China’s second aircraft carrier will be based on dated Soviet designs







http://www.businessinsider.my/chinas-secon...hGtSbXcBgYee.97

INTERNATIONAL MILITARY REVIEW – SYRIA, JAN.12, 2016



The Syrian Air Force has targeted a convoy of 20 tankers smuggling oil from territories held by ISIS on the al-Mayadin Highway near the city of Dayr al-Zawr.

A top commander of al-Qaeda-linked Ahrar al-Sham terrorist group, Abu Talib, was killed in a trap explosion in the Idlib province.

The loyalist forces are advancing in the southeastern part of the Hama province. Last night, clashes resumed along the northern bank of the Orontes River. The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies clashed with Al-Nusra and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham at the village of Jarjisah located north of the terrorist-controlled town of Al-Rastan. The SAA reportedly killed about 25 militants and imposed control of Jarisah as result of these clashes. Next expected aim of the Syrian forces is the town of Al-Rastan.

Separately, a number of civilians sustained injuries after militants groups launched mortar attacks on the northern part of the Syrian province of Hama.

On Monday, the pro-government forces launched military operations to capture the town of Al-Rashiddeen in South Aleppo clashing with militants of Al-Nusra, Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham, Liwaa Suqour Al-Sham, and Harakat Nouriddeen Al-Zinki. The SAA reportedly captured the militants’ supply route to Al-Rashiddeen. The urban fighting is continuing.

The tensions have been raised between a Christian militia, called the Gozarto Protection Forces (GPF), and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the city of Al-Qamishli. 1 GPF member was reportedly killed and 3 locals wounded in the clashes observed inside the Al-Wasta District of Al-Qamishli last night. Other reports argue that the GPF fighters killed 3 YPG fighters which is a branch of the SDF, defending their positions in the district. The development shows that despite the US support the predominantly Kurdish SDF forces are unable to advance to the territories with major non-Kurdish populations.

http://southfront.org/international-milita...ia-jan-12-2016/

Iran Releases Detained US Sailors After Violation of Territorial Waters



http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160113...us-sailors.html

Paint job in progress of the Philippine Navy first Strategic Sealift Vessel (SSV) at PT PAL facility. Launching is set on January 18th 2016. Photo credit to Alberth Minas.



https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=23859...&type=3&theater

This post has been edited by azriel: Jan 13 2016, 06:58 PM

already saw some of the issue on SAF Fb

your picture have banneh pictah, so call you banneh!

Saudi-Iran war could send crude oil prices rocketing to $500 USD per barrel, experts say



Saudi Arabia has a variety of reasons to not back down on its row with Iran, not the least of which is the very real sense of being besieged on multiple fronts. An article in The New Statesman by former British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, John Jenkins, clearly laid out the threats that Saudi Arabia sees around every corner: extremists at home; a growing Iran; toppled allies from the Arab Spring; low oil prices; and a fractured relationship with the United States. The nuclear deal between Iran and the West was confirmation on the feeling in Riyadh that it is becoming increasingly insecure.

Already the two rivals have engaged in proxy battles in Yemen and Syria, supporting opposite sides in those wars. A full on direct military confrontation would be something entirely different, however. It would have catastrophic consequences for oil markets, even when taking into account the current supply overhang. Dr. Hossein Askari, a professor at The George Washington University, told Oil & Gas 360 that a war between the two countries could lead to supply disruptions, with predictable impacts on prices.

“If there is a war confronting Iran and Saudi Arabia, oil could overnight go to above $250, but decline [back] down to the $100 level,” said Askari. “If they attack each other’s loading facilities, then we could see oil spike to over $500 and stay around there for some time depending on the extent of the damage.”

While not impossible, war is speculative at this point. Also, $250 and $500 per barrel are numbers pulled out of thin air, and may seem a bit sensationalist. But despite the glut in global oil production – somewhere around 1 mb/d – the margin from excess to shortage is thinner than most people think. OPEC is producing flat out and spare capacity is actually remarkably low right now. The EIA estimated that OPEC spare capacity stood at just 1.25 mb/d in the third quarter of 2015, the lowest level since 2008.

[Sos]

Voice of Reason, Up North, 29 minutes ago
9 Deaths in the armed forces, compared to 35 in construction and 33 in Agriculture (HSE 2014-15). Puts things into perspective.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-33...-crossings.html

Not bad actually when you are actually in the business of killing people. When you are dealing with deadly weapons, very heavy vehicles and very rough terrain on a daily basis, the average kinda goes up.

Homs deal between rebels and Syrian forces enters second phase





http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/homs-und...rces-1515617325

Why Was a US Submarine Just in the Philippines?





http://thediplomat.com/2016/01/why-was-a-u...he-philippines/

Army Showcases Two Examples of Driverless Technology





http://www.kcentv.com/story/30954887/army-...less-technology

ILX-27 Unmanned Helicopter





http://www.airforce-technology.com/project...ned-helicopter/

SAF is now at 4 deaths on avg/year for past 5 years... last time was avg high of 12 and once 16...

Comparing to SAF , our trainings are harsher . You'll never know that you can get hypothermia during the normal Serang Hendap routines . Imagine lying on the jungle floor during raining season plus the midnight cold for 18-24 hours , your hand starts to get numb and you couldnt even feel your limbs . Damn I really hate latihan medan because of this .

Thats why all Malaysian Army are crackheads . Wanna compare us to SAF ? Give them any one of our RSMs from the infantry regiments , they would scare the hell out of the SAF .

http://www.malaysiandefence.com/md530g-con...#comment-235061

Of course Malaysian will say Malaysian army is better than Singapore army, and another way around. Why need such comparison? . We're neighbour, we shouldn't scare each other.

I don't think that is what he's implying.

80% of Sheikh Maskin under SAA control as reinforcements arrive



Early this morning, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) launched a surprise offensive in the southern district of Sheikh Maskin, effectively capturing some 35 building blocks and setting them in firm control of the city’s strategic roundabout. This advance comes as reinforcements of the elite 7th Mechanized Division arrived during the past week; this specific SAA division specializes in urban warfare and can trace its lineage as far back as the 1973 Arab–Israeli War.

Furthermore, 3 days ago, government troops managed to capture approximately 20 buildings west of the highly important Battalion 82 Housing Facility, which is located near the city center. Remarkably, the Syrian Arab Army also managed to capture a checkpoint along the road that runs west towards Nawa – thus, cutting off an absolutely essential supply line for Islamist rebels of Jabhat al-Nusra (al-Qaeda) and the Free Syrian Army.

If the Syrian Army manages to liberate Sheikh Maskin from insurgents, only two towns will block them from entirely recapturing the Damascus-Daraa highway; the militant-held towns of Ibta and Dael which are both geographically situated south of Sheikh Maskin. However, Jabhat al-Nusra and their Free Syrian Army allies are likely to defend every inch of the southwestern district of Sheikh Maskin which remains under their control – at least for now.

http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/80-of-...nforcements-in/

Islamist defenses collapse in northern Latakia as the Syrian Army advances to the Turkish border



The Islamist rebels of Jabhat Al-Nusra and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) suffered one of their largest defeats in the last three years on Tuesday, as they rapidly retreated from the strategic town of Salma in Latakia’s northeastern countryside after the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and their allies overran their positions.

Making matters worse for the Islamist rebels, the Syrian Arab Army’s 103rd Brigade of the Republican Guard – backed by the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP), Liwaa Suqour Al-Sahra (Desert Hawks Brigade), Muqawama Souri (Syrian Resisstance), and the National Defense Forces (NDF) – continued their advance in the Latakia Governorate’s northeastern countryside on Wednesday, capturing the villages bordering the town of Salma.

According to a military source in Jabal Al-Akrad (Kurdish Mountains), the Syrian Arab Army’s 103rd Brigade and their allies imposed full control over the villages of Al-Kawm, Al-Mareei, Marj Khawkhah, Beit Miru, Al-Hawr, and Al-Maruniyat after an intense series of clashes with the Islamsit rebels of Jabhat Al-Nusra and the Free Syrian Army.

With the aforementioned villages under the Syrian Armed Forces’ control, the Islamist rebel defenses have virtually collapsed amid the imperative loss of Salma.

Salma is the situated at the highest point in Jabal Al-Akrad; its loss will be felt by the Islamist rebels in the coming weeks as the Syrian Armed Forces continue to advance towards the Turkish border.

http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/islami...turkish-border/

‘Traitors’: Kadyrov blasts non-system opposition for servicing foreign interests





https://www.rt.com/politics/328731-kadyrov-...ian-non-system/

Of course I've only hung out with NSmen officers but they strike me as a little more corporate than the Msians who are of course full time professionals. Nonetheless I'm sure any RSM from either army will scare the living shit out of me