Cent Com reports 75 US-trained rebels return to Syria





http://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/2369369...return-to-syria

Satellite Imagery Shows Russian Military Buildup in Syria



New commercial satellite imagery shows in remarkable detail Russia’s escalating military buildup in Syria.

Images taken by Europe’s Pleiades satellite network and released by AllSource Analysis in collaboration with GeoNorth and Airbus clearly show four big Su-30SM Flanker-C and 12 smaller Su-25 Frogfoot fighter jets parked Sept. 20 at the al-Assad International Airport in Syria.

The Russian arsenal in Syria has grown over the past few days to include 28 ground-attack and multi-role fighters, including Su-24 Fencers, according to the Pentagon.

Russia has also deployed to the country 14 helicopters, including the Mi-24 Hind gunship and the Mi-17 Hip transport, a number of SA-22 surface-to-air missile systems, and large fixed-wing surveillance drones, according to multiple news organizations, including The Washington Post and Bloomberg.

Meanwhile, as my colleague Richard Sisk reported, the Russian embassy in Damascus was mortared on Tuesday and the U.S. remains leery of any buildup that seeks to support the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

“We continue to believe that anything that’s done in support of the Assad regime, particularly militarily, is counterproductive and risks worsening an already bad situation,” spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, told reporters at the Pentagon.

His counterpart at the State Department, John Kirby, agreed. “If there’s a constructive role they (the Russians) want to play against ISIL, we’re willing to have that conversation,” he said, referring to militants affiliated with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, which the U.S. is targeting with airstrikes. However, if the Russian intent is to “prop up Assad, that’s a whole different matter,” Kirby said.

Republican lawmakers last week blasted the administration’s strategy in the Middle East.

The $500 million effort begun last December to train and equip Syrian rebels in the campaign against ISIS has thus far only produced a handful of fighters actually on the ground in Syria, Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, head of U.S. Central Command, recently testified before Congress.

http://www.dodbuzz.com/2015/09/21/satellit...ildup-in-syria/

Russia to coordinate Syria military actions with Israel





http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/09/russ...2045752894.html

France ready to bomb Syria 'in self-defense' – foreign minister





https://www.rt.com/news/316163-france-bomb-syria-defense/

Marines test Google's latest military robot





http://www.pcworld.com/article/2985173/mar...tary-robot.html

Military launches massive anti-Abu Sayyaf operations in Sulu





http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/724252/milita...rations-in-sulu

Chinese military could soon disable sensors on enemy missiles using suitcase-sized device after 'groundbreaking' study on ultrafast lasers



A breakthrough in laser technology may give the Chinese military the ability to blind the sensors on enemy missiles or even satellites using a portable device the size of a suitcase, rather than the large container-sized version typically found on warships.

A research team led by Professor Li Zhiyuan with the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Physics reported that they had reduced the sophisticated mechanism that generates a high-frequency laser down to a single piece of crystal.

This means the huge ultrafast laser generator that is used to render heat-seeking missiles useless, and which can be found on warships today, could be shrunk to the size of hand baggage and mounted on aircraft, tanks or even soldiers.

"This is a groundbreaking achievement," said Liu Qiang, a professor of laser optics at Beijing’s Tsinghua University.


People's Liberation Army tank regiments are shown at Tiananmen Square in Beijing during a huge military parade on September 3. The new breakthrough could facilitate the laser technology being fitted to tanks like these. Photo: Kyodo

"Nobody has generated a laser at such a high frequency on a single piece of crystal before,” added Liu, who was not involved in the research.

“Their technology will significantly simplify the process of ultrafast laser production and reduce the size of relevant devices."

Part of the team’s research was detailed in the latest issue of the journal Physical Review Letters, which is run by the American Physical Society.

Since the invention of laser technology, scientists have been trying to increase the frequency of laser beams by reducing their wavelength. The higher the frequency, the more energy can be carried by photons.

A typical ultrafast laser device generates pulses as short as one quadrillionth of a second. Despite decades of development, however, their use has been mostly restricted to research laboratories, and eye surgery, because of the level of cost and sophistication involved.

The USS Ponce tests a laser weapons system in this 2012 handout photo from the US Navy. Photo: AFP

Nonetheless, many countries have been racing to develop the technology for military applications.

The US Navy, for instance, reportedly commissioned a research project in 2012 to develop an ultrafast laser system to blind the infrared sensor on missiles.

This is based on the logic that it is much easier to use high-energy photons to attack a sensor than depend on a laser to destroy the thick metallic shell of a missile.

Apart from inflicting damage on enemy targets, ultrafast lasers can also serve as a handy tool to deal with encrypted communications and detect stealth aircraft.

However, the prototypes for military applications proved cumbersome and heavy.

While researchers developed various ways of making high frequency laser beams, such as using purified gas or multiple crystals, they all required the device to be set up in a large room with delicate components that are vulnerable to external disturbances such as shaking.

Chinese navy soldiers and officers aboard the missile destroyer Haikou stand in formation as the warship arrives at Naval Base San Diego in the United States on August 10, 2014. Photo: Xinhua

Li's team claim to have solved this problem. They developed a special crystal with lithium and niobium that can convert a normal laser beam into high frequency waves as short as 350 nanometres, or three times faster than the ultrafast system in use today.

The technology “hints at a very promising means for greatly expanding the power” of laser technology, the team said in their paper.

Liu said the biggest challenge was the loss of energy in the frequency conversion process.

"The larger the laser system, the more serious the energy loss," he said.

The conversion efficiency of Li's crystal was 18 per cent, which meant more than 80 per cent of the energy would be lost.

But Liu said that the rate of efficiency was still "very high" for an ultrafast laser system.

"If they can achieve the efficiency they claim, I think their technology can be quickly deployed in field applications," Liu said.

http://www.scmp.com/tech/science-research/...aser-technology

This post has been edited by BorneoAlliance: Sep 22 2015, 08:54 PM

Try the Crushing Power of Russian Su-30SM’s Gun!





http://sputniknews.com/military/20150918/1...-gun-video.html

Germany's Got a 4-Barrel Laser Gatling Gun



Drones are becoming a big problem for armed forces worldwide. They're small, difficult to detect, and operated by armies and terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas.

The drone threat isn't just limited to the Middle East: in 2014, South Korean authorities found North Korean drones had overflown the Blue House—the official residence of South Korean President Park Geun-hye.

This week at the Defence and Security Equipment Industry in London, German defense contractor Rheinmetall Defence Electronics showcased a new sea-based anti-drone laser system. The system, according to Chinese web site qq.com, features not one but four high energy lasers (HEL) mounted on turret, making it look like some kind of laser gatling gun.

The principles behind the laser gatling aren't exactly the same as a regular, bullet-spitting gatling gun. The four 20 kilowatt HELs are designed to be fired simultaneously, in a technique known as superimposition. All four fire at a target at once, and Rheinmetall's technology combines them into a single powerful 80 kilowatt beam.

According to the company, using superimposition there's not limit to the amount of energy that can be focused on a target—just add more lasers.

Each HEL's ruby-red lens is protected from the elements by a cover that swings open moments before firing. Such protection is essential to prevent "blooming", a process by which fog, mist and other airborne water droplets cause lasers to defocus and rapidly lose power.

The gatling laser can reportedly shoot down a drone at 500 meters. Lasers can also detonate ammunition, explode artillery shells, blind the sensors of another ship, and even burn holes in smaller ships., The real range of the system is also likely much longer: in tests Rheinmetall's 30 measly kilowatt laser exploded an 82-millimeter mortar in midair at 1,000 meters. The result will be ships protected from a variety of threats—at the speed of light.

To give you an idea of what a laser weapon is capable of, here's a video of Rheinmetall's land-based system:



http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/w...er-gatling-gun/

DRS Technologies providing new soldier vision system



ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 21 (UPI) -- DRS Technologies Inc. is to provide the U.S. Army with a new technology that integrates night vision goggles with thermal weapon sights.

Work on the next-generation system will be performed under an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract worth as much as $367 million, DRS said.

"DRS has a long history of providing the U.S. military with leading thermal weapon sight and night vision technology and we look forward to providing this important future capability to ensure our warfighters remain the best equipped in the world," said Shawn Black, vice president and general manager of Infrared Sensors and Systems at DRS Technologies.

"These devices are a result of years of DRS-led innovation and development through U.S. Army and DRS investment. The result is a device that affordably and significantly improves the ability of troops to see and engage targets more rapidly in degraded combat conditions."

The new system is based on the company's Enhanced Night Vision Goggle III and Family of Weapon Sight (Individual) programs. Connected through a wireless system, the weapon-mounted thermal sight is designed to transmit imagery to the night vision goggle, allowing troops to stay protected while raising their weapon over an obstacle or around a corner, without exposing themselves to enemy fire.

http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-.../6691442855623/

Lockheed Martin Unveils New Amphibious Combat Vehicle for US Navy



NEW YORK (Sputnik) — A new Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) produced for the US Navy was revealed at a trade show in the state of Virginia, defense contractor Lockheed Martin said in statement on Tuesday.

"The armored, eight-wheel-drive vehicle is designed to transport up to 13 Marines, transition seamlessly between land and water, and provide high levels of blast protection," Lockheed Martin stated.

Tests conducted on the vehicle have shown that in the event the ACV traveled over an Improvised Explosive Devices and lost a wheel, it would still be able to drive and escape the blast zone.

"It’s going to be more lethal, it’s going to be faster and our troops inside are going to be better protected," US Marine Corps Capabilities Development Directorate Director William Mullen said.

The US Marine Corps established the ACV program to replace its aging fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicles, which have been in service since the 1970s.

http://sputniknews.com/military/20150922/1027359463.html

Satellite images show Russia building military support for Syria



http://mashable.com/2015/09/22/russian-mil...a/#thdsXmE2XmqG

Brazil Considers Buying Russian Pantsir-S1, Igla Air Defense Systems



MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Brazil is discussing the purchase of advanced Pantsir-S1 and Igla air defense systems from Russia in the near future, the head of the Brazilian Defense Ministry’s Industrial Technology Department told Sputnik Brazil on Wednesday.

"Brazil does not currently have medium-range air defense systems. We plan to fill in this gap in the very near future," Gen. Aderico Mattioli said.

When asked about a timeline delivery for the systems the general did not rule out first deliveries next year, ahead of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Mattioli told Sputnik Brazil that his country adopted a Western-style defense industry model alongside the program's pros and cons. He suggested that Russia and Brazil could step up cooperation on military technology, benefiting from cooperative research.

"Our main goal is to make our defense industrial base more self-reliant, and one of the ways to do that is to enhance strategic partnership between Brazil and Russia," the military official said.

The Pantsir-S1 is a short-to-medium range surface-to-air missile system first entering service with the Russian army in 2012. Igla is a portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile defense system that can be hand-carried.

http://sputniknews.com/military/20150923/1027385664.html

The U.K. Unveils Its Soldier of the Future



The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence has unveiled its high-tech soldier suit of the future. Equipped with centipede-like armor, biometric sensors, and advanced networking and communications, Future Soldier Vision (FSV) is designed to make British soldiers safer and more effective on the battlefield.

In war, the side with the most information usually wins. FSV is a set of armor, computers, antennas, and sensors that are worn over standard military fatigues. The goal is to make each soldier a networked sensor in wartime, capable of sharing and receiving information, calling for support, and coordinating action over long distances.

Wearable technology is a big part of FSV, and a lot is derived from civilian uses. A camera on top of the helmet allows soldiers to record real-time video from behind cover, peaking the tops of their helmets just over an obstacle to observe the enemy. Think of it as a way for the brass to FaceTime with the enemy—without the enemy knowing it.

Think of it as a way for the brass to FaceTime with the enemy—without the enemy knowing it.

Soldiers will be equipped with ballistic goggles projecting a heads-up display into the wearer's field of vision, displaying critical information. An Apple Watch-like wrist device will allow wearers to communicate with one another, and a soldier-proof handheld computer will aid in communications, position location, and information sharing.

Future Soldier Vision is also big on biometric technology. The suit is packed with biometric sensors measuring vital statistics such as blood pressure and heart rate. The data can then be pushed up the chain of command, allowing the Army to keep track of the soldier's vital signs.

The battlefield is growing increasingly deadly, with new dangers such as improvised explosive devices and cluster munitions. Future Soldier Vision counters these threats by increasing all-around protection as well as soldier mobility. The new helmet extends protection to the ears while electronically augmenting the wearer's hearing and blocking out harmful noises. The ballistic vest is segmented like an insect's exoskeleton, allowing it to flex as the soldier moves.

Of course, all of this stuff needs power and lots of it. FSV's electronics are powered by a battery pack that hangs off the back of wearer's bulletproof vest. A separate battery powers the helmet.

There are potential problems. Soldiers operating in the field for an extended period will need to recharge their batteries, and it's not clear how that's supposed to happen. If the network goes down—and the enemy will try his hardest to make sure it does—FSV-equipped troops could lose access to things as basic as maps. Buggy software could also harass troops. Any of these three problems could turn all of this fancy, expensive equipment into dead weight.​

Future Soldier Vision is one concept for where soldier tech should be in 2025. Like a concept car, FSV isn't necessarily representative of the future of war. But it is representative of where people who think a lot about war believe it is headed. Networked, protected and augmented, the British soldier of the future could be more lethal than ever before.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/r...-of-the-future/

Air Force: 'Korea Will Be Able to Continue KF-X Project without 4 Core Techs from US'



Air Force Chief of Staff Jung Gyeong-doo said that even though the U.S. may not provide four core technologies required for the development of the KF-X Korean fighter, Korea will be able to push forward with the KF-X project. The F-35A purchase contract does not include providing the four core technologies, either, Air Force Chief of Staff Jung said in a parliamentary inspection of the Air Force Headquarters on Sept. 22.

Earlier, in Sept. 2014, the Korean military demanded the transfer of 25 technologies such as AESA radar, flight control, avionics, and weapons, while deciding to introduce 40 F-35A fighters for 7.34 trillion won (US$6.23 billion).

But the U.S. government refused to approve exports of the four core technologies due to national security concerns, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said. The four items are AESA radar, infrared search and tracking equipment (IRST), electro-optical target tracking devices (EO TGP), and RF Jammers. The Korean military was planning to use the technologies in 2025. It was known that the four technologies were not included in the official contract when the Korean government decided to introduce F-35A fighters.

The DAPA is considering going ahead with the production of AESA radar, infrared search and tracking equipment by way of technological cooperation with third countries such as those in Europe and the development of other technologies in Korea.

But today, during the parliamentary inspection, lawmakers voiced concerns about a delay in the Korean fighter development program, since Korea has promoted the program under the premise that Lockheed Martin, the producer of the F-35A, will transfer core technologies to Korea.

Some military pundits say that Korea is one of the biggest buyers of U.S. weapons, but the U.S. is very loath to transfer technologies to Korea after selling them arms. “Lately, the U.S. is recognizing Korea as a competitor in the international arms market,” said a military official. “The U.S. did not give Korea promised technologies after selling the F-15K.”

http://www.businesskorea.co.kr/article/nat...project-without

Why tanks have no windows: 40cm of bulletproof glass smashed by RPG (VIDEO)




A Russian amateur video demonstrates what happens to a really thick piece of bulletproof glass when it is hit by a military-grade anti-tank weapon.

The video was produced by Aleksandr Kotlovoy, a Russian TV presenter who has a career working in several science entertainment shows. He and his crew conducted an experiment to see whether 45 layers of bulletproof glass totaling 40 cm would be enough to stop a hit from an RPG-7, a Russian shoulder-fired anti-armor rocket grenade launcher.



The experiment demonstrated the supremacy of the military technology. The hypersonic propulsion, which an RPG produces to pierce through tank armor, was more than capable of penetrating the multilayered glass and “kills” the crash dummy behind it. It even smashed through a second thick panel of glass a couple of meters in front of it in the hope of dispersing and lessening the impact.

The experiment was meant to demonstrate why tanks do not have large bulletproof windows, according to the commentary on the video.

https://www.rt.com/news/316210-rpg-vs-bulletproof-glass/

France Confirms Sale of Two Mistrals Built for Russia to Egypt



"President of the Republic spoke with President Sisi. They agreed on the principle and terms of the purchase of two Mistral-class projection and command ships by Egypt," the statement reads.

Earlier it was reported, that a delegation of high-ranking Egyptian officials is currently in Paris to negotiate the purchase of two Mistral-class helicopter carriers originally built for Russia.

According to France’s La Tribune daily, the Egyptian military is also considering the purchase of two Gowind-class corvettes from France under a 2014 contract, the newspaper cited a confidential source as saying.

La Tribune indicated, however, that Cairo was unhappy with the high price tag on the two helicopter carriers. Russia’s contract for their construction and delivery stood at 1.2 billion euro (over $1.3 billion).

Since 2014 Egypt bought 24 Rafale fighters in a €5.2Bln-deal. Paris and Cairo also signed a contract estimated at ‎€1bln ($1.1 billion) to supply four Gowind-class corvettes to Egypt.

The implementation of the Mistral deal, reached in 2011, was initially suspended by France in 2014 over Russia's alleged participation in the Ukraine conflict.

The Mistral deal was officially terminated in August. France repaid Russia around 900 million euro ($1 billion at the current exchange rates) in compensation for terminating the contract.

http://sputniknews.com/business/20150923/1027393230.html

Boeing Tanker Faces Key Flight Test



Boeing Co. ’s troubled new refueling tanker is about to face its biggest test, the results of which could put the nearly $50 billion contract on a steady course—or risk new delays and added costs.

Eight months after it was originally supposed to take to the air, the KC-46 military tanker is scheduled to make its maiden flight as soon as Friday, the Pentagon said. The flight kicks off a series of tests on a single plane over a four-month period.

Chicago-based Boeing already suffered $1.26 billion in overruns associated with the KC-46’s development, including an $835 million charge to earnings in July to fix the plane’s design and address manufacturing issues in the fueling system.

The compressed flight trials will determine whether the plane, a heavily modified version of Boeing’s civilian 767 jetliner, can link up with, and refuel, five different types of U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine aircraft. An earlier version without refueling systems started flying in December.

The Air Force is to decide by April whether to purchase the first batch of tankers. Boeing’s contract calls for it to deliver 18 by August 2017. A spokeswoman insists it will not begin purchases “until all criteria have been met.” The service is “not pleased with the schedule slips,” she said, noting Boeing has exhausted all schedule margin.

A Boeing spokesman said the company is “making good progress” on redesigning the plane’s fuel system components and is remains on schedule for the 2017 delivery deadline.

Many problems with the tanker’s fuel system design and manufacturing discovered over the past year are to be fixed by Boeing later in the testing program and aren’t needed for the April decision, officials said.

Righting the tanker project is an early challenge for Dennis Muilenburg, who became Boeing chief executive in July. The fixed-price contract, which puts Boeing on the hook for any cost overruns, could eventually lead to revenue of about $49 billion for 179 aircraft.

Former Boeing executives and engineers say the tanker’s troubles stem partly from changes to Boeing’s defense business in recent years that diminished valuable know-how. It had delivered refueling aircraft to Japanese and Italian militaries between 2008 and 2012 from a Boeing facility in Wichita, Kan. Those projects ran years late and significantly over-budget.

“They didn’t do a great job, but they sure learned a lot,” said a retired senior Boeing executive.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/boeing-tanker-...test-1442964371