Naval and Defense News

[Scar79]

ORIGINAL: Ancalagon451

Has any image of the R-37 (AA-13 Arrow/Axehead?) being operationaly deployed, surfaced at all?

Yes. And not only image but a video footage recorded at the Kansk airbase during its 80th anniversary celebrations in 2018.

[Ancalagon451]

Fúck, I've seen those very same photos before and took the recessed weapons for R-33!

Thank you very much. Any info about operational deployment?

Ancalagon

[KLAB]

Ditto. Thought they were R33 at a glance when you notice the different tail configuration compared to the R33 on the trolley. Good spot. Thanks. In a news broadcast from the same open day the video shows the notice board for the R-33. Think they're inert given the kids using it as a bench! 😁 Based on the fact that the images are apparently from an airbase open day for an operational unit I would say R-37 is in operational service.

ORIGINAL: Ancalagon451

I've seen those very same photos before and took the recessed weapons for R-33!

Thank you very much. Any info about operational deployment?

Ancalagon

[kevinkins]

A new DEW Line is being talked about ... the last one was one of the largest construction projects ever and was made irrelevant by ICBMs shortly after completion.

https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoin ... ng-system/

But the history of the DEW Line is interesting.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Today: A bit on lasers

https://breakingdefense.com/2019/12/exc ... 1574686886

Operational discussion on carriers:

http://cimsec.org/the-future-of-aircraf ... form/42469

[kevinkins]

Interesting interview with Navy Captain Wayne Hughes:

https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedi ... -unleashed

A new addition of "Fleet Tactics" is out next Spring.

[AKar]

A new addition of "Fleet Tactics" is out next Spring.

The interview was written in February 2018. The Third Edition of Fleet Tactics And Naval Operations was published in June 2018. [:)]

[stilesw]

J-11B MLU unveiled. Dubbed J-11BG, equipped with the J-16's multirole AESA.

Logged for next DB3K update.
-WS

[kevinkins]

Thanks for pointing that out AKar.

[stilesw]

B-52 upgraded with LRASM...

Logged and fixed for next DB3K update.
-WS

[Broncepulido]

CALCM retired December 4, 2019:
https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display ... e-retired/

[kevinkins]

New F-22 AIM weapons in the news. Looks like a roll out is underway.

https://defensemaven.io/warriormaven/ai ... 84Ln4GrLg/

"The two new weapons, which have been under testing and development for several years now, are advanced variants of existing weapons - the AIM-9X air-to-air missile and the AIM 120-D. Upgraded variants of each, now being built into existing F-22s, have already flown in combat exercises. Lockheed developers tell Warrior that 14 F-22s have already been armed with the new weapons variants with more slated for next year."

Think I might sandbox this one recently reported:

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/3 ... llis-range

[Broncepulido]

APR-3M (Improved 1991 APR-3) ASW rocket-torpedo apparently in mass production and service from May 2019:
https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/6422690

[stilesw]

CALCM retired December 4, 2019:

Logged for post 2019 loadout removal.

-WS

[Broncepulido]

[quote]ORIGINAL: kevinkins

New F-22 AIM weapons in the news. Looks like a roll out is underway.

https://defensemaven.io/warriormaven/ai ... 84Ln4GrLg/

"The two new weapons, which have been under testing and development for several years now, are advanced variants of existing weapons - the AIM-9X air-to-air missile and the AIM 120-D. Upgraded variants of each, now being built into existing F-22s, have already flown in combat exercises. Lockheed developers tell Warrior that 14 F-22s have already been armed with the new weapons variants with more slated for next year."


I think this news report referes simply about the employ by 14xF-22 (and more later) of AIM-9X Block II and AIM-120D, from F-22A Block 35 Increment 3.2b (forecasted for 2020), and not to AIM-9X or AIM-120 new variants.

[Hongjian]

A huge lineup of Chinese UAVs on display at a certain base in China, probably meant for a PLA-internal exhibition to the high brass.

Interestingly, we see a second flying wing stealth UAV present there, as well as the huge conformal radar carrying Divine-Eagle anti-stealth AEW drone, now painted in PLAAF grey, indicating that it has been introduced into service.

[Hongjian]

Interesting article on the new 370mm MRLS, which seems to be a gamechanger for China's Taiwan Invasion plans due to its ability to cover Taiwan with relatively cheap, guided artillery rockets from across the strait. This would free more expensive ballistic missiles and air-strikes against more important targets, or US forces in the region. Interestingly, the real designation of this weapon seems tobe PCL-191 and not PHL-19 as previously thought.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/militar ... sts-shadow

China’s new PCL191 multiple launch rocket system casts shadow over Taiwan Strait

- The ‘mystery’ hardware that appeared without a name at the National Day parade in October is the PLA’s most powerful MLRS ever, experts say

- System capable of firing eight 370mm rockets 350km or two 750mm ballistic missiles 500km

[...]

In an interview with CCTV in October, Wang Tanshen, a master sergeant with the 72nd Group Army’s artillery brigade, said the range of the new launch system was “seven times” that of its predecessor.

“The new generation MLRS has extended our firing range to cover everywhere we want to hit,” he said.

The Taiwan Strait is just 180km across.

[...]

According to the Chinese military magazine Ordnance Industry Science Technology, the PCL191 units are carried on 45-tonne trucks and require just three people to operate them.
Chinese missiles and rockets are guided by the domestically developed BeiDou navigation satellite system, which is a rival to the United States’ GPS system.

The anonymous source said that in the event of a military conflict, the new PCL191 system could be used to destroy strategic targets such as airports, command centres and supply bases.

[Hongjian]

Sixteen YJ-12 AShMs on the MLU'ed DDG-167 Shenzhen.
Should be the heaviest armed DDG in the Chinese fleet, barring the Renhais.



Previous photos have only shown four YJ-12s at most, with most of the racks empty.



Maybe the PLAN is expecting trouble ahead?

[stilesw]

APR-3M (Improved 1991 APR-3) ASW rocket-torpedo apparently in mass production and service from May 2019:

Logged.
-WS

[kevinkins]

Maybe they should cut their losses and sell this baby to China.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... est-mishap

Most likely for target practice.

[Hongjian]

Or rather let Dalian Shipyard fix and refurbish it. They got enough experience by now with this class of ship and they would get it back in no time.