India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has prohibited all of its personnel from interacting with the media in view of the prevailing 'security scenario', but has failed to elaborate on what exactly this might be.
"Non-adherence to the laid-down instruction(s)/guidelines on the subject [of not
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Indian MoD orders media blackout
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Germany and US to withdraw Patriots from Turkey
Germany and the United States have announced that they will withdraw their Patriot surface-to-air missile (SAM) batteries from southern Turkey following a reassessment of the threats stemming from the conflict in neighbouring Syria.
NATO members have stationed Patriot SAMs to southeast Turkey since
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Delay to Tejas Mk 2 could push IAF into accepting modified Mk 1s
Delays by India's state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in developing the upgraded Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk 2 are likely to pose operational problems for the Indian Air Force (IAF), which is facing a steady decline in its fighter squadrons.
According to official sources HAL
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Argentine Air Force cuts working hours, retires Mirage fleet
The Argentine Air Force is drastically cutting staff working hours and decommissioning its last fighter aircraft amid continuing budget issues.
A recently published daily agenda indicates that the service's working hours have been significantly reduced, from 0800 to 1300; rationing of food, energy
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'Hip' helicopter suffers spike in global accidents
Four Mil Mi-8/17 'Hip' transport helicopters were lost to accidents in the first two weeks of August, resulting in the deaths of 35 of those onboard.
None of the incidents, which occurred separately in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Russia from 6 to 15 August, are believed to be combat related.
In the
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Syria reportedly receives MiG-31 interceptors from Russia
The Syrian government has received six MiG-31 'Foxhound' interceptor aircraft from Russia under a deal that was said to have been signed in 2007, a regional media source has reported.
The aircraft recently arrived at Mezze Airbase on the outskirts of Damascus, the Turkish BGN News agency reported
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Iranian Shahed-129 UAV crashes
Iran's most sophisticated unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) supposedly crashed during a test flight, and not during an operational mission over Pakistan, as initially claimed.
On 13 August the Iranian Young Journalists Club (YJC) cited the governor of Konarak county in the south of Iran's Sistan and
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Venezuelan Army to build new training centre for war games
Key Points
Venezuela's army has requested a new training centre after participating in a training event in Russia
Despite significant economic hardship, the government has continued army modernisation with the purchase of Russian equipment
Venezuela's army commander, Major General Juan Garcia
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Turkey to upgrade F-16 Block 30 aircraft
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has been awarded a contract to upgrade Turkey's Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 30 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft, the company told IHS Jane's on 13 August.
Known as the F-16 Block 30 Structural Modernisation Programme, the effort will include the Turkish Air Force's
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Spain surprised by US/German Patriot withdrawal from Turkey
Spain has made no decision to withdraw its Patriot surface-to-air missiles from Turkey, and was surprised when the United States and Germany announced withdrawals on 15/16 August, officials state.
According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), they were given no forewarning of the US and German
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Russia restructures land forces in Western Military District
Key Points
Russia is restructuring the orbat of its 20th Guards Combined Army and relocating its HQ west to Voronezh
The move is linked to the Ukraine crisis and the recent reformation of the 1st Guards Tank Army near Moscow
Russia is reorganising its 20th Guards Combined Army in the Western
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Morocco takes delivery of three Chinooks
The Boeing CH-47 Chinook heavy lift helicopter is set to re-enter service with the Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF) after three were delivered to the kingdom on 15 August.
The CH-47D Chinooks were spotted being unloaded from the roll-on/roll-off ship Liberty Pride (IMO: 9448114) in Tangier on 15
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Mexican Navy to begin UAS series production in 2016
Key Points
The Mexican Navy plans to produce indigenously designed UAS in late 2016
SPARTAAM will comprise of three UAVs and a vehicle-borne ground control station
The Mexican Navy is scheduled to begin series production of an indigenously designed unmanned aerial system (UAS) from late 2016
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USMC AV-8B Harriers rejoin counter-Islamic State campaign
US Marine Corps (USMC) McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II combat aircraft have again joined the US air campaign against Islamic State militants.
Harriers assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 161 (Reinforced) launched from amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) and "conducted
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US to soon select builder for JLTV, much-awaited Humvee replacement
Key Points
A JLTV builder is slated to be chosen in the coming weeks
AM General, Lockheed Martin, and Oshkosh are competing to replace the overburdened Humvee
The Pentagon is expected to downselect a supplier for its Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), a long-planned replacement for the Humvee,
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US Navy names 24th LCS
The US Navy (USN) has selected a California city as the namesake for its 24th Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the service's top civilian leader announced on 19 August.
LCS 24 is to be named USS Oakland , Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus said. Oakland will be the 12th Independence variant to be built by
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Third USAF tanker flight-test delay confirmed
Key Points
First flight of the KC-46A Pegasus has been delayed by another month due to loading of a mislabeled chemical into the aircraft's refueling line during testing
The aircraft was previously expected to fly by early September
The first flight of the US Air Force's (USAF's) Boeing KC-46A
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Power generator failure led to Reaper crash
A generator malfunction led to the loss of a US Air Force (USAF) General Atomics MQ-9A Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in February, the service revealed on 19 August.
Three hours into the UAV's 4 February flight, its starter-generator failed, according to a report by the USAF's Accident
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Nigerian Air Force goes on the offensive
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it has increased its contribution to the counter-insurgency effort against Boko Haram militants in the northeast of the country.
It announced on 13 August that additional combat aircraft had been deployed to the northeast of the country to support Operation 'Lafiya
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Iran S-300 contract ready to be signed
Iran and Russia have finalised a contract covering the delivery of four S-300 surface-to-air missile batteries, Iranian defence minister Hossein Dehghan told journalists on 18 August.
"The text of the contract is ready and our friends will go to Russia next week to sign the contract," the
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