Take command of air and naval assets from post-WW2 to the near future in tactical and operational scale, complete with historical and hypothetical scenarios and an integrated scenario editor.
ROK Navy Opens New Naval Base on Jeju Island for KDX-III Aegis Destroyers
The Republic of Korea (ROK or South Korea) Navy announced it has officially opened its new naval base on the southern resort island of Jeju. Jeju island is strategically located in a sea passage connecting the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan (East Sea) in the northwest Pacific Ocean. According to the ROK Navy, it took the country 23 years and more than 1 trillion won (US$806 million) to complete construction of the base.
The ROK Navy stressed the new base will dramatically enhance the Navy's ability to counter North Korea's potential provocations at the sea borders both in the west and the east. The new naval compound also has in mind the mission to defend Ieo Island, known as Socotra Rock, a strategically important South Korean submerged rock located nearly 300 km southwest of Jeju. China has previously laid claims to the resource-rich rock, which South Korea controls with the presence of its maritime research center there.
^ I think it was more to do with the local population being against it, taking the project to court to try and stop it etc...
Successful Test Campaign of the Self Protection Suite of the Norwegian NH90
NHI successfully completed the test campaign of the self-protection suite of the Norwegian NH90. The aircraft NH90 NNWN01 prototype was manned by Finmeccanica Helicopter Division flight test team (Test Pilot Roger Mowbray and Flight Test Engineer Fabrizio Santarossa) and supported by a multi-national, multi-disciplined team from several organisations.
This comprehensive suite encompasses a Radar Warner Receiver (AN/ALQ-211(v)5 from HARRIS) able to detect, locate and identify any radar guided threats at long distance around the NH90, a Laser Warning System (AN/AVR-2A(v)1 from Goodrich), a Missile Warning System (AN/AAR-54) from Northrop Grumman) and also a Counter Measures Dispensing System (AN/ALE 47 (H) from BAE).
Australia's Latest White Paper Prioritizes Naval Forces with Submarines Frigates Destroyers & MPAs
Australia unveiled its latest defense white paper, the third one in seven years. The Australian government has announced its plans to spend an additional 29.9 billion Australian Dollars on defence over the next decade. A majority of this investment will be for the Royal Australian Navy, in a move to answer China's military rapid expansion as well as rising tensions in South East Asia.
In summary, the naval part of the new white paper calls for:
» 12 new submarines to replace the existing 6 Collins class SSK (SEA1000 program)
» 9 new anti-submarine frigates to replace the ANZAC (SEA5000 program)
» 3 Hobart class air warfare destroyers (currently under construction)
» 12 new offshore patrol vessels
» Life extension for 4 Huon Class mine hunters and new hydrographic vessels
» 7 additional P-8A Maritime Patrol Aircraft for a total of 15 MPAs
» 7 high altitude MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft
» 24 MH-60R Seahawk naval combat helicopters (currently being delivered)
This is set to turn the Royal Australian Navy into a naval power to be reckoned with in the region.
People from Arizona to Canada have reported seeing bright lights in the sky as a Chinese rocket burned up in the atmosphere.
Witnesses described the lights as a group of about three dozen fireballs moving slowly from south to north late Monday. Canadian photographer Neil Zeller says it looked like a cluster of fireballs followed by a long orange tail.
A NASA official told the Salt Lake Tribune the lights were a Chinese rocket booster that broke apart about 11 p.m. Mountain Time.
Calls to NASA from The Associated Press were directed to U.S. Strategic Command, who couldn't immediately confirm what it was.
Mike Hankey with the American Meteor Society says his organization got more than 150 reports of the event from nine Western states and Canada.
From Taiyuan, China to Arizona, USA is over 5500 nautical miles. Since CZ-4B can get their junks over West Coast, we definitely know what would be next if WW3 happens.
Unfortunately, DF-5 series in CMANO will not make it happens (Even DF-5B have only 4200 nautical miles max range, raining 'rocket debris' to West Coast is still a wet dream for scenario makers).
Yeah, seriously. The DF-5s range in CMANO is dissapointing. They cant hit CONUS from their Silos in Northeastern China, much unlike they were designed to be.
People from Arizona to Canada have reported seeing bright lights in the sky as a Chinese rocket burned up in the atmosphere.
Witnesses described the lights as a group of about three dozen fireballs moving slowly from south to north late Monday. Canadian photographer Neil Zeller says it looked like a cluster of fireballs followed by a long orange tail.
A NASA official told the Salt Lake Tribune the lights were a Chinese rocket booster that broke apart about 11 p.m. Mountain Time.
Calls to NASA from The Associated Press were directed to U.S. Strategic Command, who couldn't immediately confirm what it was.
Mike Hankey with the American Meteor Society says his organization got more than 150 reports of the event from nine Western states and Canada.
From Taiyuan, China to Arizona, USA is over 5500 nautical miles. Since CZ-4B can get their junks over West Coast, we definitely know what would be next if WW3 happens.
Unfortunately, DF-5 series in CMANO will not make it happens (Even DF-5B have only 4200 nautical miles max range, raining 'rocket debris' to West Coast is still a wet dream for scenario makers).
Yeah, seriously. The DF-5s range in CMANO is dissapointing. They cant hit CONUS from their Silos in Northeastern China, much unlike they were designed to be.
We just added a number of updates to Chinese missiles to our update last. We'll get to them soon.
Japan Will Soon Launch Replacement Program for JMSDF 3 Towada class Replenishment Oilers
The Japanese Minister of Defense should soon launch a new replenishement oiler program to replace the three Towada class replenishment ships. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Towada, Tokiwa and Hamana were ordered in the 1980ies and commissioned in 1987 and 1990.
Russian Navy Looking at Ways to Reduce the Crew Size of its Nuclear Submarines
Russian military leaders are pondering the feasibility of nuclear-powered submarines with their crews sharply reduced owing to onboard systems automation, a source in defense industry told TASS on Friday. Ships like that - Project 705 and 705K Lira-class (NATO reporting name: Alfa-class) torpedo submarines - used to be built in the Soviet Union. Their high performance were owing to the numerous original solutions they embodied. Their automated nuclear reactor and armament control systems both allowed a crew reduction and yielded a wealth of experience in shipborne electronics development.
Russian Navy Pacific Fleet to Deploy Four Borei-class SSBNs in 2020s
Russian Navy`s Pacific Fleet will deploy four Project 955/955A (NATO reporting name: Borei-class or Dolgorukiy-class) ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) in the 2020s, according to a Russian defense industry source. The source pointed out, that K-550 'Alexander Nevsky' and K-551 'Vladimir Monomakh' submarines would be complemented by two upgraded Borei-class SSBNs (Project 955A).
First of Two German built MEKO A-200 AN Frigate Commissioned with Algerian Navy
The first of two MEKO Frigates built by Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) in Kiel was officially commissioned on February 23 2016. The vessel nammed Harrad (meaning Detterent) was launched in early December 2014. Algeria ordered two frigates (with an option for two more) in March 2012. It is reported that Harrad Frigate is due to arrive in Oran in Algeria in May 2016.
IAI Sky Sniper. Low Cost, Long Range, High Speed Precision Attack.
IAI took a GMLRS, MLRS rocket and made it air launch capable. looks like a cheap way to attack fixed targets and also saturate attack SAM systems from standoff range.
The IAI video states a four minute flight time, so I guess a range of 200-300 kilometers??
More data on Su-34 Fullback in the Air International March 2016 issue (of course the "usual suspects" can clarify or comment on it, just Triode commented on Khibiny a few days ago on 2/24/2016 5:48:53 PM ):
- Sea level speed, clean: 1300 Km/h=702 knots (previous statements 1400 Km/h=756 knots).
- High altitude speed, clean: 1.6 Mach=918 knots (previous statemenents 1.8+ Mach).
- Ferry range 2160 nm.
- Max ceiling 15.700 meters.
- Range with 6x500 Kg bombs, 4xAAM and auxiliary tanks at sea level=945 nm.
- Range with 6x500 Kg bombs, 4xAAM and auxiliary tanks at high level=1620 nm.
- Radar designation V004, X-Band, LDSD, SS, PESA. Capable of track-while-scan on 10 air targets, and to engage 4 air targets and 4 surface targets simultaneously.
- Radar range against fighter size target 64 nm. (coherent with the previous 97,2 nm stated as maximum AA range, also, 73 nm SS range against a "large" ship, probably also 97,2 nm maximum range in SS).
- Radar V004 is included in the Leninets Sh141 suite, comprising also KNIRTI L265V Khibiny-MV ECM/ESM (L175V Khibiny-10V in early production aircrafts) usually installed in wingtips, 623D IFF device, all controled by K-030B (Baget-10V) computer.
- L150 Pastel RWR.
- Ventral I255 B1/02 Platan TV-laser targeting system (looking through a retractable "slot", probably not a search device, delete IRST, TDS and FLIR flags).
- RPKB K-102 targeting and navigation system.
- 7x14 chaff/flare dispensers below the tail "sting".
- Weapons: Kh-59M, Kh-31P, Kh-31A, Kh-29T/L, R-27 and R-73 (probably also R-77/AA-12 Adder, Kh-35U, Kh-38M and Kh-31PM. UPAB-1500 in evaluation).
- Can carry up to four underwing L175VU-1, L175VU-2 and L175VSh-1 ECM pods (delivered to operational units from 2015).
- Can carry up to four underwing L175VU-1, L175VU-2 and L175VSh-1 ECM pods (delivered to operational units from 2015).
L-175VU-1 and-2 is just powerful transmitters under direct management of Su-34 L-175V inner ECM station , 5-18 GHz
L-175VSh-1 is ECM pod with own ESM station but also under direct control of Su-34 L-175V
all of them are group defence ECM , there is also L-175VSh-2 also with own ESM station
difference between L-175VSh-1 and L-175VSh-2 ECM pods, one of them is 1-4 GHz other 18-40 GHZ(Im not sure about ECM 40 , 40 may based on ESM station specification)
about "delivered to operational units from 2015" well , this is really old systems (from 1997) so they not exactly in my watchlist
Kuwait has approved the procurement of Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft that was announced in September 2015, the Reuters news agency reported on 1 March.
The national parliament has passed a draft law enabling the advance payment of KWD150 million (USD499 million) for the Typhoons, with the remainder of the USD8.7 billion to be paid later.
Under the deal, 22 single-seat and six twin-seat aircraft will be delivered to Kuwait from Finmeccanica's assembly line at Caselle, Italy, from 2019. These Tranche 3 aircraft will be equipped with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, and Kuwait also has the option for the MBDA Storm Shadow cruise missile and MBDA Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile.
Source: IHS Jane's Online
“‘Who controls the past,’ ran the Party slogan, ‘controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.’”
French Navy FREMM Provence in ASW Exercise With Royal Malaysian Navy in South China Sea
The French Navy (Marine Nationale) latest Aquitaine class FREMM Frigate Provence conducted an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise with the Royal Malaysian Navy on February 16th and 17th. Provence and the Scorpene class submarine Tun Razak conducted the exercise off the Northern coast of Borneo island in the South China Sea.
JMSDF Appointed the First Female Officer to Command a Destroyer
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) appointed Commander Miho Otani as the commanding officer aboard Asagiri-class destroyer Yamagiri (DD-152) on 29 February 2016. Cmdr. Otani becomes the first woman to command a major surface combatant ship in the JMSDF.
China's PLAN Received 20 AK-176 Naval Gun Systems from Russia in 2008-2015
China has received 20 Russian 76mm AK-176 naval guns in 2008-2015, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute`s (SIPRI) arms transfer database. Russia signed the contract with China to supply 24 AK-176 naval guns to the Asian country in 2004 and the related deliveries were started in 2008. The gun are intended for 24 Type-054A (Jiangkai II) frigates being built by China. As of late 2015, China received 20 AK-176 guns under the aforementioned contract.
In 2007-2012, Russia supplied to China three more AK-176 naval guns for Type-071 (Yuzhao) amphibious transport docks.
China has acquired various Russian-produced naval equipment in large quantities. In 2004 Russia signed the contract with China to supply 96 MR-90 (NATO reporting name: Front Dome) fire control radars to be installed on the Type-054A frigates and to be integrated with the HHQ-16 naval surface-to-air missiles systems. The deliveries of the MR-90s were started in 2008. As of late 2015, the Asian country received 80 such radars, according to the Stockholm Institute.
GE to Provide Gas Turbines for Italian Navy PPA Hybrid Drive
GE’s Marine Solutions will provide the LM2500+G4 gas turbine that will power the Italian Navy’s new Pattugliatori Polivalenti d’Altura (PPA) multipurpose offshore patrol ships. The ships’ hybrid electric propulsion system also will use GE’s shock-proof MV3000 drives and a GE-designed electrical network of motors as part of the propulsion system.
Third of TKMS built F125 class Frigate “Sachsen-Anhalt” Christened for the German Navy
The third of a total of four 125 class frigates for the German Navy was christened “Sachsen-Anhalt” today at the Hamburg site of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems. Following the christening of the first two frigates “Baden-Württemberg” in December 2013 and “Nordrhein-Westfalen” in April 2015 this is a further important milestone in the shipbuilding program for this frigate class. Dr. Gabriele Haseloff, wife of the premier of the state of Saxony-Anhalt after which the frigate has been named, performed the christening ceremony in the presence of high-level representatives from government, the German Navy and the companies involved.
Russian Navy Black Sea Fleet Naval Aviation Forms Su-30SM Squadron in Crimea
The naval aviation of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet has received an air squadron of eight advanced Sukhoi Su-30SM (NATO reporting name: Flanker-C) multipurpose fighter jets, fleet spokesman Vyacheslav Trukhachyov said on Thursday.
Russia will replace all of its Su-24 Fencer bomber jets operating in the Black Sea Fleet on the Crimean Peninsula with Su-30SM Flanker multirole fighters by 2020, the head of the Russian Black Sea Fleet’s Naval Aviation said Thursday.
Russian Navy Taking Steps to Fulfill its Global Blue Navy Ambitions
The Russian Defense Ministry’s board has discussed establishing a new system for the Navy’s overall support to enhance its efficiency during long autonomous missions. The Defense Ministry’s board has also discussed the construction of modern comprehensive support ships. As Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said, the Defense Ministry is setting up a new system to provide logistical support for the Navy.
Russia’s Pacific Fleet Receives Bastion Coastal Defense Missile Systems
The Russian Pacific Fleet’s missile and artillery brigade has formed a battalion armed with the Bastion (NATO reporting name: SSC-5 Stooge) coastal defense missile system, fleet spokesman Roman Martov said on Friday. The battalion has undergone special training with Russia’s Black Sea Fleet to operate Bastion coastal defense missile systems, the spokesman added.
