Epic

Give this man a medal

Philippines, Australia set joint military exercises this year



MANILA, Philippines – The armies of the Philippines and Australia are scheduled to conduct joint military exercises in both countries this year.

Philippine Army (PA) spokesperson Col. Benjamin Hao said the two joint military exercises, namely the Philippine-Australia Exercise “Dusk” Caracha and the Philippines-Australia Exercise “Dawn” Caracha, will be held separately in Philippines and Australia in line with their existing defense cooperation program.

According to Hao, Exercise “Dusk” Caracha 2015 is a combined training activity between the Special Operations Commands (SOCOM) of both the Philippine and Australian armies which is slated from September 15 to 26 in Perth, Western Australia.

Participants of Exercise “Dusk” Caracha 2015 will utilize the training facilities of the Special Air Service Regiment in Australia.

PA will also send 25 personnel from the Light Reaction Regiment, SOCOM to participate in the said exercise in Australia.

Exercise “Dusk” Caracha seeks to strengthen the counter-terrorist skills and capabilities of PA’s Light Reaction Regiment with its close-quarter battle training, sniper skills, development training and unit collective training.

On the other hand, the Philippines-Australia Exercise “Dawn” Caracha 2015, which will be participated by 102 participants from the PA and 15 soldiers from Australian Army, aims to develop the interoperability between the Special Forces units of both countries.

Exercise “Dawn” Caracha 2015 is an army-to-army exercise between the Special Air Service Regment, SOCOM, Australia and the SOCOM held yearly.

This year, Exercise “Dawn” Caracha will be conducted in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija from October 19 to 30.

Aside from Australia, Brunei is also eyed to conduct joint exercises and trainings with PA to enhance their cooperation and improve their interoperability.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/09/...-exercises-year

I count got 7 reefs claim by malaysia, are all of it have the present of malaysia army?
Brunei give up claim in south china sea already, right?

no, they not gave up their claim, but not as serious on the claim though
Malaysia is only looking back to get back Amboyna and Commodore reef which they lose in the 60/70s

Take back those 2 would mean direct confrontation with vietnam and pinoy, how malaysia lost both in the 60/70s?

both of the island is still under our original claim

back then our navy and air force do not have as much ship as now
we lack the asset to have constant presence on the island and believe it or not Philippines have quite a naval forces back then and so does Vietnam

america's fake rusky





miss those guys... used to tip a lot

The Flanker: Spectacular Performance of Iconic Russian Fighter Aircraft



Read more: http://sputniknews.com/videoclub/20150905/...l#ixzz3kyaRXsA3

PLA warships off Alaska a 'smart strategic move': Duowei



The PLA warships spotted near Alaska were coming from a joint military drill with Russia in late August. (Photo/CNS)

Beijing's idea to send a fleet of PLA warships to the Bering Strait off the coast of Alaska is a smart strategic move, says Duowei News, a US-based Chinese political news outlet.

According to Pentagon sources, the five PLA vessels — comprising three surface combatants, an amphibious warship and a fleet oiler — made an "innocent passage" passing within 12 nautical miles of the Aleutian Islands that border the southern edge of the Bering Sea on Sept. 2.

China claimed that PLA naval group had been sent to conduct joint drills with the Russians earlier this month off Russia's Pacific coast and the Sea of Japan, adding that it was part of "routine activities" not aimed at any country or region.

While the Chinese military often conducts missions in the Gulf of Aden and the Strait of Malacca as well as the East China and South China seas, this marks the first time PLA ships have been spotted near Alaska. Prior to this, the closest PLA vessels have approached to the US mainland was to participate in the US-led Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), the world's largest international maritime warfare exercise, held every two years around Hawaii.

Duowei believes the US will no doubt view the move as a strategic attempt to get closer to valuable Arctic resources. The US is already trying to fend off Russia's efforts to claim a larger part of the region's continental shelf and will now also have to contest with the creeping advances of China, which became a permanent observer state of the Arctic Council in 2013, Duowei added.

The timing of the PLA activity, however, suggests that Beijing may have intended to send several messages to Washington, Duowei said, noting that it took place a day before the high-profile military parade in Beijing on Sept. 3 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day — an event President Barack Obama chose to not attend — and also just as Obama completed a three-day visit to Alaska to attend an international conference on Arctic issues.

First, the decision to send warships to Alaska may have been a warning to Obama that he cannot ignore China's rise, Duowei said. Further, Japan also attacked the Aleutian Island chain after bombing Pearl Harbor, so the move could have also been a subtle "reminder of World War II history," Duowei added.

Second, the move took place three weeks before China's president, Xi Jinping, is set to visit the United States and before the official release of his itinerary. Xi cannot appear weak and must express a firm and confident image before his meeting with Obama, Duowei said, and sending warships to Alaska will add bargaining chips to Xi's stash, especially on military issues. The move is similar to China's decision to conduct test flights of the country's first stealth fighter prior to the state visit of then US secretary of defense Robert Gates, who had been sent to Beijing by Obama to pave the way for then-Chinese leader Hu Jintao's US trip in January 2011, Duowei added.

Third, the PLA vessels ventured to Alaska as China stands accused of aggressive behavior in territorial disputes in the East China and South China seas. The move could therefore be seen as a means of provoking Washington, which had been citing freedom of navigation to criticize China's island-building and military constructions in the South China Sea, Duowei said. In this case, however, China made sure there was nothing the US could do except to admit that the PLA ships had made an "innocent passage" through the Aleutian Island chain "in a manner consistent with international law." According to Duowei, it is also a reminder of what Xi said to visiting US secretary of state John Kerry in May: "The broad Pacific Ocean is vast enough to embrace both China and the United States."

Duowei here sought to put a spin on the fact that the apparently mild US response to the presence of the PLA ships demonstrates respect for the principle of freedom of navigation, while China has a history of issuing warnings, buzzing with aircraft and taking blocking maneuvers to threaten a collision when ships venture close to its claimed territorial waters.

On the other hand, some US officials are said to believe China's presence near Alaska is a positive development as it provides America with more ammunition to increase its military presence in international waters close to islands disputed by China, Duowei added in a conspiratorial aside.

http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclas...=20150906000136

nice vids..

so long already RMN Gagah samudra training ship still not operation,
if not getting new patrol boat soon, MINDEF should pay other shipyard to complete the final job, at lease 1 ship, after view photo 1st ship should left 5% job, 2nd traning ship still have 20-30% job.

PLA ZTZ-99A MBT. Credit to the original uploader.





https://www.sinodefenceforum.com/new-type98...d.t851/page-214

Live fire test of the Indonesian Army new Caesar 155mm SPH. Photo by Eko Soetanto.

apa armour? not slant armour? not reactive.. ?

New 'color-changing' camouflage uniforms make debut



Two foot formations and one armament formation have worn the new camouflage uniforms during the V-day parade. (Photo/81.cn)

(ECNS) -- A new type of multi-landform camouflage uniform that adapts to light made its debut in the recent V-day parade, a Chinese military website reported.[Special coverage]

The uniform features three-dimensional patterns and a multicolor gradient, using optical illusions to help soldiers blend into woodlands, deserts and urban environments, according to Xiao Hong, senior engineer at a military research institute.

Certain colors are accentuated according to the light, Xiao explained.

Experts studied a wide range of landforms and analyzed the camouflaged uniform of 20 countries from different periods, Xiao said.

The new uniforms have been revised 30 times, he added.

The uniforms are made of a low-cost fire-proof material that also achieves infrared camouflage, according to Xiao.

http://www.ecns.cn/cns-wire/2015/09-07/180107.shtml