October 08, 2012 Military Aviation News

Thinking About the Unthinkable: War in the Senkakus

10/08/2012

I am more sanguine than most about how the Japanese Self-Defense Forces stack up against China’s People’s Liberation Army. The SDF would acquit itself well in combat if commanders artfully combined all warfighting implements at their disposal, from ships to aircraft to shore-fired missiles. Tokyo has options; it even has advantages.

A strategic pact with Afghanistan

10/08/2012

This is with reference to the press conference by Afghan President Hamid Karzai in which he put forward conditions for signing a strategic pact with Pakistan. Afghanistan has already signed two strategic pacts: one was with India, signed in October 2011, which allows it to provide military training to the Afghan army; and the other was with the US, signed in May 2012, and it binds the US to maintain a military presence in Afghanistan till 2024.

Indian Air Force breaks new ground, puts women pilots in combat mode

10/08/2012

Another male bastion, this time in the air, has gone to women. For the first time ever, the Indian Air Force is preparing two of its women pilots for combat roles. Flight Lieutenants Alka Shukla and M P Shumathi were trained at the Yelahanka station in flying twin-engine Mi-8, a utility and medium-size assault helicopter. Both pilots are at their operational units where they will continue with their armament and special heli-operations training.

Bangalore bids to be India's aerospace hub

10/08/2012

This is the Rudra - one of the modern fighter aircraft produced at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (Hal), India's oldest and largest aircraft manufacturer. The helicopter has been fitted with technology including laser rangefinder and thermal vision to enable the detection of targets in all weather conditions.

India Successfully Test Fires BrahMos Cruise Missile BrahMos supersonic cruise missile

10/08/2012

The Indian Navy has successfully test-fired a BrahMos supersonic cruise missile launched from a warship off the western Goa coast, India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) reported on Sunday. The BrahMos missile, a joint development of Russian and Indian specialists, was launched from the guided missile frigate INS Teg built by Russia on order from the Indian Navy. “The missile hit the designated target at a distance of 290 km,” the DRDO said.

British Inspectors to Make Surveillance Flight over Russia

10/08/2012

Inspectors from Britain will conduct an inspection flight over Russia under the Open Skies Treaty, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said. “In the period from October 8 to 12, a British mission will conduct a surveillance flight on board Swedish SAAB OS-100 surveillance aircraft over the territory of the Russian Federation under the international Treaty on Open Skies,” the spokesman told journalists.

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