Gathering fr Singkie fleet review?

not to forget Alouette IIIB also, red doors. hahaha. memories

Indonesian police foil Jakarta attack hatched by militant on death row: Source

KUALA LUMPUR: Indonesian police have foiled a Mumbai-style terror attack in the heart of Jakarta, which was hatched by a militant from inside a maximum-security prison, a counter-terrorism source told Channel NewsAsia on Thursday (Apr 6).



Iwan Darmawan, also known as Rois, is currently on death row for his role in the 2004 Australian Embassy car bombing in Jakarta and is held at the island prison of Nusakambangan in Central Java.

“Rois planned a Mumbai-style attack in the heart of Jakarta while inside the prison but the police have foiled it,” said the counter-terrorism source who did not reveal details of the location of the planned attacks.



The Mumbai-style attack he was referring to was the 2008 assault on multiple locations in India's financial capital, including a railway station and two hotels. The attacks, which was carried out by 10 gunmen over four days, killed 166 people.

A source told Channel NewsAsia last month that Rois was able to communicate with militants outside the prison and directed one of them, a man identified only by the initials SM, to procure weapons from southern Philippines for the attack.

SM was said to have bought a total of 18 assault rifles - 17 M16 and one M14 - from the southern Philippines.

“SM paid US$30,000 for the 18 guns. Police are still investigating where the funds came from,” said the source. “The 18 guns have not entered Indonesia and are still on Basilan island, Philippines."

The discovery of Rois' involvement comes after the arrest of eight suspects from the Islamic State-linked Jemaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) on Mar 23 in raids in several cities in West Java. SM was among the suspects arrested in the sting operation.



The US Department of State has labelled JAD as a "specially designated global terrorist" organisation. JAD is composed of nearly two dozen Indonesian extremist groups that have pledged allegiance to Islamic State's leader Abu Bakar al-Baghdadi.

The arrests plus heavy military operations in the southern Philippines are believed to have made it difficult for the assault rifles to be moved to Indonesia, said the counter-terrorism source.

He added, however, that two hand guns did manage to enter the country last year and were used in the 2016 Jakarta attacks at a major shopping and business district which killed seven people. SM is believed to have helped fund that attack.

Last year, the then top security minister Luhut Panjaitan revealed that Rois was linked to the Jakarta attacks but he did not say what role he played.

That attack last January was "just a test run," said the counter-terrorism source on Thursday. "They (militants) had plans for a much bigger attack, a Mumbai-style one,” he added.

- CNA/ac

Israel Aerospace Industries signs near US$2 billion missile deal with India



JERUSALEM: State-owned Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has struck a deal worth almost US$2 billion to supply India's army and navy with missile defense systems, the company said on Thursday, describing it as Israel's largest ever defense deal.

IAI said in a statement it would supply an advanced air defense system, including medium-range surface-to-air missiles, launchers and communications and control technology, to the Indian army for around US$1.6 billion.

An additional naval defense system, including long-range surface-to-air missiles, would be deployed on India's first aircraft carrier, which is still being built, the statement said. The value of that deal was not disclosed, but IAI said the total package was worth nearly US$2 billion.



Israel is one of the top three arms suppliers to India, which shares borders with nuclear-armed China and Pakistan. Between 2008-2015, India was the world's second largest developing-world arms purchaser, according to the U.S. Congress.

Until recently, India kept its defense ties with Israel under wraps, largely out of fear of upsetting Arab countries and its own large Muslim population.

But Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose nationalist party sees Israel as an ally against Islamist militancy, has openly cultivated warmer ties, and is due to visit Israel later this year.

(Reporting by Jeffrey Heller and Maayan Lubell; Editing by Jon Boyle)

- Reuters

US reaffirmed commitment to Asia-Pacific region and bilateral defence ties with Singapore



SINGAPORE - United States Defence Secretary James Mattis has reaffirmed the US commitment to the Asia-Pacific region and expressed a desire to deepen bilateral defence ties with Singapore, said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen.

He also revealed in a Facebook posting on Thursday (April 6) morning that Mr Mattis will be attending the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, an annual security dialogue that is usually held in late May and often features top brass military and defence personnel.



Dr Ng, who is making a working visit to the US, met Mr Mattis at the Pentagon on Wednesday (US time), and described their meeting as "warm and productive".

"We discussed common security challenges including the threat of terrorism and ways to deal with them. I look forward to returning the warm hospitality when Secretary Mattis attends the Shangri-La Dialogue in June this year," wrote Dr Ng.

According to a transcript of an interview with Channel NewsAsia in Washington DC, Dr Ng described Mr Mattis, a former Marine Corps general, as someone who has strategies and plans, and vast experience in the US military.

"He gave a reassuring calm, and in his words, he's now become the 'Secretary of Reassurance'. So I was very happy with the outcome of that," said Dr Ng.

"I think it bodes well from the security point, America's commitment to the region, and not only commitment to the region, but commitment towards Asia-Pacific's stability... There is much reassurance and confidence that Secretary Mattis is there."

Dr Ng added that both countries remain committed to the enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement, signed in 2015, which will further collaboration in new areas such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, cyber defence, biosecurity and public communications.




Singapore also remains committed to facilitating the use of Changi Naval Base and its air bases by American forces, said Dr Ng.

He said the purpose of his trip from Sunday to Wednesday (April 2 to 5) was to get a better feel of how to engage the US as there have been "several levels of uncertainty, unpredictability, new administration" under President Donald Trump since Mr Trump took office on Jan 20.

"We thought the best way to do that is to meet the individuals, the ambassadors, and we lined up a significant number of calls with old friends of Singapore who understand the politics, who understand the history of Singapore and relations with the US, and understand our region," said Dr Ng.

He said it has been a very useful trip, calling it not only a voyage of discovery, but also one of reassurance and reaffirmation by many strong friends and supporters of Singapore in Washington, "who have given us very good guide posts and who also gave us strong assurance that you can call on them if need be".



Asked about the upcoming Mar-a-Lago Summit meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in the US, Dr Ng said it is a "good development" that both leaders are meeting, as it is better for both countries to be cooperating than to be in an antagonistic relationship.

He said Singapore believes it would be healthy for the US and China to agree to avoid trade wars and to help both sides grow economically.

"Because from Singapore's perspective, we benefit whenever global trade goes up. And, simplistically, if there are protectionist measures from any one country, retaliation, the effect is, as we've known from past experience is that global trade just goes down," added Dr Ng.

Thai king endorses military-backed constitution



Thailand's monarch has endorsed a new constitution in the first step back towards democracy after a 2014 military coup.
The document was signed by new King Maha Vajiralongkorn at a ceremony in the capital. Critics argue, however, it gives the military a powerful say over Thai politics.

Bombs away, looks like my tax dollars just went towards a $60 million fireworks display in Syria....

US launched Tomahawks missiles from the Med Sea against Syrian targets

kneejerk reaction though
not the first time assad used chems on his own pipul

Taking advantage to get pressure off western proxy forces? The SAA with Russian help really gained major ground past few months.

1st time Trump is in charge

Well thats another campaign promise scratched
But I gotta say, its far more effective than that pussy Obama

Syrian Republican Guard: History And Capabilities




US Threatens Unilateral Action Against Assad Government

Mexican army helicopter crashes in Huehuetoca municipality





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Two Iraqi pilots killed when helicopter shot down over Mosul by Islamic State





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Pakistan Army aircraft crash-lands near Peshawar





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The M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle - Overview + Opinions



Time to discuss the M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle. In 1972 the US Army requested design proposal to meet a requirement for a mechanized infantry fighting vehicle. It was developed in response to the Soviet BMP-1 IFV. A complex series of design submissions and changing specifications followed until a Fighting Vehicle System appeared, comprising two vehicles, an IFV which became M2 Bradley and Cavalry Fighting Vehicle which became the M3. It was designed as a better armored replacement for the ageing M113 armored personnel carrier. Deliveries of the M2 Bradley commenced in 1981 and have continued since with totals over 4 600 vehicles. Some 400 M2 IFV's have been exported to Saudi Arabia.

The M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle has a welded aluminum armor hull. Front arc has a spaced laminated aluminum and steel armor. Initial production variant provided protection against 14.5-mm armor-piercing rounds. Front arc of the latest models provide protection against 30-mm armor-piercing rounds. Also vehicle is fitted with explosive reactive armor and withstands hits from RPG rounds. Bottom was reinforced with steel plates for improved protection against mines. The M2 Bradley is also fitted with NBC protection system.

Vehicle is armed with a two-man turret, fitted with a 25-mm dual-fed Bushmaster chain gun. At the time of its introduction the Bradley was the first IFV with a fully-stabilized main gun. The gun fires armor-piercing and HE-FRAG rounds. Also there is a TOW anti-tank guided missile launcher loaded with two missiles. There is also a coaxial 7.62-mm machine gun.

The Bradley IFV accommodates 6 dismounts. Infantrymen enter and leave the vehicle via the rear doors. Early models had firing ports with dedicated 5.56-mm assault rifles attached. These were later removed to avoid compromising the side armor protection.

Original version of this infantry fighting vehicle was powered by a Cummins VTA-903T turbocharged diesel engine, developing 500 hp. Engine is located at the front. It is mated to an automatic transmission. The M2 is amphibious with the use of swim barrier. Swimming capabilities can be improved by the erection of inflatable buoyancy tanks. On water the Bradely is propelled by spinning its tracks. This IFV is air-transportable
Throughout its service life the M2 Bradley IFV series has been the subject of numerous enhancements to improve combat capabilities and survivability for the vehicle and occupants. There were three main improvement programmes - the M2A1, M2A2 and M2A3.

Russia displays modernized T-72B3 tanks. All photos by Vitaly Kuzmin.





http://defense-watch.com/2017/04/07/russia...d-t-72b3-tanks/

This post has been edited by azriel: Apr 7 2017, 11:53 AM

In Oriente Primus - Exercise Thunder Warrior 2017



500 soldiers. 1000 artillery shells fired. A training area twice the size of Singapore.

Catch the Singapore Armed Forces' artillery troopers in action during Exercise Thunder Warrior 2017 in Waiouru, New Zealand!





The RSAF @ Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2017

did msia participate?

U.S. Military Academy Sandhurst Competition



The U.S. Military Academy Sandhurst Competition is a military skills competition at West Point that first began in 1967 with the presentation of a British officer's sword to the United States Corps of Cadets by the British Exchange Officer.



This post has been edited by Fat & Fluffy: Apr 7 2017, 12:55 PM

Marine helicopter crashes in Arizona, five aboard escape injury





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First prototype of the FNSS-Pindad Modern Medium Weight Tank (MMWT) to be display at IDEF 2017 Turkey in May.


(FNSS-Pindad MMWT. Photo by fallenpx)



http://www.bumntoday.com/read/2017/04/07/1...merkan_di_Turki

This post has been edited by azriel: Apr 7 2017, 06:55 PM