent purchaser of Chinese military airplanes, with previous purchases including Xian MA60 transport planes and Hongdu K-8 Training/light attack airplanes.

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Sep 22 2014, 09:37 PM

India uncertain about China's 'String of Pearls' strategy

Indian leaders express uncertainty on the long-term prospects of China's 'string of pearls' strategy as a threat to India's regional control of the Indian and Andaman oceans in the coming decades. While currently the PLA Navy is in no shape to maintain a permanent presence on the Indian ocean, recent expansion in numbers and capabilities of the latest state-of-the-art Chinese vessels, combined with the bases the Chinese have acquired around the Indian ocean have raised quiet worry over Chinese intentions in the area. While the Chinese have referred these bases and the sea routes they cover as a 'new maritime silk road', Indian leaders worry at the spectre of the Chinese Navy's apparent control of Indian ocean sea routes,especially the oil-transport routes from the middle east.

The utility of these overseas Chinese bases have been proven in recent years as the PLA Navy have increasingly utilized them successfully in its anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. As a result of steady supplies and support from these bases, more PLA Navy vessels can be put out to sea for a longer time in these operations.


Map showing the positions of Chinese outposts in the Indian ocean, referred to as a 'string of pearls'

PLA new long-range ATGM gets a closer look

Pictures of vehicle units for the PLA's new long-range ATGM, the HJ-10 have surfaced. The missiles, apparently placed in a double quad-launcher configuration is mounted on a ZBD-2000 IFV unit.

The HongJian-10 (Red Arrow-10) is a heavy long-range ATGM guided by NCLOS technology. The all-weather IR/thermal camera is located on the nose of the missile and signals are transmitted from the missile,via a fibre-optic cable to the launch command unit. The gunner, is, in effect able to see what the missile sees and guide the missile onto its target by literally 'driving' the missile. This ability, plus the fact that the missile has an effective range of 10 kilometers makes it possible for the missile unit to 'snipe' at a distant target without the target ever realizing it's being targeted.

The missile also has a secondary fire-and-forget seeker mode that is being mulled for use as an Anti-helicopter missile system although it is still capable of locking on to a tank (similar to the US javelin system). Due to this mode dispensing with the fibre-optic guidance system and the missile being locked-on and guided to its target autonomously, this fire-and-forget seeker mode has an effective range of about 5 kilometers (although the missile itself can still reach 10 kilometers)

The HJ-10 missile carries a heavy tandem HEAT warhead that is designed to defeat the latest tank armor technologies.

German Navy reportedly has only 5 helicopters in working condition in its entire fleet!


A Bundesmarine Sea Lynx

According to reports, the German Navy (Bundesmarine) has been forced to ground nearly all but 1 of their 22 Reconnaisance/ASW Sea Lynx helicopters due to discovery of dangerous structural damages to the airframes during inspections. As 6 Lynx helicopters are also away on scheduled maintenance, the 1 remaining helicopter are practically all is left of the Bundeswehr Sea Lynx fleet at the time being. Repairs on the airframes involved is estimated to last sometime until 2015.

Confounding these problems are the Bundesmarine's 21 elderly CH-53 Sea Kings are also mostly in a state on non-operability as a result of their move from Norholdz to Kiel. Their new base as it found out, is ill equipped to handle large helicopter operations and is in need of reconstruction to accommodate the Sea King helicopters and most the Sea King helicopters are at the moment grounded until suitable facilities are built. Currently only 4 CH-53 helicopters are available in working condition. As a result these 5 (1 Sea Lynx and 4 CH-53 Sea King) helicopters are practically all that is available for the entire Bundeswehr naval fleet for operations.

The unexpected incident has forced the Bundeswehr to ask for help from allied nations for aerial naval support for its ships currently deployed for Operation Enduring Freedom and anti-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden. The incident has caused shock for the German defence Minister Ursula van der Leyen.


News Link: From German language site-use Google translate

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Sep 23 2014, 10:20 AM