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ORIGINAL: Hongjian
EDIT: Jane's article

http://www.janes.com/article/51759/imag ... av-concept

A monstrous bird has been unveiled: The Divine Eagle High Altitude Long Endurance UAV.

Hmm, it looks really expensive - I wonder what survivability it could have in contested airspace [X(]

ORIGINAL: DeSade

ORIGINAL: Hongjian
EDIT: Jane's article

http://www.janes.com/article/51759/imag ... av-concept

A monstrous bird has been unveiled: The Divine Eagle High Altitude Long Endurance UAV.

Hmm, it looks really expensive - I wonder what survivability it could have in contested airspace [X(]

I actually have to correct myself here, since the Divine Eagle/Sheng Diao UAV isnt like the MQ-4C BAMS, but actually more comparable with the proposed USAF Sensor Craft hight altitude AEW UAV, equally equipped with multiple UHF and X-band radars, as well as ELINT systems.

http://www.spyflight.co.uk/sensorcraft.htm

There, you can see some quite unconventional aerodynamic designs as well.

In general, these UAV's main defense is their stand-off range and their extremely high cruising altitude. They arent even supposed to go near contested air-space.

And if they are shot down, it isnt a major problem as well, since UAVs are ultimately expendable assets.

So this is basically Purina F-22 Chow? This thing is a smoking hole in the ground waiting to happen. [:D]

Video of MdCN launch

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=2763

http://www.ausairpower.net/AC-0999.html

Carlo Kopp wrote an interesting analysis about the Proteus and the possibly application of a stratospheric aircraft, which can be used as replacement for geosynchronous communication satellites.



In some way, the Divine Eagle UAV resembles that philosophy, only that it also acts as a statospheric AEW aircraft.

ORIGINAL: DeSade

ORIGINAL: Hongjian
EDIT: Jane's article

http://www.janes.com/article/51759/imag ... av-concept

A monstrous bird has been unveiled: The Divine Eagle High Altitude Long Endurance UAV.

Hmm, it looks really expensive - I wonder what survivability it could have in contested airspace [X(]

None but if it's there somebody didn't do their job.

Roles are probably similar to Global Hawk. Reconnaissance and communications relay.

Mike

ORIGINAL: navyrecognition

Qatar Emiri Air Force To Get The Full Range of MBDA Missiles for its 24 Rafale fighters

Air Recognition learned some of the contract details signed between missiles manufacturer MBDA and the Qatar Emirate. According to an industry source who wished to remain unnamed, this contract includes the full range of Rafale weapons available for export: Exocet AM 39 Block II, SCALP, AASM, MICA IR, MICA EM and Meteor missiles. Air Recognition understands this order would be the largest export contract ever signed by MBDA.
...
60 Exocet AM39 Block2 Mod2 anti-ship missiles
140 SCALP Cruise Missiles
300 AASM weapons systems
150 MICA IR and 150 MICA EM air to air missiles
160 Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile

http://www.airrecognition.com/index.php ... ew&id=1745

Do The SCALP and Exocet counts seem a bit high for Qatar?

Mike

I'd be willing to bet that the Qatari Government is attempting to seriously bolster their offensive strike capability in light of the other gulf states expansions (Iran in Yemen, UAE in Iraq/Libya, Saudi in Yemen/Iraq).

This is quite rare.. EDA-R Landing Catamaran getting inside a JSMDF LST

Japan, France and the United States Conducted A Joint Amphibious Exercise For the 1st Time

The French Navy (Marine Nationale) announced it has conducted joint amphibious maneuvers with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the US Navy last month in the East China Sea. Named Kitsune 2015, the exercise (which was a first for the three navies) involved the Mistral class LHD Dixmude and Lafayette class Frigate Aconit of the French Navy, the Osumi (head of the class) tank landing ship of the JMSDF and Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Preble of the US Navy.

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=2773

Looks like the LST is listing heavily to astern?

They would do that on purpose to allow the use of the dock. Like modern busses "kneel" to assist the onload and offload of passengers.

Speaking of large weapon sales to gulf states:
http://www.dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/un ... nd-gbu-12s

Strengths & Weaknesses of the Contenders for Australia's Submarine Replacement Programme

Plans to replace the existing Royal Australian Navy's (RAN) Collins-class submarines began in 2007 with the launch of "SEA 1000" also known as the Future Submarine Programme. In February this year, the Australian Government announced the acquisition strategy for the Future Submarine Program and invited three countries: France, Germany and Japan to participate in a competitive evaluation process. Here is our analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of each contender:
» The Japanese Soryu class
» The German Type 216
» The French evolution of SSN Barracuda

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=2777

U.S. Navy Awards General Dynamics $6.5 Million for Virginia Payload Module Development

The VPM will comprise four large-diameter payload tubes in a new hull section to be inserted in Virginia-class submarines. The section will extended the hull by 70 to 80 feet and boost strike capacity by 230 percent while increasing the cost by less than 15 percent.

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=2790

MV-22B Osprey Used To Support USMC F-35B Aircraft On Board USS Wasp At Sea

As U.S. Marines and sailors have been working together to conduct an assessment of F-35B Lightning II integration into amphibious operations over the past two weeks, they are learning to overcome the challenges inherent in maintaining and resupplying one of the world's most advanced pieces of military technology while out at sea.

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=2792

HII Awarded Contract for Detail Design & Construction of Aircraft Carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79)

Huntington Ingalls Industries received a $3.35 billion contract award for the detail design and construction of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), the second ship in the Gerald R. Ford class of carriers. The work will be performed at the company's Newport News Shipbuilding division. The company also received a $941 million modification to an existing construction preparation contract to continue material procurement and manufacturing in support of the ship.

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=2798

First Flight Test of Next Gen Standard Missile-3 Block IIA SM-3 Anti-Ballistic Missile Complete

The U.S. Navy and Missile Defense Agency (MDA) conducted the first flight test of the Raytheon Company Standard Missile-3 Block IIA. The interceptor's bigger rocket motors and more capable kill vehicle will engage threats sooner and protect larger regions from short- to intermediate-range ballistic missile threats.

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=2799

LRASM Anti-Ship Missile & F/A-18E/F Testing conducted in AEDC transonic wind tunnel

Store separation testing of the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet was recently conducted in the 16-foot transonic wind tunnel (16T) at the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC).

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=2800

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Unveiled 30FF or DEX Next Generation Vessel Concept for the JMSDF

In its latest "Defense and space domain briefing" Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) unveiled a new surface combatant concept. Not much information is available but this new concept may be MHI's vision for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) next generation 3000 tons class Frigate known as "30FF" or FFX.

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... ew&id=2821

India's First Indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant Undocked by Cochin Shipyard

French Shipyard Piriou to Build a Polar Logistics Support Vessel for the French Navy

Russian Ministry of Defence Awards Ilyushin Contract For Second Batch of Il-38N MPA

The manufacturer of the Chinese Type 071 amphibious transport dock has finally released official specs about that ship.
And it appears that she is faster and heavier than previously estimated (25 knots vs previously 22 knots, 25.000tons vs previously 22.000tons).

Wikipedia has been updated as well:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_071_ ... sport_dock

Souce:

Blitzo@Sinodefense Forum

From CSSC reporting on 071 LPD Changbai shan from last year -- we finally have "official" specs from the manufacturer.

http://www.cssc.net.cn/component_news/n ... p?id=17797

25,000 tons full displacement, 10,000 nmi range, top speed 25 knots, 210 m long, 28 m beam, 7 m draft, top speed of 25 knots.

Looks like the 29,000 tons from the portsmouth visit on the sign is indeed deep draft with ballast tanks fully loaded.

I just saw this...

http://www.janes.com/article/39665/equa ... ew-frigate

I don't know if there is enough information here to add Equatorial Guinea to the database, but it's an interesting development.

Some more information (very basic) is here...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_ ... ial_Guinea

We can do some research Mark. I have the Orbat of the Air branch for example.

ORIGINAL: Zaslon

We can do some research Mark. I have the Orbat of the Air branch for example.

Thanks. I'm hoping there will eventually be enough information that it is possible to add a few more countries that aren't already in the database. Equatorial Guinea is one of them, but there are various other African nations that could be added (Kenya, Cameroon, Ghana, etc.) and also some Black Sea/Caspian Sea ones (Georgia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, etc.) All of these countries are large enough and/or have been involved in enough conflicts that I think you could get some really interesting scenarios by adding them. Command handles gun combat better than Harpoon did, I think, and that really opens up some possibilities for low intensity conflicts.