Briefings : 6 squadron, Anti-piracy, Talent

• The RAF has unveiled its newly reformed 6 Squadron which is equipped with Typhoons. 6 Squadron's job will be to provide quick reaction alert cover for the north of the UK from next year.
• 820 Naval Air Squadron has deployed to East Africa. The squadron's Merlin helicopters are embarked aboard RFA Fort Victoria and will carry out anti-piracy operations.
• Royal Navy submarine HMS Talent has returned home following an extended spell East of Suez.
• A rare German bomber from WW2 is to be restored by the RAF Museum after being recovered from the Goodwin Sands. The Dornier Do 17 had lain in the sands for 70 years after being shot down in 1940 and is said to be in good condition, the tyres are even still inflated!
• France is still confident it can sell helicopter carriers to Russia despite the Russians throwing the tender open.
• The Chinese media is calling for more anti-carrier weapons like the DF-21D though there are doubts being raised as to the effectiveness of weapons like these.
• Making sense of Anglo-French defence rumours.

Briefings : SDR, SLBMs, Tank reefs

• The SDR leaks and gossip continue, according to the latest reports the RAF will take the brunt of the cuts in the UK forces and be left with less than 200 fighters. All Tornadoes and Hercules would be withdrawn and the number of Typhoons cut. The Army would lose 40% of its armoured vehicles and the Navy 2 submarines and 3 amphibious warship ships in the latest leaked proposals.
• The MOD is looking into a training package to support the operations of its future fleet of A400M transports.
• Russia has successfully tested 2 Sineva SS-N-23 SLBMs but the next test of the troubled next-generation Bulava SS-NX-30 has been postponed.
• 25 ex-Thai Army tanks and other vehicles have been dumped in the Gulf of Thailand to produce an artificial reef. Similiar things are often done with ex-warships.

Briefings : J-15, Dauntless, Bullets

The Russians are annoyed with the Chinese for "copying" it's Su-33 Flanker-D as the J-15 for it's own aircraft carriers which are yet to be completed. The Russians however say that the J-15 is inferior to the Su-33.

The second Type 45 destroyer has joined the Royal Navy as HMS Dauntless. It is of course great news though tempered by the fact 1/3 of the total T45 fleet is now in service.

The MOD has contracted BAE Systems to produce a better bullet. A "higher performance" 5.56mm bullet is being sought after worries the standard NATO rounds are no longer effective against such obstacles as ...er... car windscreens.

Briefings : Castle, F136, Club-K

Two ex-Royal Navy Castle class patrol ships are to be refitted, overhauled and upgraded for the Bangladeshi Navy. The deal will secure 100 jobs at the A&P Tyne shipyard.

Ex-HMS Leeds Castle, one of the ships bound for Bangladesh

GE & Rolls Royce have improved their price offer for the troubled alternative engine for the JSF which has often been threatened with termination. The price of the F136 engines delivered in FY2014 and 2015 will now be cut. The new price deal could cut the cost to the Pentagon by a billion dollars over the next couple of years.

A new Russian "super weapon" could put the world's navies under serious threat apparently. The Club-K system is an advanced cruise missile and is said to be able to destroy an enemy aircraft carrier 300 miles away. The Russians themselves say the threat of the missile has been exaggerated especially claims the missile could be hidden in shipping containers and end up in the hands of terrorists, which is all a bit James Bond to be honest.

Briefings : Rare Earth minerals, Denmark, Russian SAMs

US politicians are looking into forming the first official stockpile of rare Earth minerals and to revive domestic production of minerals. China currently controls nearly 100% of world supply and production of the minerals which are crucial to the production of weapon systems ranging from night vision goggles to missiles.

Following speculation on state radio about Denmark ditching the JSF for the Super Hornet the Danish defence ministry says their fighter competition is still ongoing. The Russian Air Force has received 10 SA-22 Greyhound SAM systems (or to give them their actual Russian name Pantsir S1). Each unit carries up to 12 SAMs and also has 2 30mm cannons.

Swiftsure class submarine HMS Sceptre has been sent down to the South Atlantic to bolster Royal Navy and other UK forces around the Falkland Islands. The Chinese ballistic missile defence programme is discussed in the Taiwan Link blog in the light of a successful exo-atmospheric test intercept of a missile in January.

Briefings : E-8 upgrades, GLONASS, US fighters

The USAF have begun a programme to re-engine it's fleet of E-8 JSTARS aircraft. They have gone for the JT8D-219 over the more fuel efficient CFM56 as fewer modifications to the aircraft will be needed.

Russia has launched 3 more satellites for it's GLONASS GPS system, 19 satellites are now in place with 1 under repair. This is said to be enough to provide coverage across all of Russia though at least 24 are required for worldwide coverage.

124 more Super Hornets and Growlers may be bought for the USN, once the Pentagon makes up it's mind. Meanwhile an audit of the troubled JSF shows part shortages will cause further delays of aircraft deliveries. Defense Tech looks at the programme and asks if the plane is militarily vital. Egypt wants to buy 24 more F-16s.

China has announced it's smallest increase in it's defence budget for years, it will only increase by 7.5% in 2010 which is tiny obviously. Here the MOD is misleading people over it's budget problems MPs say.

Briefings : Exercise, Russian bomber, MAV

The MOD have a photo gallery from Operation Cold Response currently being held in Norway. The Royal Navy, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and Royal Marines took part in an amphibious assault.

Russia, having got it's next generation fighter the T-50 into the air, will switch it's attention to a new strategic bomber to replace the Bear and the Blackjack in the next decade PM Putin has said. Meanwhile 3 more T-50s will be built before the end of the year.

The USAF is working on a "killer micro-drone" called Anubis with AeroVironment, a killer MAV that can engage high-value manovering targets, like insurgent leaders in pick-up trucks? The Royal New Zealand Air Force's display team, the Red Checkers, have been grounded following a minor mid-air collision.

Briefings : Engineers, Russia, Training

Construction has begun of 60 new armoured earth moving machines for the Royal Engineers. The BAE Systems Terrier is said to have been honed by experience by other machines in Iraq and Afghanistan. Well lets hope so.

Two RAF Typhoons were scrambled after a disturbance on a Dallas-London flight but returned to base when it was confirmed the 767 was not involved in a terrorism incident.

Russia will give Lebanon Mi-24 Hind helicopter gunships under a military aid programme instead of the MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters previously considered. Russia meanwhile are negotiating with France for the sale of 4 Mistral amphibious warfare ships, the first will be built in France but the building location of the next 3 has yet to be decided. The ex-Soviet Baltic states are meanwhile concerned about the deal. Gas supplies to France are part of the deal, this is how the 21st century is going.

The Advanced European Jet Pilot Training (AEJPT) programme is a 9 nation scheme to combine jet training although the governments involved are yet to allocate any funds.

Briefings : CVF, Russia, UCAV

Work has begun on the new Royal Navy carriers at Portsmouth. There is still a cloud over the CVF though with speculation the Tories could cancel them if they win power in this year's election. Mind you the way things are going in the polls a Tory election win is looking less likely by the day.

The head of the British Army has said British troops could be out of Afghanistan within 5 years. Numbers could start to fall from as early as next year.

Russians have found dozens of T-80s seemingly abandoned in forests in the Urals but the Russian Army says there was nothing unusual about it, saying placing a guard next to each one would be impossible.

Two new versions of the Predator UCAV are in the works following live fire tests of Hellfire missiles and over water test flights. The MQ-1C is being fast tracked into service with the US Army as a long endurance multi-purpose aerial vehicle. A prototype marine Predator is also being developed for the Customs and Border Protection Service.

Briefings : Taiwan arms sale, Singapore air show

The US is to sell Taiwan $6.4 billion worth of arms including Patriot missiles, Black Hawk helicopters and 2 minesweepers. The mainland is angry about the deal of course. They say they will stop military exchanges with the US.

If France sell a Mistral amphibious warfare ship to Russia could the removal of a Georgian TV channel from Eutelsat be a condition of the sale? 

Asia's largest airshow the Singapore Air Show has begun. Australian F-111s made what could be their last appearance outside of Australia prior to their withdrawal.

More photography has come out from the PAK-FA maiden flight, including this excellent underneath view which shows the wing and LERX very well.

Briefings : Tornado, Afghanistan, PAK-FA

Maybe as a result of some calling for the RAF to operate COIN aircraft instead but the air force has showcased it's Tornado fighter bombers and how they are used to combat the Afghan insurgency. Meanwhile an RAF pilot has flown, what probably will be the replacement, the JCA F-35 for the first time.

A transcript of a webchat Defence minister Bob Ainsworth took part in has been made available.

The Russian "5th Generation" fighter the PAK-FA / T-50 is due to make it's first flight today. We might then finally see what it looks like!

Update: and here it is :

Briefings (05/01/10) : C-17, A400M, PAK-FA

Contracts have been signed for a 7th C-17 Globemaster for the RAF. It should enter service in March next year.

However the RAF's future airlifter the A400M could be in trouble again, this time from Airbus who apparently want to ditch the project?! Airbus don't want their troubled airlifter to damage it's successful commercial division.

Russia have begun ground tests of their next generation combat fighter, the PAK-FA and it will hopefully make it's first flight later this month. There are still no photographs of this mysterious new beast though so we don't know yet if its a Raptorski, Flanker 3.0 or something else entirely.

A US drone has crashed in eastern Afghanistan, probably due to technical problems not enemy fire. The French Navy is celebrating 100 years of naval aviation this year (the FAA celebrated it's 100th birthday in 2009 of course).

The Coldest War

A good read from the Daily Mail summarising the political and military manoeuvrings over the Arctic. The estimated great untapped oil and gas reserves up there at the North Pole and Russia's desire to get it's hands on it.



A number of other countries have territory which borders on the Arctic region however and representatives from these countries have met which Russia's continental shelf claims which would give it a large chunk of the Arctic region disputed by other countries. A revised Russian security strategy lists the Arctic region as a "key region of conflict".

So is the Cold War back, this time literally, certainly Bears continue to be intercepted by NATO fighters as they approach NATO territory, such as this example with Canada.

Georgia condemns "Russia backed coup attempt"

A Georgian army mutiny at Mukhrovani base near Tbilisi has been described as a coup attempt with Russian backing by the Georgian government. Though confusingly Defence minister, David Sikharulidze said the main aim of the uprising was to attempt to disrupt NATO exercises being held in Georgia. The commanders at the base have been dismissed and the soldiers, from a tank batallion, confined to barracks following talks between the Georgian president and the plotters. The Georgian government said the plotters received Russian money and Russian special forces would support the uprising, the Russians replied that the allegations were crazy. NATO declined to comment.

Russia preparing to invade Georgia?

Are the following signs of imminent war between Russia and Georgia? Or rather, considering the state of the 2 countries' forces a military invasion by Russia we assume to get rid of Saakashvili?

• Russia has told NATO that any planned exercises in Georgia should be postponed / cancelled calling the exercises "provocative" and would give support to Saakashvili and encourage them to take further "aggressive action" like last year
  
• 22 ships from the Black Sea Fleet have left port for "exercises" including all of the amphibious landing ships
  
• Extra Russian forces detected on the border between Georgia and South Ossetia & Abkhazia amid heightened political tensions in Georgia with protests against the Saakashvili government, though he remains popular with the majority in Georgia. There are accusations that the protests were financed by Russia.
• Russia are still concerned about Georgia entering NATO and thus giving "relevancy" to Saakashvili
  

This all comes amid Russia finally pulling out of Chechnya after a 10 year "anti-terrorist" operation. It could just be a reminder to NATO to not accept Saakashvili, extra pressure on the current Georgian regime and/or a bit of sabre rattling to distract Putin's critics from the current economic crisis in Russia. Mind you last year's conflict was a surprise to many so who knows what could happen this time?


Russian military transport planes land in Sukhumi, Georgia last year (from this gallery)

h/t : Information Dissemination, our coverage of last year's conflict

British and Russian warships chase away Somali pirates

While their governments might be at loggerheads Royal Navy and Russian Navy units repelled an attack by Somali pirates on a Danish registered freighter in the troubled seas off Somalia. HMS Cumberland and the Russian frigate Neustrashimy both sent up helicopters to chase away the pirates attacking the cargo ship but it is unknown if either opened fire on the pirates.


RFS Neustrashimy (FF 712)

Update : RM Commandos killed 2 pirates and a third later died. What is the FCO going to say now? Surely the pirates' human rights were infringed! The Times has some pics, interestingly it also says the RN were unaware of the Russians also taking part in this.

Georgia busted over South Ossetia attack?

Accounts by independent observers appear to cast doubt on Georgian claims that it was acting in self-defence against Russia and South Ossetia in the Summer's short war which left Georgia's military crippled by Russia. The accounts suggest Georgia attacked the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali with indiscriminate shell and rocket fire and not the surgical strikes the Georgians have claimed. The claims that the attack was in response to attacks on Georgian villages earlier has not been able to be verified. Needless to say the Georgians dispute the observers. They also dispute the findings by a human right's group that Georgia used cluster bombs against civilians, as did Russia.



As a reminder that the region is a powerkeg in neighbouring North Ossetia 12 people were killed by a female suicide bomber in the capital.

TU-160s into Venezuela

Two Russian Air Force Tupolev TU-160 Blackjack strategic bombers have made the flight over to Venezuela for "military maneuvers". Its the first time Russian bombers have landed in the western hemisphere since the Cold War, but despite the rising tensions we arn't quite at Cold War 2.0 yet. NATO fighters escorted the 2 bombers on their flight over the Artic and Atlantic oceans, the Russians are not saying if the bombers are carrying live weapons.



Venezuelan President Chavez was delighted of course, "The Yankee hegemony is finished," he said. So there.

Russia to centralise production of amphibious aircraft

I have a weakness for flying boats i admit, the fact Russia is setting up a single centre for the development and production of flying boats and amphibious aircraft made me smile. The centre will include Beriev of course and the Tavia production plant with a testing base at Gelenzhik on the Black Sea. Production initially will be of the A-42 Albatros, Be103 and Be-200 and newer designs. As well as new aircraft the facility will maintain, repair and modernise existing aircraft. This is all part of the re-organisation of Russian aircraft production as the United Aircraft Corporation.


A-40 "Mermaid"

Be-200 Altair

Be-103

Russians to beef up GLONASS

Russia plans to double it's number of GLONASS communications satellites over the next 3 years. GLONASS is the Russian equivalent of GPS and the upgrade could be due to the fact Russian aircraft reported they had difficulty finding their targets in the Georgian war.

The plan is to increase the number of GLONASS-M satellites to 30 from an originally planned 24 and also develop the next generation GLONASS-K.