Key Points
The head of USAF Air Mobility Command is advocating speeding up acquisition of a technologically advanced KC-Z
The USAF will begin a KC-Z technology study this year
The head of US Air Force (USAF) Air Mobility Command is advocating speeding up acquisition of a more technologically
AFA 2016: USAF studies technological leap towards KC-Z tanker
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AFA 2016: Global Strike chief raises concerns about UAV threat in domestic air space
Proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies could put US military bases and nuclear facilities at risk, commander of US Air Force (USAF) Global Strike Command said on 19 September.
"There is a UAV-capable threat out there to our homeland," he said during a press briefing
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Philippine SSV sustains damage to bow after collision with product tanker
The Philippine Navy's recently commissioned strategic sealift vessel (SSV), BRP Tarlac (601), has sustained damage to its bow section after a collision, the service's public affairs confirmed with IHS Jane's on 21 September.
The 123 m landing platform dock (LPD)-like ship was anchored off Naval
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USAF flies B-1B bombers over South Korea for second time since North's nuclear test
Two US Air Force (USAF) Boeing (Rockwell) B-1B Lancer strategic bombers flew over South Korea on 21 September in the latest demonstration of Washington's defence commitment to Seoul following North Korea's fifth nuclear test on 9 September, according to US Forces Korea (USFK).
While one of the
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Sino-Russian naval exercises conclude with 'island seizing' operation
Eight days of exercises involving ships, aircraft, submarines, and marines from the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and Russian Federation Navy (RFN) culminated in a simulated assault to seize an island off the Chinese coast using amphibious forces.
Chinese and Russian marines practised an
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Sweden to double Archer artillery purchase
Sweden has resigned itself to buying the 24 Archer (6x6) self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) originally meant to be bought by Norway, budget documents released on 20 September reveal.
In total the budget proposal assigns SEK450 million (USD53 million) to the purchase, of which the bulk is new money and
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U-2 pilots killed, injured in crash
One pilot was killed and another injured after ejecting from a Lockheed Martin U-2S reconnaissance aircraft while training in California on 20 September, the US Air Force (USAF) confirmed on 20 September.
The incident occurred near Sutter Buttes, a geologic formation near a U-2 base at Beale Air
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STRATCOM nominee 'strongly' supports modernising entire nuclear delivery triad
US Air Force General John Hyten, the nominee to become the next head of US Strategic Command (STRATCOM), told Congress he "strongly" supports efforts to modernise all legs of the 'triad' of nuclear delivery vehicles.
STRATCOM has a wide remit that includes strategic deterrence; space
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Iraqi forces ready to retake Mosul next month
Iraqi leaders have identified the forces that are required for the operation to clear Islamic State fighters from the northern city of Mosul and these forces will be ready in October, General Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters on 20 September.
He added that
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AFA 2016: Pentagon expects F-35 coolant line fix in weeks
Key Points
Fifteen F-35As grounded by crumbling insulation on avionics cooling lines will likely be fixed and able to fly again by the end of the year
Lockheed Martin plans to cover all the costs
Fifteen Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II combat aircraft grounded by crumbling insulation on
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China flight testing modified J-15 for CATOBAR operations
China has been flight testing a new variant of its J-15 navalised fighter modified for catapult-assisted take-off but arrested recovery (CATOBAR) operations, according to images posted on Chinese online forums.
Released on 15 September, the images show a Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-15 in
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US approves sale of KC-46A aircraft to Japan
The US State Department has approved the sale of four KC-46A aerial refuelling aircraft, with related equipment and support, to Japan for an estimated cost of USD1.9 billion.
The sale was approved under the US Foreign Military Sales programme, and includes one additional spare Pratt &Whitney
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South Korea detects signs North may be preparing for another nuclear test, says report
Camouflage netting has been placed over the entrances to two tunnels at North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear test site, KBS World Radio quoted unnamed South Korean government sources as saying on 21 September: an indication Pyongyang may be preparing to carry out its sixth underground nuclear test.
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India mulls response following attack on Kashmir army base
New Delhi is planning a mix of military, diplomatic, and political responses against neighbouring Pakistan, which it blames for the 18 September attack on an army base in Indian-administered Kashmir in which 18 soldiers were killed and 30 injured.
"How to punish, that is for us to work
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Greek Apache Longbow lost in crash
A Hellenic Army Aviation Boeing AH-64DHA Apache Longbow attack helicopter was lost in a crash at sea on 20 September the in Gulf of Orfanos, northern Greece.
The helicopter crashed in shallow water close to shore after failing to execute a low-level manoeuvre and was raised on 21 September, but
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EU enables wider, faster sanctions against Islamic State and Al-Qaeda
The EU is now set to independently apply sanctions against the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda.
A decision approved on 20 September by the Council of Ministers gives new power to the EU to autonomously apply sanctions against people or entities with links to the two terrorist organisations.
Previously,
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Chile's S-70i helicopters to be used for CSAR, special ops
The Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk helicopters recently selected by the Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aérea de Chile: FACh) are to be used mainly for combat search-and-rescue (CSAR) and Special Operations roles, but will also be available for community support and disaster relief, sources in Santiago
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AFA 2016: USAF prepares for light attack experimentation
Key Points
The USAF is preparing to conduct experiments with light-attack aircraft that could augment its CAS capabilities
Unlike the heavily armoured A-10, such an aircraft would be used only in permissive environments
The US Air Force (USAF) is preparing to conduct experiments with light-attack
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AFA 2016: Lockheed Martin looking to compete for Laser JDAM kits
Lockheed Martin announced it received a USD87 million contract from the US Air Force (USAF) for follow-on production of Paveway II Plus Laser Guided Bomb (LGB) kits.
The company has been awarded a contract for the LGB kits for eight years in a row. The kit includes the canard and electronics on the
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AFA 2016: JSTARS RfP on hold over contract details
Key Points
A JSTARS RfP is 'on hold' while the USAF works with Congress on contract terms
The USAF has been using a so-called hybrid contracting approach during the programme's EMD stage
The Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) request for proposals (RfP) is "on hold"
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