Naval and Defense News

[Hongjian]

Sino-ESSM (based on the PL-12 active radar BVRAAM) spotted:

The fins look to be foldable. Now, we only need evidence that would support the notion that the 052D's VLS carries this in quad-packed fashion. Rumors at least pointed to that fact, but there was no pictoral evidence of that sort for years.

[kevinkins]

Initial Reports from Yemen:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/29/worl ... .html?_r=0

Apparently the goal was "a headquarters for Al Qaeda’s branch in Yemen that counterterrorism officials had deemed valuable enough to warrant a ground operation rather than an airstrike, a senior American official said."

I would imagine more details will emerge given the loss of life and the destroyed Osprey.

Kevin

[mikmykWS]

ORIGINAL: kevinkin

Initial Reports from Yemen:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/29/worl ... .html?_r=0

Apparently the goal was "a headquarters for Al Qaeda’s branch in Yemen that counterterrorism officials had deemed valuable enough to warrant a ground operation rather than an airstrike, a senior American official said."

I would imagine more details will emerge given the loss of life and the destroyed Osprey.

Kevin

These folks are extremely brave and do dangerous difficult work. I look forward to the day the full scope of what was done is known so people can better appreciate their sacrifice for their nation.

Mike

[kevinkins]

In this morning's news re: the arctic.

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/putins-russia ... 44933.html

[Triode]

-1 Saudi Badr-class corvette near Yemen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKWHgbpLD7g

hmm, or this is al madinah class frigate ?

[DrRansom]

Looks like the ship survived the explosion, but it's probably a mission kill.

[mikmykWS]

Pretty horrific hit. Ship is definitely out of action and may be a loss if fire isn't contained.

Wonder if they have radars on or any indication of an attack. Didn't seem like it.

Mike

[Broncepulido]

Al Madinah-class frigate (1985+) destroyed by Houthis near Yemen (Active defenses Crotale NG and 40mm Dardo Compact):
https://twitter.com/NatDefFor/status/82 ... 11746?s=04

[Broncepulido]

Apparently Houthi source: http://presstv.com/Detail/2017/01/30/50 ... h-Hudaydah

[Hongjian]

What missile was it?

P-15, Silkworm or Noor?

[kevinkins]

Wow, that'a quite a post. Thanks Triode.

Does this arrest to Houthi capabilities or Saudi lack thereof?

[Kitchens Sink]

Saudi's are currently claiming that it was an attack by 3 suicide boats filled with explosives. Time will tell if this is the case, or it was another type of weapon.

[Broncepulido]

The obscure (and only?) reference to the supposed October 2015 missile attack on Saudi warships:
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2015/10/1 ... ullah-Aden

[Dysta]

ORIGINAL: Hongjian

Heh, the mythical "N2" (Non Nuclear) bomb could become reality.

http://www.guancha.cn/military-affairs/ ... 1688.shtml

I think as propellant it would have the biggest impact. Would extend the range and velocities of missiles and rockets considerably.
And also as shaped charge warheads. But you gotta need some really darn good liners for that. Maybe even uranium-liner. But if you have those, it wouldnt be impossible to have an RPG-sized warhead penetrating the frontal armor of a modern tank.

US did not abandoned potent energy material research at all. And rather more pioneered when it comes with abandoning failure researches.

This recent example could outweigh Chinese Pentazole research a lot more:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/scien ... 48221.html

Pure hydrogen's metallic density could pack more punch than nitrogen-based components, not even cubic nitrogen (N8, more potent than HN5) could outperform it. However, it's not easy to produce. If US want to mass produce metallic hydrogen, it will require a lot of crusher capable to produce artificial diamonds. Without easier method, it's not yet to say the Chinese HN5 is obsolete already.

Both metallic H and HN5 are capable to produce super propellant and super bombs, so I am not surprised of this arm race.

[xavierv]

Royal Saudi Navy Al Madinah-class Frigate Damaged Following Attack by Houthi Militia Off Yemen

A Royal Saudi Navy Al Madinah-class Frigate has come under attack by Houthi militia yesterday while patrolling off the Western coast of Yemen in the Red Sea. The Houthis released an edited and low quality video of the attack as well as a statement mentionning a missile attack, but the Saudi-led coalition forces confirmed in a statement that the Frigate was attacked by three suicide boats.

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... yemen.html

[jtoatoktoe]

The Pentagon believes they meant to attack an American Warship, and it was a suicide bombing.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/01/31/exclusive-pentagon-believes-attack-on-saudi-frigate-meant-for-us-warship.html

[Dysta]

An alleged video of RoC defense has deployed PAC-3 SAM system at eastern Taiwan region, both radars and launchers are facing eastward too. Signaling to prevent from Chinese aerial threats attack from behind.

https://video.udn.com/news/634660 (Traditional Chinese, with video)
http://news.china.com/focus/taiwan/1116 ... 19772.html (Simplified Chinese)

[jtoatoktoe]

Cruiser USS Antietam Runs Aground in Tokyo Bay

She'll be looking for a new CO and a few others most likely. And some time in dry dock.

https://news.usni.org/2017/01/31/cruiser-uss-antietam-runs-aground-tokyo-bay-spills-oil

[Hongjian]

Further indications that China might have a larger nuclear arsenal than previously assumed. Also, I dont think that there is a "DF-5C" with 10 warheads - at least not produced as a family of ICBM, but that this was an experimental DF-5 variant which tested the DF-41's 10 MIRV bus. Henri.K, also mentioned in the article, has predicted it way before.

http://freebeacon.com/national-security ... -warheads/

China Tests Missile With 10 Warheads

Multi-warhead weapon tested amid growing tensions with the United States

China flight tested a new variant of a long-range missile with 10 warheads in what defense officials say represents a dramatic shift in Beijing's strategic nuclear posture.

The flight test of the DF-5C missile was carried out earlier this month using 10 multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles, or MIRVs. The test of the inert warheads was monitored closely by U.S. intelligence agencies, said two officials familiar with reports of the missile test.

The missile was fired from the Taiyuan Space Launch Center in central China and flew to an impact range in the western Chinese desert.

No other details about the test could be learned. Pentagon spokesman Cmdr. Gary Ross suggested in a statement the test was monitored.

"The [Defense Department] routinely monitors Chinese military developments and accounts for PLA capabilities in our defense plans," Ross told the Washington Free Beacon.

The test of a missile with 10 warheads is significant because it indicates the secretive Chinese military is increasing the number of warheads in its arsenal.

Estimates of China's nuclear arsenal for decades put the number of strategic warheads at the relatively low level of around 250 warheads.

U.S. intelligence agencies in February reported that China had begun adding warheads to older DF-5 missiles, in a move that has raised concerns for strategic war planners.

Uploading Chinese missiles from single or triple warhead configurations to up to 10 warheads means the number of warheads stockpiled is orders of magnitude larger than the 250 estimate.

Currently, U.S. nuclear forces—land-based and sea-based nuclear missiles and bombers—have been configured to deter Russia's growing nuclear forces and the smaller Chinese nuclear force.

Under the 2010 U.S.-Russian arms treaty, the United States is slated to reduce its nuclear arsenal to 1,550 deployed warheads.

A boost in the Chinese nuclear arsenal to 800 or 1,000 warheads likely would prompt the Pentagon to increase the U.S. nuclear warhead arsenal by taking weapons out of storage.

The new commander of the U.S. Strategic Command, Air Force Gen. John Hyten, stated during a Senate confirmation hearing in September that he is concerned about China's growing nuclear arsenal.

[Kitchens Sink]

I had no idea that Jeff "Skunk" Baxter was a Senior Consultant in the National Security Field:

https://www.cesgovernment.com/dt_team/j ... nk-baxter/

This guy absolutely rocked as a guitarist for Steely Dan, and later the Doobie Brothers. He still even has the huge handlebar moustache.

Rock Guitar Legend to Defense Guru...it shows anything is possible.