Is This the Most Underestimated Ship in China's Navy?



The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)’s Type-71 Yuzhao-class is an underestimated piece of kit. In service since 2007, the PLAN commissioned its fourth Yuzhao, the Yimengshan, earlier this year. The ship is supposed to complete sea trials by this December. Although the displacement of these ships vary slightly, they are each capable of transporting a fully complemented battalion of PLAN marines, 15-20 armored vehicles, and four Z-8 or Z-18 helicopters (the former being a copy of the French Aerospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon.) Each Yuzhao can hold up to four Yuyi landing craft (hovercraft), which in turn can carry a platoon of marines or armored vehicles. Each hovercraft can carry up to 60 tons, which would allow it to embark a Type 96 main battle tank.

Comparable to the USS San Antonio-class, the Yuzhao displaces around 20,400 short tons and, according to China State Shipbuilding Corporation, has a maximum range of 10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km). This basically gives the ships the necessary range to operate anywhere in the Eastern Pacific or Indian Ocean. They are not heavily armed, however, which explains why they are not as frequently exposed in the foreign media as China’s other “sexier” recent naval additions. Each ship carries only a single 76 mm AK-176 gun. However, they are reasonably well protected by four AK-630 Close-in Weapons Systems (CIWS), as well as chaff and decoy launchers. By comparison, another modern vessel in service with the PLAN, the Type 54A Jiangkai II-class frigate, carries only 2 CIWS.

The Yuzhao has already proven its operational utility. Since 2008, all three operational Yuzhaos have deployed in the ongoing anti-piracy campaign in the Gulf of Aden (see here and here). These have primarily provided logistical support to the other warships and the embarked special operations forces safeguarding civilian ships in the region. Furthermore, two ships in the Yuzhao series, the Kunlunshan and Jinggangshan, participated in the search for Malaysia Airlines MH 370 in the Indian Ocean in 2014.

A military’s equipment often indicates what kind of wars they are planning to fight. Acquiring anti-ship missiles and attack submarines, for example, is often a clue that a state is preparing to fight a large opponent by employing an anti-access/area denial strategy. A state which acquires advanced air-lift and amphibious capabilities is probably preparing to conduct power-projection missions away from its own shores.

The Yuzhao is almost certainly designed at least partially with a possible invasion of Taiwan in mind. However, as their operations to date show, the Yuzhao-class can also be used for a wide range of other missions, such as so-called humanitarian assistance/disaster relief (HA/DR), or for the evacuation of Chinese citizens abroad. As China’s use of military assets in Libya and Yemen shows, this is a realistic possibility. If a large number of Chinese citizens were stranded in a coastal war-zone and evacuation by civilian airliners or smaller-scale ships was impractical, the Yuzhao could be a useful tool. Having one of these ships permanently stationed close to potential hot spots could ensure quick dispatch and would be doubly useful (Xuzhou in Libya, and the Weifang and Linyi in Yemen, anyone?). Another potential area of use could be in the disputed South China Sea.

The PLAN has another useful ship in its rapidly expanding fleet. According to IHS Jane’s, the PLAN is planning to commission another two Yuzhao-class ships in the coming years. Whatever their intended use is, the name of the class of ships is apt: Yuzhao roughly translates to “Omen” or “Prognosis” in Chinese.

http://thediplomat.com/2015/10/is-this-the...in-chinas-navy/

U.S. and Russian Airstrikes in Syria Show Divergent Strategies

Russian airstrikes, Sept. 30 to Oct. 4

Russia has mostly attacked rebels fighting the government, not ISIS. Targets include some American-backed rebel groups and groups which the United States considers terrorist organizations.



U.S. airstrikes, Sept. 25 to Oct. 4

The United States has focused on ISIS and on supporting Kurdish forces. But Americans have also hit some targets that could benefit the Syrian government, like in Palmyra and Deir al-Zour.





http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/09...compare-strikes

Inside DARPA: the world’s most powerful military wonk



The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, also known as DARPA, is America’s top-secret military research agency. It was created in the late 1950s to develop breakthrough technologies for national security. Its $3 million annual budget and exemption from standard bureaucratic regulations allows DARPA to hire only the most qualified individuals to research and develop sophisticated technologies exclusively for military use.

New York Times bestselling author and investigative journalist Annie Jacobsen goes behind the curtains of DARPA to reveal how the most powerful military science agency in the world works.

http://www.scpr.org/programs/airtalk/2015/...l-military-won/

Russia Showcases Its First Ever Drone Engine



Russia boasts of advanced military technological capabilities. But the country still relies on others for drone engines. According to reports, Moscow had sought Iran's technical help in engines of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones. Now Russian defense giant Rostec claims to have developed the country's first ever drone engine.

UIMC's new drone engine is much cheaper

The United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation (UIMC), a unit of Rostec, said Tuesday during an Innovation Day exhibition in Kubinka that it had successfully built a drone engine. Moscow has not been involved in drone engine manufacturing until recently. Russia was buying foreign engines that were "not as good," said UIMC. The production cost of Russia's indigenous engine is just $7,700, much lower than $61,000 it used to pay for foreign drone engines, according to Sputnik News.

UIMC added that a 66-pound engine would allow drones to reach an altitude of up to 6,000 meters. And the quality and reliability of UIMC's engine is higher than many of its foreign counterparts. Drones are being increasingly used in military and civilian applications. UIMC also showcased another innovation: a supercomputer to operate robots and drones.

Russia's new supercomputer can operate ten drones

A spokesman for UIMC said the supercomputer was part of Vologda UAV control complex. It can operate up to 10 drones simultaneously to collect and transmit aerial reconnaissance data. The mobile supercomputer platform uses teraflop-level computing speeds to collect and process information. The supercomputer uses a special silicone-based composition for cooling.

Russia already has smart, laser-guided missiles that it is using against CIA-trained rebels in Syria. And Moscow continues to make progress in drone technology. Recently, Russian design bureau Luch put together a fully-functional 3D printed drone. Luch CEO Michael Shebakpolsky said the 3D printed UAV has already been checked for operability in test flights. Luch developed it in collaboration with Rostec.

http://www.valuewalk.com/2015/10/russia-sh...s-drone-engine/

Romania Is Starting to Freak Out About Russian Designs on Transnistria





https://news.vice.com/article/romania-is-st...on-transnistria

Russia Showcases Visual Optical Interference Station for Surface Warships



Russia’s United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation is set to unveil its visual optical interference station, Grach ('Rook' in Russian), which may be mounted on surface warships for their protection during combat operations; it enables ships to conceal an assault landing by using a bright light to “dazzle” enemy combatants and optical devices.

The Grach station is being showcased at the International exhibition “Innovation Day of the Defense Ministry,” which is taking place in the Moscow region on October 5-6.

According to the manufacturer's statement, the Grach station is designed for installation on 2nd class surface ships, including amphibious vehicles, hovercrafts and hydrofoils.

The device is able to suppress visual-optical and electro-optical surveillance and targets enemy monitoring devices with a high-intensity radial light, “dazzling” the enemy. This ensures the protection of ships and personnel as they perform tasks at sea or in a coastal zone.

In fact, it is a powerful non-lethal weapon, which allows ships to perform serious offensive and defensive tasks.

The device doesn't cause an irreversible impact on human eyesight, a representative of the manufacturer told RIA Novosti.

He also added that the company has started the development of a ground version of the device, which will require some slight modifications.



Admiral Sergey Gorshkov Frigate

Meanwhile, the testing of the naval visual optical interference station is scheduled in about two weeks’ time. The device will be installed on an Admiral Gorshkov-class frigate, also known as Project 22350.

http://sputniknews.com/military/20151006/1...tion-grach.html

This post has been edited by BorneoAlliance: Oct 7 2015, 11:44 AM

Russian drone films ISIS militants hiding weapons, munitions near Syrian mosques (VIDEO)


The Russian Ministry of Defense has released a video showing Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) militants moving their military hardware to residential areas, including one near a mosque, in an apparent attempt to save it from airstrikes.

The video released on Tuesday was taken from a drone in Syria.



“Having realized the high efficiency of our reconnaissance assets in detecting masked equipment storage bases and the real threat of their destruction, terrorists are making efforts to move their weapons in residential areas. Vehicles are usually deployed near mosques as the terrorists know that the Russian Air Force will never target them,” the Ministry of Defense commented on the issued video.



https://www.rt.com/news/317811-isis-moves-military-hardware/

Saudi clerics call for jihad against Russia in Syria – to back ISIS?





https://www.rt.com/news/317831-saudi-cleric...d-syria-russia/

Thailand balks at price of Chinese submarines



Thailand has decided to postpone the purchase of three S-20 submarines, the export version of the Chinese Type 039A Yuan-class diesel-electric submarine, due to China's asking price, according to the Moscow-based Sputnik News.

The total of US$1 billion requested by China is far too expensive for the Royal Thai Navy to accept, according to its commander, Admiral Na Arreenich. "We fully realize how indispensable the submarine is to our national security," said Arreenich. "At the same time, our navy does not operate any submarines now."

The government must first deal with more pressing matters, he added. "Under the current economic situation, our government must spend more resources to take care of the population," the admiral said. "This is why we must postpone the order of the Chinese submarines and review the entire acquisition plan."

As a member of Japan's Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere during World War II, Thailand previously acquired four Matchanu-class submarines from the Imperial Japanese Navy. In 1951, all of the Matchanu-class submarines were forced to decommission due to the navy's involvement in a failed coup against the Plaek Pibunsongkhram military regime. Since then, Thailand has not operated submarines.

Under the Belt and Road Initiative being pushed by China's president, Xi Jinping, Beijing is promoting the sale of submarines to Thailand to increase its influence in the Southeast Asian state.

http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news/content...000120&cid=1101

Russian Warships in Caspian Sea Launch Attack on ISIL in Syria



Russian warships have attacked Islamic State targets in Syria, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Wednesday during a meeting with President Putin.

“Besides using aviation to destroy militants, this morning ships from the Caspian Flotilla were brought in, four destroyers launched 26 Kalibr sea-based cruise missiles at 11 targets,” Shoigu told Putin in a meeting televised by Rossiya-1.

All targets were destroyed, Shoigu said. “The fact that we launched high-precision [cruise] missiles from the Caspian Sea at approximately 1,500 kilometers [932 miles] and hit all of the targets says much about the good training in the military-industrial complex and good skills of the staff,” he added.

President Putin expressed his gratitude to the pilots operating in airstrikes against the Islamic State in Syria. "Special thanks is due to the pilots who are operating in Syria, as well as the sailors from the Caspian Flotilla for their use of high-precision weapons," he said.

Putin praised the Russian military operation against ISIL in Syria, but warned against early conclusions. "We know how difficult such anti-terrorism operations are, and, of course, it is too early to draw conclusions. But what has been done so far certainly deserves a highly positive assessment, both the work of the Ministry of Defense as a whole, the work of General Staff experts, and our officers, soldiers operating on the scene," he said.

On September 30, Russia began airstrikes on ISIL in Syria following Syrian President Bashar Assad's request for military assistance.

"From September 30 to this day, airstrikes have been carried out against 112 targets, their intensity is increasing," Defense Minister Shoigu said.

“Twenty-three strike aircraft this morning continued to carry out airstrikes against militant positions. Since the 30th [of September], 19 command controls, 12 arms depots, 71 pieces of hardware, plants and shops for manufacturing explosive devices that are packed in vehicles. Six of these shops have been destroyed,” he specified.

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20151007...tack-syria.html

VIDEO: Russian warships strike ISIS positions in Syria





https://www.rt.com/news/317883-russia-warship-attack-syria/

Russia Develops Portable Aerosol Cloud Generator to Conceal Missiles



KUBINKA (Moscow Region) (Sputnik) — Russian experts have developed and successfully tested a device designed to conceal missile systems with an aerosol cloud, a lecturer at the Peter the Great Strategic Missile Forces College said Tuesday.

"An aerosol generator…is designed for creating aerosol curtains, or artificial clouds, to hide road-mobile missile complexes," Aleksei Solodovnikov told journalists during an Innovation Day exhibition.

According to Solodovnikov, the generator is capable of producing aerosol compounds, mainly small dispersed particles, to conceal missiles from satellite observation.

The aerosol cloud can conceal RS-24 Yars, Topol and Topol-M ballistic missiles. The unique generator is portable, lightweight and reusable, Solodovnikov said.

The device may be used as a heat source to warm facilities with equipment, for full specific processing of missiles and decontamination. It is also applicable for a number of civil purposes, including the killing of harmful insects.

http://sputniknews.com/russia/20151006/102...vation-day.html

Canadian military to study hacking cars





http://t.thestar.com/#/article/news/canada...cking-cars.html

Russian jets buzz U.S. predator drones over Syria



Russian fighter jets have come in close contact with U.S. predator drones over Syria on at least three separate occasions since Moscow began its controversial air strike campaign last week, according to two U.S. officials briefed on the matter.

“The first time it happened, we thought the Russians got lucky. Then it happened two more times,” one official told Fox News.

Both officials said the incidents took place over territories controlled by the Islamic State in Syria, including the terror group’s headquarters in Raqqa and along the Turkish-Syrian border near Korbani.

Another encounter occurred in the northwest, near the city of Aleppo.

The Russians have not attempted to shoot down any of the U.S. drones, but instead have flown intercept tracks, meaning they flew close enough to the U.S. aircraft to make their presence felt, one official told Fox.

This news comes as Russia has moved more heavy artillery from an airbase along the Mediterranean to another airbase outside Homs.

The build up provides further evidence that Russia is forming a “protective belt” around the Assad stronghold of Latakia and is carrying out air strikes against anti-Assad rebels, some backed by the CIA, to protect the embattled Syrian president’s regime and Russian interests.

The Pentagon insists that the majority of Russia’s air strikes have been against Syrian opposition forces and not Islamic Stat militants. One official said Moscow has not even carried out the number of strikes it claims to have launched.

“The Russians carried out only half or at best a quarter of the strikes they claim to have conducted,” a senior military official told Fox.

Meanwhile, tensions between Turkey and Russia are rising after Turkey claimed Russian jets on two separate occasions violated its airspace.

Turkey has called the action “unprofessional” and a “provocation” but two senior U.S. officials downplayed the incident.

“The Russians flew along the border and we still don’t know for sure what happened.”

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/o...nes-over-syria/

This post has been edited by BorneoAlliance: Oct 7 2015, 10:56 PM

Victory in Marib: Yemen army and coalition liberate province from Houthis





http://www.thenational.ae/world/middle-eas...ce-from-houthis

Japan to Offer Australia Its Top-Secret Submarine Technology





http://thediplomat.com/2015/10/japan-to-of...ine-technology/

Air Force successfully tests wearable biometric sensors





http://gcn.com/articles/2015/10/06/biostamprc.aspx?m=2

Russian Long-Range Cruise Missiles 'Particular Challenge' for US Defense



WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Russian long-range aviation and highly accurate long-range cruise missiles present a new challenge for US strategic homeland defense, US Commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Adm. William Gortney said.

"The challenge that is confronting us…is the Russian long-range aviation and the Russian cruise missile threat from submarine, subsurface platforms and surface platforms," Gortney said in a Wednesday speech at the Atlantic Council.

He added that the Russian cruise missile threat is a "particular challenge for NORAD and for Northern Command."

On Wednesday, Russia launched a total of 26 cruise missiles from combat ships in the Caspian Sea against Islamic State targets.

Gortney said that the Russian long-range aviation capabilities enable aircraft to potentially hit critical targets in North America and "never leave Russian territory in order to do it."

Russian military capabilities and doctrine are "qualitatively better" than Soviet systems, Gortney commented.
Russia has demonstrated its long-range cruise missile capabilities in Syria, where it was able to hit targets at a distance 1,500 kilometers (932 miles) from ships located in the Caspian Sea.

NORAD was established at the outset of the Cold War and is in charge of monitoring North American aerospace to provide strategic defense of the continent, particularly against long-range nuclear threats.

http://sputniknews.com/military/20151008/1...nge-for-US.html

Less talk, more action: Russian jets destroy ISIS HQs, tanks, munition depots – all in just 1 week





https://www.rt.com/news/317922-syria-week-russian-op/