The US Air Force (USAF) has stood up its newly created 20th Air Force (AF) Helicopter Operations Group (HOG), as it looks to improve the mission effectiveness and morale of its nuclear missile forces.
The 20th AF HOG, which was stood up on 1 August, brings together the three individual helicopter
USAF stands up new helicopter group to support ICBM forces
↧
↧
USAF employs quicker and safer airdrop method in Afghanistan
The US Air Force (USAF) has begun using a new airdrop system in Afghanistan that is said to be both safer and quicker for the loadmaster, the service disclosed on 5 August.
The Wireless Gate Release System (WGRS), which is still being trialled in the US, has become the primary method of airdrop
↧
Stretched RMN seeks funds for new corvettes, helicopters
The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has requested funding for a number of major procurement programmes that include the acquisition of new corvettes and helicopters and upgrades to existing RMN ships.
The service will be submitting its request list for funding consideration by the Malaysian government
↧
Russia to top UK threat assessment levels
Russia is being placed at the top of the United Kingdom's defence threat list, on a par with terrorism and cyber warfare, it has been revealed.
Speaking to IHS Jane's on 4 August, Rory Stewart, chair of the House of Commons Defence Committee, said: "Until recently threats from Russia have been
↧
Pentagon to update acquisition doctrine, incentivise innovation
Key Points
New version of Better Buying Power guidance due in two to three months
Monetary incentives to encourage beating basic requirements for programmes will be emphasised
The Pentagon aims to nurture greater investment in innovation as part of an update to its acquisition doctrine due to be
↧
↧
New Hampshire base chosen to operate new USAF tanker
Key Points
Pease ANGB has been chosen as the USAF's first ANG-led KC-46A main operating base
The USAF has begun disclosing Pegasus basing plans as the formal training unit and main operating base prepare to begin receiving aircraft in 2016
Pease Air National Guard Base (ANGB) in New Hampshire has
↧
Navantia losses decrease in 2013
Spanish state-owned shipbuilder Navantia lost EUR59.7 million (USD79.9 million) in 2013, compared with EUR78.2 million the previous year, according to figures released by its owner, national holding group Sociedad Estatal de Participaciones Industriales (SEPI).
Turnover totalled EUR709.6 million,
↧
Indian Navy commissions new VLF facility in Tamil Nadu
The Indian Navy (IN) inaugurated a new very low frequency (VLF) transmitting station on 31 July at INS Kattaboman, near Tirunelvelli in Tamil Nadu, boosting its ability to communicate continuously with operationally deployed ships and submerged submarines.
The new facility accompanies the navy's
↧
Indian MoD twists the knife over HAL's IJT failures
The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has dealt a severe blow to state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's (HAL's) futile efforts over the past 14 years to design an Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT).
"HAL, which has been developing the IJT, has not so far been able to resolve critical wing and
↧
↧
Fighting flares over Nagorno-Karabakh
At least 19 have been killed in renewed fighting between Azerbaijan and Armenian forces over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh in some of the worst fighting since the two sides signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.
The circumstances of the most recent outbreak of violence remain unclear.
↧
Croatian MiG-21 crashes
A Croatian Air Force and Air Defence MiG-21bis-D 'Fishbed' fighter aircraft, one of only five operational, crashed on 5 August near Zagreb owing to mechanical problems.
The aircraft is understood to have been due to be retired from service on 15 August. Although it was within its overall flight
↧
AFSOC reveals details of aborted South Sudan rescue mission
The US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has disclosed details of a rescue mission in South Sudan that saw three of its Bell-Boeing CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft hit by ground fire more than 100 times and survive.
The CV-22s from the 8th Special Operations Squadron (SOS) were engaged
↧
US general killed in 'green on blue' shooting in Kabul
A suspected 'green on blue' or insider shooting at the main Afghan training facility has killed the highest-ranking US officer to die during operations since the Vietnam War and injured other high-ranking officers.
The attack took place at the Marshal Fahim National Defense University in Kabul, the
↧
↧
Kandahar's power supply in question after 2015
Key Points
US auditors for Afghanistan fear there are no viable proposals to provide Kandahar with electricity after subsidies end in 2015
Supplying power to Kandahar was 'a top counter-insurgency objective'
US and Afghan government agencies appear to lack feasible plans to keep electricity
↧
USN's troubled 11th Virginia-class submarine sails on second voyage after passing 'alpha' sea trials
Key Points
North Dakota (SSN 784) is conducting 'bravo' sea trials in the Atlantic
The 10-day test is intended to bring the boat closer to handover and commissioning on 25 October
The US Navy's (USN's) first Virginia-class attack submarine to be built with a redesigned bow has departed on its
↧
USAF extends BACN mission support contract through 2015
The US Air Force (USAF) has awarded Northrop Grumman a USD89.7 million support contract for the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) system, the company said in a 7 August press statement.
The company will continue its overseas operational support of the USAF's seven systems through
↧
US Army returns to core competency training
A recent rotation by the US Army's 3rd Brigade Combat Team (3BCT), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC), Ft Polk, Louisiana, highlighted the service's return to 'core competency training' after more than a dozen years of focusing on mainly
↧
↧
Turkey restructures air force commands
Turkey will reorganise its air force, combining the 1st and 2nd Tactical Air Force Commands (TAFC) into the new Combat Air Force and Air Missile Defence Command, under plans announced on 5 August.
The merger will see the commands, formerly based at Eskisehir in central Turkey (1st TAFC) and
↧
Tunisia's president pleads for helicopters
Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki has described his country's need for helicopters as extremely urgent as it faces an acute threat from radical Sunni Islamists during its transition to democracy.
"The dictator [former president Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali] was extremely cautious about the
↧
Tanzania's intelligence college to get new headquarters
The United States is looking for a contractor to finish a partially completed building at the Tanzanian Defence Intelligence College (TDIC) campus in Mbagala in Dar es Salaam.
Released on the US government's Federal Business Opportunities website on 5 August, the solicitation said that, once
↧
