Embraer delivers first batch of A-29 Super Tucanos to US Air Force

Embraer Brazil has delivered the first of 20 A-29 Super Tucanos bult for the US Air Force. The light attack/training turboprop plane is slated to be used by the US Air Force for operations and pilot training in Afghanistan after the proposed NATO withdrawal scheduled late 2014. The Super Tucano is equipped with two integral .50 caliber heavy machineguns and hardpoints that can carry up to 3,000lbs of ordnance which can include a variety of missiles, rockets and bombs.

The decision to buy the Super Tucanos have been initially met with resistance from local US aircraft manufacturers, with Beechcraft alleging the presence of irregularities with the bidding process but the decision made in early 2013 by the US DoD has confirmed the contract has been awarded to to Embraer Brazil, for the delivery of 20 airframes for the cost of $427 million USD. The airframes will be built locally, though, by Embraer Brazil and its US partner, Sierra Nevada Corporation, whose factory is located in Jacksonville, Florida.


The new US Air Force A-29 Super Tucano is unveiled at a ceremony at the SNC factory at Jacksonville, Florida


Front view of the new USAF A-29 Super Tucanos


USAF pilots inspect the A-29 Super Tucano during the unveiling ceremony

Awesome Russian tactical magic pen holder, for the commander who wants to mark artillery targets on his maps on the go!

I think its F-35. The competition is to find a Joint Strike Fighter,the Lockheed Martin X-35 won. The X-35 later became the F-35.
F-22 emerged from Advanced tactical Fighter program in the 1980s.

Source: Joint Strike Fighter Program/Advanced Tactical Fighter Program

Comparison shot of a US Navy P-8 Poseidon and a Kawasaki P-1 Maritime Patrol aircraft (with a Shin Meiwa US-1 Flying boat photobombing behind)

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Sep 26 2014, 04:40 PM

JMSDF Murasame-class Destroyer family picture


From foreground: Murasame, Harusame, Yudachi, Munasame, Kirisame, Inazura, Samidare, Ikazuchi and Akebono

JSDF helicopters running exercises simulating Airmobile landings
This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Sep 26 2014, 09:23 PM

Japan is Japan. Who here expected anything else?

Applications for Japan Self Defense Force Increase by 20% Thanks to Moe



Since last July, the JSDF's Okayama Provincial Cooperation Office has been using three adorable mascot girls to raise awareness for the JSDF. The girls represent each military branch of the forces, sporting the uniforms for each. Momoe Kibi represents the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (Army), Mizuho Seto represents the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (Navy), while Airi Bizen represents the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (Air Force). If the design aesthetic looks familiar, it's because the girls were created by Humikane Shimada, the original character designer behind such military-inspired moe series like Strike Witches and Girls und Panzer.

Since the introduction of the mascots, though, their popularity has skyrocketed even outside of the prefecture. Whereas only 500 flyers were printed for the July introduction of Momoe at a comics sales event, 6,500 calendars and 90,000 postcards were prepared for the August introduction of Mizuho and Airi, all of which were quickly snapped up.

More importantly, it seems as though the campaign is working—volunteer numbers have increased by 20% in Okayama prefecture.

Pilot-chan! please be gentle!

US Marines can into manga?

PLA Strategic Artillery corps conduct mass saturation attack drill in Western China


Ballistic missile crews inspect the DF-15 SRBM at base prior to training drill


I Imagined the end of the world would start with something like this,but with nuke warheads

This 'firework display' would probably flatten a small city

If reports are true, the PLA has approximately more than 500 of the missiles,so there will be many cities to be flattened.

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Sep 28 2014, 02:37 PM

At this rate, PLAN destroyer can dock in Manila harbor before the Pinoy navy even knows they're coming.

PLA Navy medic team practice helicopter fast roping operations

QBZ-95 latest modifications


Modified QBZ-95 (Bottom) with an original version (Top)

PLA Navy new Maritime reconnaissance/patrol aircraft undergoing final tests


The Y-8 GX6 Maritime reconnaissance/patrol aircraft undergoing final test flights

The PLA Navy has put its new Y-8 GX6 Maritime reconnaissance/patrol aircraft under final certification flights. The aircraft, a modified version of the Shian Y-8 Turboprop transport has been heavily modified from its original variant to fit the various surveillance systems and enable it to perform reconnaissance duties which includes Maritime patrolling, surveillance and Anti-Submarine warfare.

As yet, little is known about the plane and the systems it carries, but it is safe to say typical maritime reconnaissance/patrol/ASW gear such as surface search radar, MAD systems and Sonobuoy systems are standard.

The PLA Navy expects the first airplanes to be available for service by 2015.

KJ-500 AEW&C aircraft set to replace IL-76 AWACS in PLAAF (People's Liberation Army-Air Force) service



Similar to the Y-8 GX6 maritime patrol aircraft, Chinese airplane designers have once again turned to the Shian Y-8 turboprop transport plane to undergo modifications, in this case as an AEW&C airplane known as the KJ-500 which is set to supplement and eventually replace the IL-76 based AWACS aircraft currently in PLAAF service.

The AEW&C aircraft is currently undergoing final tests and is believed to be close to being accepted into full service with the PLAAF.

Some eye candy lah for a change...


PLA female pilots getting ready for a flight training exercise.



This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Sep 28 2014, 11:47 PM

Bizarre....Why is Chiangbai Shan LPD having ship-washing contest with TNI-AL corvette KRI Frans Kaisepo?

Pic showing the cavernous interior of a Yuzhao-class LPD. The armored vehicles are ZBD-2000 Amphibious IFVs and an LCAC hovercraft is at the rear



Screen grab showing large Hangar area, the helicopters are Z-18F ASW helicopters

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Sep 30 2014, 07:50 AM

CV-16 Liaoning sailing with her escort ships on training exercises. Behind Liaoning is a Yuzhao-class LPD, probably Kunlun Shan.