Philippines' Aquino welcomes US warship's deployment in disputed sea





Philippine President Benigno Aquino says he welcomes the patrol of a US warship near islands claimed by China in the disputed South China Sea, calling it a "balance of power."

MANILA: Philippine President Benigno Aquino has welcomed the passage of the USS Lassen in the disputed South China Sea, and the balance of power it brings with it.

Early on Tuesday (Oct 27), the US warship sailed too close for China's comfort to its man-made islands in the contested waters, drawing an angry rebuke from Beijing.

Speaking to foreign correspondents at a forum on Tuesday, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said he welcomed the patrol of a US warship near islands claimed by China in the disputed South China Sea, calling it a "balance of power."

"Freedom of navigation has been expounded and propounded by all parties to the issues of the South China Sea/West Philippines Sea,” said Aquino. “Everybody seems to be guaranteeing freedom of navigation, so I see no issue as to this US naval ship traversing under international law in waters that should be free to be travelled upon by any non-belligerent country"

The patrol by the USS Lassen breached the 12-nautical mile zome that China claims around Subi and Mischief Reefs in the Spratly group of islands. Beijing has declared this a violation of its laws.

Under international law, a state's territorial waters extend 12 nautical miles from its shore. However, the US and others argue that this rule cannot apply to artificial islands.

The episode comes amid mounting tensions between the Philippines and China over disputed reefs in the South China Sea.

Beijing is transforming these reefs into small islands capable of supporting military facilities. In response, the Philippines has been beefing up its surveillance systems, and has also embarked on a modernisation programme for its military.

The tensions between both countries have also renewed interest in the Philippine-US Enhanced Defence Corporation Agreement (EDCA), a military-to-military treaty signed shortly before the visit of US President Barack Obama to the Philippines in 2014.

President Aquino reiterated his support for the agreement during the forum saying it was necessary as the country embarks on its modernisation programme. He said the Philippines would also aid the US in the event they need logistical support for their operations in the contested waters.

Meanwhile, world leaders have been invited to the November’s APEC leaders' summit in the Philippine capital but there has been no confirmation yet if Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend.

President Aquino said he would be a warm host to his Chinese counterpart if Xi does decide to attend.

The Aquino administration has been very vocal in its views on Chinese activity in the South China Sea. However, it will only be 7 months before President Aquino steps down and a new administration will then dictate the future of Chinese-Philippine relations.

- CNA/ec

pootang peenoise playing with faiya?

Taiwan military says China preparing for possible attack




The mainland's annual military spending has grown on average by double-digit rates over the past decade, second only to the United States, said Taiwan's 2015 National Defence Report.

TAIPEI: China is actively building up its armed forces and they would be strong enough by 2020 to launch an attack on Taiwan, a military report said on Tuesday (Oct 27).

Despite closer political ties China is "continuing to accumulate large-scale war capabilities, with the threat of a cross-strait military conflict continuing to exist", according to the island's 2015 National Defence Report.

The mainland's annual military spending has grown on average by double-digit rates over the past decade, second only to the United States, it said.

The biennial report published by the defence ministry said China was strengthening its naval and air forces in the region to deter foreign forces from intervening in any invasion.

"China believes foreign interference would be its biggest concern if it attacks Taiwan," it said.

China and Taiwan split at the end of a civil war in 1949. Relations have warmed since current Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou of the China-friendly Kuomintang party came to power in 2008.

But China still sees Taiwan as a breakaway territory and refuses to renounce the use of force should it declare formal independence. The defence ministry said there was a risk of Taiwan letting its guard down because of increased economic and cultural exchanges in recent years.

"Overall (China) is diversifying its Taiwan strategy, forging positive developments in the cross-strait situation, giving them an advantage for any future attacks on Taiwan," its report said.

Taiwan will elect a new president in January, with the candidate of the pro-independence opposition Democratic Progressive Party, Tsai Ing-wen, tipped to win.

She has pledged to maintain the status quo if she wins but some analysts have questioned whether cross-strait peace could be maintained.

The defence ministry report also questioned China's reported military spending, which it said was significantly understated. The actual budget is estimated to be two to three times the reported figure, putting it on par with the US and Russia, it said.

The US is Taiwan's main ally and sells weapons to the island, a source of discontent for China.

- AFP/ec

Libya helicopter crash 'kills 12' west of Tripoli





[sos]

Imagine how much money goes into making a fighter stealthy and then how much such a missile would cost...!

But yes there are stealth fuel drop tanks in existence and the possibility is there for stealth weapon covers.
Finally some sensible analysis.

Pakistan exports Chinese HJ-8 missile to 20 nations



With the help of Pakistan, China North Industries Corporation, better known as Norinco, has been able to export its HJ-8 anti-tank missiles to 20 countries around the world, Duowei News, a news outlet operated by overseas Chinese, reported on Oct. 21.

Pakistan produces the HJ-8 under license from China, which helped the South Asian country build an independent production line to manufacture the anti-tank missile.

In the late 1980s, China convinced the Pakistan Army, which had been using the American-built BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missile, to purchase the Chinese-made HJ-8.

Pakistan carried out tests pitting the HJ-8 against the TOW system to see which missile was more suited to its ground force. The HJ-8 came out on top by destroying all five targets with five launches, while the TOW only destroyed three, according to the Duowei report.

Nearly 10,000 HJ-8 missiles have since exported to around 20 countries. These include Bangladesh, Bolivia, Egypt, Ecuador, Kenya, Malaysia, Morocco, Peru, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

As Islamabad opens up new overseas markets for China, it also builds trust with Beijing to gain access to the further arms technology in the future, creating a win-win situation for both nations, Duowei said.

http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news/content...000008&cid=1101

At Last — America Is Getting a New Bomber





http://warisboring.com/articles/at-last-th...g-a-new-bomber/

Russia conceals its military casualties as part of propaganda war





http://mashable.com/2015/10/27/russian-cas...t/#mFOCOVMI5Eqn

Iran Unveils New Homegrown Military Electronic Gear



TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan unveiled a series of domestically-made equipment in the field of air defense and civil aviation, including new radars and imaging systems.

In a ceremony on Monday, Dehqan unveiled 16 products manufactured by the local subsidiaries of the Defense Ministry.

They included a counter-battery radar system, dubbed Boshra. The apparatus, also known as a weapon-tracking radar, can detect artillery projectiles fired by heavy and semi-heavy batteries, and can be employed in electronic warfare as well.

“Qamar” 3-dimensioanl radar was another product unveiled in the ceremony. It is a system that can detect and track more than 100 targets in low to high altitudes within a range of 450 kilometers.

Qamar is capable of spotting various targets, including fighter jets and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and transferring the data to the country’s integrated air defense network.

Another new achievement was the “Absar” imaging system, which can be mounted on warplanes and drones.

The defense minister also inaugurated the production line of navigation equipment used in aviation industry and airports, including multilateration (MLAT) and electronic data gathering systems.

Iran has in recent years made great headways in manufacturing a broad range of military equipment, including the air defense systems that use cutting edge technologies.

Tehran has repeatedly stated that its military might is defensive in nature and poses no threat to other countries.

http://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2015/10/...electronic-gear

MILITARY REVIEW – SYRIA-IRAQ BATTLESPACE, OCT. 27, 2015







http://southfront.org/international-milita...ce-oct-27-2015/

It's called Conformal Fuel Tank. It's not just stealthy, it also incur less drag than drop tank. Example is F-16 below.

Danish F-16 crashes into North Sea





[sos]

http://www.shephardmedia.com/news/digital-...-t-50-avionics/

Russia’s new EMP-proof military smartwatch tracks vitals, locations



Russia’s military now has an innovative and resilient new smartwatch in its inventory. The wearable device, which could operate in conditions following a nuclear blast, serves as an alarm sensor, vitals controller, positioning tracker and emergency beacon.

This wearable gadget developed by the Argus-Spektr Company is called the ‘Strelets’ (Archer) and can be worn by a serviceman in the same way as any other watch.

The ‘Strelets’ maintains a constant link with a command console via a secure digital link using classified waveforms that are impossible to suppress or jam without powerful electronic interference – which would inevitably be detected.

In case of a medical emergency or an abnormal situation it would send an alarm signal to the command console, which would immediately forward the data to an executive officer.

The officer would immediately know what had happened and the position and rank of the particular watch’s owner.

The ‘Strelets’ would send an alarm message if a soldier stopped breathing, remained motionless for more than 45 seconds, left the designated area, or even if the gadget was simply taken off. After sending an alarm signal, the watch turns into a distress beacon, leading rescue teams to its owner.

It could also receive coordinates for a particular place and lead its owner there. This ability is thanks to the GLONASS global positioning system microchip incorporated into the latest version of the military gadget.

The initial idea for the ‘Strelets’ was to equip security personnel at remote military installations with an immediate feedback communication link to raise an alarm in case personnel had been interfered with.

The gadget has been tested in extreme conditions over the last two years, and it demonstrated flawless operation at temperatures from -50 to +50 degrees Celsius, making it the golden standard of Russian military hardware and guarantees operability from frozen Arctic conditions to extreme hot weather in deserts of Central Asia.

In addition to all of this, the watch remained functional after being exposed to the kind of electromagnetic frequency impulse (EMP) that accompanies a close-range nuclear explosion, reported its creators when announcing an upgraded version of the gadget at Interpolitex military expo previous week.

The Argus-Specter Company’s CEO Sergey Levchuk said that the watch is already being used by external perimeter guards and officers of the National Defense Control Center in Moscow. An earlier version of the gadget is said to have been used during the Olympic Games in Sochi last year.



https://www.rt.com/news/319892-russia-military-smart-watch/

Further details emerge on China's first indigenous 'aircraft carrier'



A section of what appears to be part of a hangar and flight deck has been added to a vessel under construction at Dalian Shipyard that could be China's first indigenous aircraft carrier.

The section can be seen in a photograph published on a Chinese military enthusiasts' website. IHS Janes analysis of Airbus Space & Defence satellite imagery published on 25 September suggested that the ship could be China's first indigenous aircraft carrier or possibly a helicopter assault ship.

The form of the latest module, with a large open compartment, three decks high, and taking up much of the width of the ship, adds further evidence to this conclusion.

Until it becomes clear whether an angled flight deck is to be installed, it remains possible that the vessel could be either a carrier (CV) or an assault ship (LHA), as a large hangar and flight deck would be a feature of both. However, with a waterline length in excess of 270 m, if it is an assault ship it would be bigger than a 45,000-tonne America-class LHA, the largest in the US Navy (USN).

Furthermore, there has been a lot of semi-official and media comment in China about the People's Liberation Army Navy's (PLAN's) carrier programme, so there is an increasing expectation that it is the first carrier to be built in China.

Want to read more? For analysis on this article and access to all our insight content, please enquire about our subscription options ihs.com/contact

Russia’s New Corvettes to Be Armed With ISIL-Crushing Kalibr-NK Missiles





http://sputniknews.com/russia/20151027/102...r-missiles.html

spot anything?

one guy already has too many kids

This post has been edited by Gregyong: Oct 28 2015, 05:28 PM