JH-7A fighter-bomber a boost for PLA's electronic warfare: Sina



The People's Liberation Army is hoping that its new JH-7A "Flying Leopard" fighter-bomber can help give China a much-needed boost in aerial electronic warfare, reports the Beijing-based Sina Military Network.

The JH-7A is an upgraded version of the JH-7 twin-engine fourth generation aircraft manufactured by the Xi'an Aircraft Industry Corporation. The fighter-bomber is said to be a major step forward in China's bid for "electromagnetic supremacy," the modern key to air supremacy in combat.

According to the report, the current problem with China's electronic warfare lies in the low number of available platforms, inferior technology and average combat capabilities.

At present, the PLA only has two aircraft with electronic warfare and countermeasure capabilities — the HD-6, the electronic warfare variant of the H-6 jet bomber, and the Y-8G, the electronic warfare model of the Y-8 transport aircraft.

Neither is particularly suitable for combat, however, as the HD-6 is hampered by its heavyweight, high fuel consumption and short flight endurance, while the Y-8G is considered slow and with poor defensive capabilities.

The JH-7A is believed to be exactly what China needs, a durable aircraft that can engage in electronic warfare and be able to withstand electromagnetic attacks, the report said. Importantly, the fighter-bomber's load capacity is reportedly sufficient to carry the higher weight of Chinese electronic warfare equipment, which is said to be on average heavier than that of the US.

Nonetheless, Chinese technology has not yet reached the level of the US military's ALQ-99 and ALQ-218 airborne electronic warfare systems, which are capable of receiving and jamming signals through the same aperture, said the report. Accordingly, the JH-7A requires more antennas to be mounted, though this also raises concerns that it could interfere with the PLA's own communications and signals.

In addition to electronic warfare installations, the JH-7A can also carry combat weapons such as anti-radiation missiles and medium-range air-to-air missiles combination, the report said. It is the PLA's hope that by combining state-of-the-art electronic warfare equipment with lethal firepower, the JH-7A could end up as effective as the EA-18G Growler, America's carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft that once shot down an F-22A fighter in a training exercise, the report added.

The JH-7A's flight range and speed are also suitable for combat, the report said, adding that with a combat radius of 1,350 kilometers and speeds of up to Mach 0.8, the aircraft will be able to participate in missions with fighter jets like the J-10 and J-11. It is also expected that the JH-7A will add some stealth capabilities to make the plane more difficult to detect by radar.

http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclas...=20150812000031

As Japan continues to broaden its military role, the military is getting a helping hand from the US government. Tokyo’s next generation naval destroyers will incorporate ballistic missile defense systems provided by the United States.





http://sputniknews.com/asia/20150813/1025684146.html

Taiwan unveils its biggest ever military drone



A photographer takes photo of the latest home-made MALE Unmanned Aircraft Systems during a press conference of the 2015 Taipei Aerospace and Defense Technology Exhibition at the World Trade Center in Taipei on August 12, 2015. Taiwan will unveil the prototype of its largest military drone to the public at a Taipei convention, a chance for the island to flex its muscles in the face of China’s growing military might. AFP PHOTO/SAM YEH

TAIPEI–Taiwan unveiled the prototype of its largest ever military drone on Wednesday as it seeks to boost its defense forces in the face of a perceived threat from China.

The sleek, white unmanned aircraft is designed for intelligence gathering and surveillance missions, according to the National Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST), an arm of the Ministry of National Defense that is developing the drone.

It is more than twice the size of any of the existing fleet of 32 “Sharp Kite” drones used by Taiwanese forces.

“Our research and development capabilities are definitely not inferior (to China’s),” said Ma Wan-june, director of the aeronautical systems research division at CSIST.

Ma did not say when the prototype is to be put into use or give any further specifications.

“It’s equipped for automatic takeoff and landing, communications, optical detection, among others,” Ma said.

The drone was shown to reporters ahead of the biennial Taipei Aerospace and Defense Technology Exhibition which starts Thursday and is open to the public.

Taiwan in December launched its largest-ever missile ship, the 500-ton corvette named “Tuo Chiang”–the first of its kind to be produced locally.

The ship is armed with 16 missiles including eight supersonic Hsiung-feng III (Brave Wind) anti-ship missiles.

Self-governing Taiwan split from mainland China in 1949 after a civil war. But Beijing still sees the island as part of its territory and does not rule out force to achieve reunification at some stage.

According to Taiwan’s defense ministry, China has more than 1,500 ballistic and cruise missiles trained on the island.

http://technology.inquirer.net/43674/taiwa...-military-drone

ROC shows off its military muscle at weapons expo



The Coastal Defense Rocket Remote Weapon System designed for the coastal defense of Taiwan.(Photo/Samuel Hui)

At the Taipei Aerospace and Defense Exhibition, which is running from Aug. 13-16, the Republic of China Army is displaying its latest weapons systems, which would be deployed should the People's Liberation Army try and bring the fight to mainland Taiwan. The ROC Navy and Air Force also showed what tools they have in their arsenal to defeat the PLA's naval and air forces in asymmetrical warfare.

The Sea Oryx Missile System, developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, is one of the few new weapon systems the ROC Navy displayed during this year's exhibition. Based on the Sky Sword I air-to-air missile, the missile can be equipped aboard the ROC Navy's Tuo River-class corvette in order to intercept enemy aircraft and missiles.

Also, a promotional video showed how a Tuo River-class corvette could sink a Type 052D guided missile destroyer after taking out two Kh-31 anti-ship missiles and two Su-30 fighters.

Should the PLA push back ROC forces to mainland Taiwan, the ROC Army will have to win on the ground. To accomplish that, it would need to first stop the PLA from launching a successful amphibious operation against the coastal areas of the country. The Coastal Defense Rocket Remote Weapon System is one such weapons system to accomplsh just that as it was developed to wipe out the PLA landing forces on a massive scale.

Then there's also the 81mm vehicle mounted automatic mortar developed by the 202nd Arsenal, Material Production Center under the Armament Bureau of the ROC's ministry of defense. It is used in conjunction with the Cloud Leopard armored personnel vehicle. With steel balls inside its shell, the 81mm vehicle mounted automatic mortar can greatly increase the casualty rate of a PLA landing force.

Several new concepts of weapon systems developed for potential urban warfare against the PLA were also displayed during the event. one of them, the Remote-Controlled Light Combat Vehicle System allows ROC special forces to collect intelligence without needing to enter the combat zone. Also, a robot system can engage the enemy while providing protection to ROC Army soldiers.

Meanwhile, a smaller drone fitted with a XT-104 submachine gun was also displayed for the first time at the event. Because the submachine gun itself is still on trial, the concept has not yet been fully realized. It indicates, however, that the ROC Army plans to add firepower to smaller drones in order to defend the nation's urban areas.

http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclas...=20150815000129

Russia’s air defense forces will get a new boost this fall with the arrival of the third generation of the legendary Buk antiaircraft missile system.



The Buk-M3 medium-range surface-to-air missile system, a modernized version of the Buk-M2 system, features advanced electronic components and a deadly new missile and could be regarded as a completely new system.

Developed by the Tikhomirov Design Bureau outside Moscow, the Buk-M3 is widely viewed as the world’s best means of intercepting low-flying cruise missiles.

The system will be made operational before the end of this year and will enter active service in 2016.

The previous modification — Buk-M2, is currently regarded as one of the most efficient in its class.

The Buk-M3 system boasts a new digital computer, high-speed data exchange system and a telethermal imaging target designator instead of the teleoptical trackers used in previous models.

The Buk-3M’s target-destruction probability has reached 0.9999 and its maximum destruction range has been increased by 25 kilometers and now stands at 70 kilometers.

A battery of Buk-M3 missiles can track and engage up to 36 targets simultaneously, while its advanced 9R31M missile is capable of knocking down all existing flying objects, including highly maneuverable ones, even during active electronic jamming.

The Buk-M3 can also engage sea and land targets, due to its vertical launch capability.

Meanwhile, the Tikhomirov Design Bureau is also working on a compact phased array radar for MiG-29 fighters, Yak-40 training aircraft and UAVs.

http://sputniknews.com/russia/20150815/1025776284.html

Two Chinese companies are to build miles-long floating platforms in the ocean that could house airstrips, docks, helipads, barracks or even "comprehensive security bases," according to one company executive.



So far these are only in the design and research phase," Feng Jun, chairman of Hainan Offshore Industry, a company developing the technology, was quoted as saying by the Financial Times.

China Coast Guard vessel. File photo
© AP Photo/ Bullit Marquez
Is China's Dredging Fleet Paving the Way for Militarization of South Asia?
To date, the technology has been used primarily by companies drilling offshore for oil and gas.

While the Chinese companies are stressing the civilian potential of the platforms – shopping centers and tourist destinations – executives have also acknowledged that the floating structures could one day be used by China's Navy, the FT reported.

The announcement comes at a time when Beijing is building man-made islands in the South China Sea, where China and other nations in the region have overlapping territorial claims. There is speculation that Beijing will use the islands to house military facilities.

Hainan Offshore's website notes the disputed land claims in the region:

"Under the increasingly complicated South China Sea situation, Hainan Offshore Industry adheres to the principle 'when the sovereignty of the state is challenged, time and tide wait for no man.'"

Experts say deploying very large floating structures (VLFS) in the South China Sea could escalate already tense relations in the region.

"Planting one of these in the middle of the South China Sea would be a terribly provocative act," Richard Bitzinger, an authority on maritime security, told the FT.

China's military appears to have shown interest in VLFS projects at forums and conferences for the military and defense industries. But a spokesman for China's defense ministry this week said he is not aware of plans for procuring or using such structures, the FT reported.

Jidong Development, a state-owned company, is contributing most of the research funding to the joint project, local media reported. This first VLFS, being built near Beijing, would be used as a "deep sea comprehensive security base."



Still, experts say the structures are more likely to be large oil drilling rigs.

Bitzinger, the maritime authority, doubts their military value in a conflict. They would be "expensive and hard to move around," he told the FT, adding that China would be better off with more aircraft carriers.

http://sputniknews.com/asia/20150814/1025765292.html

PLA's new DF-5B liquid-fuel ICBM 'can hit any target on Earth'



A missile from the DF ICBM series is test fired on July 27, 2015. (Internet photo)

China is believed to be developing a new DF-5B liquid-fuel missile that will be able to strike any target on the planet, reports our Chinese-language sister paper Want Daily.

The People's Liberation Army's current or in-development arsenal of long-range strategic intercontinental missiles (ICBMs) are led by the DF-31A, the DF-41 and the JL-2, all of which feature solid-fuel rockets.

The DF-31A, with a range of 10,000 kilometers, can reach the west coast of the United States. The DF-41 has a longer operational range of 12,000-15,000 kilometers and can carry three or more warheads, though the missile is still in the testing phase. The JL-2, which has an estimated operation of up to 8,000 km, can only be fired from a submarine at sea.

US and Japanese media report that China may have recently tested two ICMBs, the DF-41 and and the DF-5A. Military commentator Gao Feng believes that the firing of the DF-41 was part of regular testing, though the DF-5A test was likely part of basic research to develop a new liquid-fuel missile based on the DF-5 or the DF-5A.

According to Gao, though the DF-31A and the DF-41 are either in service already or nearing that stage, China should still have an interest in liquid-fuel missiles because of their significantly longer distances and higher load capacities. These advantages may be why Russia has recently announced that it is developing a new liquid-fuel missile based on its SS-18 ICBM.

Gao's suggestion is also consistent with previous analysis of test images from Chinese media that China could be developing a brand new DF-5B liquid-propellant rocket. Compared to the DF-5A, the DF-5B will have an improved engine and superior precision and warheads. Reports indicate that the range will also be boosted to 13,000 km and 15,000 km, enabling the missile to cover the entire planet, while the load capacity will be upgraded to carry from four to six warheads.

http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclas...=20150816000155

India, US joint military exercise from September



NEW DELHI – India and the US combined military training exercise will be held from September 9 to 23 at the Joint Base Lewis McChord in the US aimed at strengthening and broadening interoperability and cooperation between the two armies.

The exercise will bring together troops of an infantry sub unit and a formation headquarters of the Indian Army and similar participation from the US Army for the joint training. Also, India has now kicked off discussions with the US on collaboration in technologies associated with aircraft carriers in a move which comes soon after the Ministry of Defence here set the ball rolling for construction of the country's largest-ever warship, the 65,000-tonne INS Vishal.

The India-US joint working group on aircraft carrier technologies met for the first time in the US from August 12 to 14, which also saw the Indian delegation led by Western Naval Command chief Vice Admiral SPS Cheema visit the under-construction super carrier Gerald Ford at Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia.

Aircraft carriers like Ford, which will have EMALS (electromagnetic aircraft launch systems) technology to replace the traditional steam catapults for launching aircraft, are of special interest to India since it wants INS Vishal to have similar systems.

In a statement here, the US Embassy in New Delhi said that the Indian delegation received briefs on the US Navy's management of aircraft carrier programmes, met with senior Pentagon officials, and toured the R&D facilities for aircraft carrier launch and recovery systems as a first step towards exploring opportunities for cooperation.

"During the joint working group, the US and Indian navies held candid and open discussions on various aspects of aircraft carrier development, including design, integration, test, evaluation, management and oversight of carrier construction," it said.

India has asked the US to share technology for EMALS developed by General Atomics under the bilateral Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI), which has so far discussed joint production of relatively modest projects ranging from hand-held drones to protection gear for soldiers.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/foreign/16-Au...-from-september

IDF troops prepare for possible incursion into Syria





http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4691404,00.html

Why China's New Military Recruitment Video Is Alarming





http://www.huffingtonpost.com/j-michael-co..._b_7999142.html

New Zealand military chooses U.S. firm for new rifle




WELLINGTON, New Zealand, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- An American gun manufacturer has been named the preferred tenderer to supply the New Zealand Defense Force with a new combat rifle.

The selection of Illinois-based Lewis Machine & Tool as the preferred tenderer was announced by the New Zealand Ministry of Defense last week following a trials program phase of the contract evaluation process.

The New Zealand Defense Force currently uses Steyr AUG rifles, a 5.56×45mm assault rifle designed in the 1960s. The replacement of about 8,800 rifles is part of a larger firearms replacement program.

In competition against Lewis Machine & Tool were: Beretta New Zealand Limited, Ceska zbrojovka a.s., Colt Canada Corporation, FN Herstal, Steyr Mannlicher GmbH, XTEK Limited and Heckler & Kock GmbH.

Additional details were not disclosed by the Ministry of Defense.

http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-.../4741439836463/

Russia Says It Will Build New Military Radar In Azerbaijan





http://www.eurasianet.org/node/74721

China is in the process of updating its fleet of long-range heavy bombers and its newest H-6K should make the United States nervous, military expert David Axe argues.





http://sputniknews.com/military/20150816/1025808389.html

PLA Navy commissions second Type 052D guided missile destroyer



Changsha, the Chinese navy's second Type 052D guided missile destroyer, officially enters service with the PLA's South Sea Fleet on Aug. 17 according to the People's Navy, a newspaper operated by the Chinese military, on Aug. 17.

The commissioning of the Changsha took place at an unknown harbor in Sanya in south China's island province of Hainan, the fleet's base. The destroyer, numbered 173, was launched in December 2013 and is designed to improve the South Seas Fleet's air defense and anti-ship capabilities. The PLA currently has eight warships equipped with active electronic scanning array radar, referred to as the "Chinese Aegis."

Only two such destroyers, Kunming and Changsha, are Type 052D; the other six are all Type 052C guided missile destroyers.

The Type 052D is the improved version of the Type 052C and is estimated to have similar capabilities to the Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer of the US Navy. In addition to deploying the HQ-9 air defense missile, the destroyer can be fitted with anti-ship missiles such as the YJ-18 and YJ-62. The 730 close-in weapon system located at the rear of the Type 052C was replaced by HHQ-10 air defense missiles aboard the Type 052D.

The HHQ-9 air defense missile allows the Type 052D to intercept ballistic missiles within 2,000 kilometers. It is not only designed to combat enemy warships and aircraft, but also to defend Chinese territory, the report said.

The PLA Navy plans to build 10 Type 052D destroyers.

http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclas...=20150819000023

A mountain brigade of the Russian Central Military District has been equipped with a modernized version of the Tigr (Tiger) multipurpose all-terrain infantry mobility vehicles.





http://sputniknews.com/russia/20150818/102...ssian-army.html

North Korea shells South Korean military unit forcing Seoul to return fire with scores of its own rockets as tensions over cross-border loudspeaker propaganda intensifies





http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-32...red-border.html

China developed active radar on par with F-22's in 2009: report



A US F-22 Raptor sits on the tarmac during a joint combat and rescue exercise with the Royal Malaysian Air Force, June 15, 2014. (Photo/CFP)

China may have developed an active phased array radar six years ago that performs to the same level as that used by American F-22 fighters, according to Scientific Chinese, a magazine published by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Lin Youquan, chief scientist of the state-owned China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), told the magazine that his team developed the country's first X-band active phased array fire-control radar as early as six years ago. Their efforts in developing this revolutionary piece of technology earned the team National Science and Technology Progress Awards in 2009 and 2010, Lin said.

According to the magazine, the specifications of the radar match those of the AN/APG-77 multifunction low probability of intercept radar used by US F-22 fighter jets, adding that this disproves recent claims by Russian and Canadian media that China has yet to grasp "airborne active phased array radar" technology.

The results of Lin's research have been applied to defense purposes such as military aerospace, aviation and anti-missile defense. The magazine predicts that the J-10B fighter jet, which conducted its maiden flight in 2009 and will soon enter service with the PLA, could be the first Chinese fighter jet to be equipped with a phased array fire control radar and that this could very well be Lin's X-band active phased array fire-control radar.

This type of radar is only currently in service with fighter jets in the air forces of the US, Japan and some European countries. Russia only started showcasing similar technology at airshows in 2013 and 2014, and its Su-35 fighters continue to use passive phased array radars, the report said.

The reason why the US AN/APG-77 radar is such a revolutionary piece of technology is because it is inherently a very strong electronic jammer. The radar is capable of neutralizing the majority of in-service radar-controlled air-to-air missiles and makes stealth jets very difficult to detect by enemy aircraft not equipped with similar equipment, the magazine said.

Scientific Chinese also detailed Lin's participation in the development of synthetic aperture radar for satellites. Such radars can provide the PLA with imaging reconnaissance and can also aid disaster relief and environmental and agricultural monitoring efforts.

http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclas...=20150819000146

The Philippine Navy is preparing to deploy weaponized versions of its AgustaWestland AW109 helicopter on board its Pilar-class frigates, the Navy's director of public affairs said Wednesday.





http://sputniknews.com/asia/20150820/1025993991.html