F/A-18F is no longer seriously considered tho. mindef already set its sight on rafale or typhoon

kinda a punch to the gut for the air force but i do agree that we need ISR and MPA more right now. judging from the "we will consider commercial platform" comment, i can say that mindef prolly have ATR-72 in mind

hope the bean counter could consider upgrading the migs tho. not basic overhaul but complete upgrade

where to find legacy hornet. even jordan is not going to sell theirs yet until their new planes arrived and fully operational and that could be a good 5,6 years from now.

those hornets from usn stocks are taking even heavier beatings than ours due to metal fatigue associated with operating from an AC. prolly should ask for lease from Typhoon T1 since RAF and luftwaffe had them in storage and even australia is considering to retire their typhoon as well. or go to france and take their credit line offer

Chinese Navy spy ship rattles Talisman Sabre war games off Queensland coast

A high-tech Chinese spy ship has been spotted off the Queensland coast monitoring joint military exercises between Australia and the United States, in what Defence officials have described as an "unfriendly" and "provocative" act.

The ABC can reveal the Auxiliary General Intelligence (AGI) vessel from the People's Liberation Army was sighted by the Defence Force in international waters during this month's Talisman Sabre war games.

The Type 815 Dongdiao-class AGI vessel is fitted with advanced communications systems designed to eavesdrop on other militaries.

In a statement to the ABC, Defence confirmed the spy ship had "been operating off the north-east coast of Australia" during the joint military exercises.

"The Chinese vessel has remained outside Australian territorial waters but inside the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone in the Coral Sea," the department said.

"Exercise Talisman Sabre is currently taking place in the vicinity. The vessel's presence has not detracted from the exercise objectives," it added.

Senior Australian military figures also told the ABC China's actions were provocative and sent an unfriendly message.

"At the moment what we see is a double standard where China picks the areas of the Law of the Sea that it likes and refuses to implement those that it doesn't," Dr Graham argued.

"I think it can only expect that to come back as a message in force from Australia and other countries."

The Defence Department said Australia respects the rights of all states to exercise freedom of navigation in international waters in accordance with international law.

Just days ago the Defence Force hosted a senior Chinese PLA General in Australia on a so-called "goodwill" visit.

During the trip, General Wei Liang "exchanged views on regional security issues" including the territorial dispute in the South China Sea.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-22/chin...ff-quee/8732944

100th soldier killed in Marawi day after gov't takes key bridge

The death toll reaches the 3-digit mark a day after troops scored a major triumph in the battlefield. They gain control of Mapandi Bridge.

MARAWI CITY, Philippines – The death of an elite Army soldier early morning on Friday, July 21, brought the military's death toll in Marawi City to 100.

The yet to be named soldier – a fighter of the Army Light Reaction force – was advancing to clear another building in the battle zone when a sniper's bullet killed him, according to a Rappler source privy to the operations on the ground.

"He's our 100th KIA (killed in action)," said the source. The military has not released the number of wounded soldiers.

He also died on the 60th day of the clashes against homegrown terrorist groups that pledged allegiance to the international terrorist network Islamic State (ISIS). A few hundred buildings have yet to be cleared in the battle zone.

Official tally shows 99 government forces have been killed in Marawi. The military waits 24 hours before releasing its latest death toll.

Up to 427 terrorists and 45 civilians have been killed, according to military data. A total of 525 firearms were also recovered.

http://www.rappler.com/nation/176315-soldi...ath-toll-marawi

i've said earlier, Arleigh Burke class is shaped as such that the radar return is smaller than it should've been. Watchkeepers on Crystal might have thought only small fishing boat when the fact that it was Fitzgerald.