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☆ Ukraine has begun 'in the air' training on F-16s, a key development in its fight against Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine's pilots are now learning to fly Western F-16 fighter jets. So, for Ukraine's allies, it was welcome news that Ukraine's pilots are finally flying F-16 fighter jets. "Some pilots are already undergoing air training with an instructor on combat aircraft," Ignat said during a nationally televised broadcast, according to the outlet. AdvertisementAdvertisementUkraine has sought F-16s for its arsenal of fighter jets since the early days of Russia's invasion. Defense experts previously told Insider that adding AIM-9 and AIM-120 missiles could give the F-16s in Ukraine an "incredible capability" for close-range battles.

Persons: —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Yuriy Ignat, Ignat, John Baum Organizations: Service, Russian, Ukrainian Air Force, Defense, US Air Force, US Navy, Netherlands Armed Forces, AIM, US Department of Defense Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, Russia, United States, Romania, Dutch, Romanian

☆ Crashed, harassed, and shot down: It's been a rough year for the MQ-9 Reaper, America's workhorse combat drone
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

It's been a tough year for US military's MQ-9 Reaper workhorse combat and surveillance drone. The aircraft has been crashed into, harassed, and shot down by US adversaries around the world. AdvertisementAdvertisementIt's been an annoying year for the US military's go-to drone for combat and reconnaissance: the MQ-9 Reaper. Over the course of the year, America's adversaries have run into and crashed, harassed, and now — as of this week — shot down the aircraft. An MQ-9 Reaper drone at the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's Kanoya Air Base on November 5, 2022.

Persons: It's, —, Christopher Broome, Alex Grynkewich Organizations: Service, US, US Air Force, Islamic, Japan, Self, Kanoya, Base, Staff, ISIS, US Air Forces Central Command, US Central Command, Airmen, Squadron, Nevada, Air, Bomb, Victoria, US Navy, Hamas, Pentagon Locations: Europe, Russian, Washington, Moscow, Ukraine, Syria, Islamic State, Russia, Yemen, Iran, Israel, Gaza

☆ After watching Russia's and Ukraine's electronic warriors battle it out, the US military wants to 'dial up' up its own 'jamming power'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

That's why the US Air Force is eager to deploy a new generation of electronic-warfare aircraft and drones. In September, the Air Force received its first test EC-37B Compass Call. AdvertisementAdvertisementMilitaries have been investing in the secretive world of electronic warfare since World War II. Naturally, the Air Force wants to extensively test the E-37B before deploying it. A US Air Force EC-130H at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in August 2021.

Persons: —, Mark Kelly, Denis Abramov, James Rainey, Doug Bush, Bush, Felicia Jagdatt, Kelly, Alex Miller, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, US Air Force, Air Force, Gulfstream G550, Air Combat Command, Air and Space Forces Association, Russian Defense Ministry, Mil.ru, US Army Futures Command, Association of, United, Army, US Army, Air and Space Forces, US Air Force EC, Davis, Monthan Air Force Base, Air, Defense, Foreign Policy, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Ukraine, Vietnam, Russian, Mil.ru Ukraine, Russia, United States, Bliss, Texas, Forbes

☆ Ukrainian fighter pilots could soon make the jump to real F-16s that don't fly quite like the jets they know best
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Ukrainian fighter pilots learning to fly the F-16 could soon make the jump to real combat aircraft. The F-16 flies a bit different from the fighter aircraft they know, namely MiG-29s and Su-27s. AdvertisementAdvertisementTwo U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft sits parked on flight line at MacDill Air Force Base, Sept. 8, 2021. US Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Lauren CobinSimulator training will help ease the transition with these potential differences, but getting up to speed in an actual plane still takes time. Training has been ongoing at the Danish military air base in Skrydstrup and in the US at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas and Morris Air National Guard Base in Arizona.

Persons: —, Ukraine's, Yuriy Ihnat, Ihnat, Mike, Torrealday, Efrem, Julianne Showalter, you'd, Lockheed Martin, Lauren Organizations: MiG, Service, US Air Force Reserve, Ukrainian Air Force, National Museum of, United States Air Force US Air Force, Soviet, Air Force, General Dynamics, . Air Force, Falcon, MacDill Air Force Base, US Air Force, US, Lackland Air Force Base, Morris Air National Guard Base Locations: American, Ukrainian, Kyiv, Soviet, Iraq, Poland, Romania, Denmark, United States, Skrydstrup, Texas, Arizona, Ukraine

☆ China ousts defence minister, the second senior leader to leave in three months
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Yew Lun Tian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, Oct 24 (Reuters) - China removed its defence minister on Tuesday, the second ousting of a senior leader in three months, raising questions about the stability of the leadership team around Chinese President Xi Jinping. General Li Shangfu, who has been absent from public view for two months, was dismissed as defence minister and state councillor, according to state media. No replacement for Li was named, leaving the country without a defence minister as it prepares to host foreign defence officials at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum on Oct. 29-31. Li, 65, disappeared from public view two months ago. No other defence minister in China had served for a shorter time than Li.

Persons: Xi Jinping, General Li Shangfu, Gang, Li, Xi, Qin, Wang Yi, Yew Lun, Don Durfee, Mark Potter, Nick Macfie Organizations: National People's, CCTV, Beijing Xiangshan, Reuters, Wall, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China, Beijing, Russia, United States

☆ A first-of-its-kind drone landing shows how the British navy plans to keep its new aircraft carriers in action for longer
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Constantine Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

During a test in September, a drone flew on and off a British aircraft carrier for the first time. A difficult operationRoyal Navy airman secure a W Autonomous Systems drone aboard HMS Prince of Wales in early September. In 2021, the Royal Navy tested a drone system meant to help crews train to defend against incoming jets and missiles. AdvertisementAdvertisementTurkey's navy will soon add TCG Anadolu, the world's first aircraft carrier designed for a drone air wing. The US Air Force's Next Aircraft Dominance Program is developing a sixth-generation family of aircraft, drone wingmen designed to fly alongside piloted planes.

Persons: —, Wales, Richard Hewitt, HMS Prince, LPhot Finn Stainer, Hutchins, Hewitt, Merlin, Ash Loftus, Prince, Burak, NavyMCS2 Colby, Alex Hollings, Hollings, George H.W, George H.W . Bush, MCS3 Brandon Roberson, Constantine Atlamazoglou Organizations: Service, Royal Navy, Autonomous Systems, Royal Navy Carrier Strike Groups, Wildcat, Fleet, Royal Navy Air Test, Anadolu, Anadolu Agency, Getty Images, US Air Force, Navy, US, Force's, Air Force, US Navy, Fletcher School of Law, LinkedIn, Twitter Locations: British, Prince, Wales, Dardanelles, Tulsa, Vietnam, George H.W .

☆ The first Ukrainian F-16 pilots are finally moving from training on flight simulators to real combat aircraft: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The first Ukrainian F-16 pilots-in-training are in the process of moving from simulators to the real thing. Ukraine's Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat announced this on Sunday, per local media. There's still a long path to getting the aircraft into Ukrainian skies in the war with Russia, however. AdvertisementAdvertisementUkraine's F-16 pilots are in the process of moving from using flight simulators to training in real combat aircraft — another development in allowing the US-made fighter jets to be used against Russia's air force. "We're currently in the process of transitioning to combat aircraft," he added, per the outlet.

Persons: Yuriy Ihnat, —, We're, Chris Panella, Jake Epstein Organizations: Ukraine's Air Force, Service, Air Force, New, Reuters, US Air Force's, Politico Locations: Ukrainian, Russia, Ukraine, Denmark, Tucson , Arizona

☆ How Ukraine is beating the Russian airforce with US missiles
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ukraine has been bolstering its air defense capabilities in recent months, and it shot down five Russian Su-25 attack jets over a 10 day period, The Kyiv Post reported. Canada also announced it was donating 43 AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles to Ukraine in May. AdvertisementAdvertisementUkraine sought assistance from the US to replenish its air defense arsenal, and AIM-9s were on the list. Meanwhile, the UK has also supplied advanced AIM-132 ASRAAM air-to-air missiles, which Ukraine has fitted to trucks. —🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) August 4, 2023Adding to its mix-and-match armory, Ukraine's recently acquired ATACMS has boosted its capability to attack the Russian air force.

Persons: —, we've, Oleksandr Shtupun, Defense Lloyd Austin Organizations: Service, Kyiv Post, US AIM, AIM, US Air Force, Ukrainian, Stingers, Defense Locations: Ukrainian, Ukraine, Russian, Kyiv, Canada

☆ A desperate Russia may be just what North Korea needs to finally update its ancient Air Force
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Benjamin Brimelow | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited Russia in September on his first overseas trip since 2019. The visit was seen as Russia's attempt to secure North Korean support for Moscow's war in Ukraine. For North Korea, Russia's desperation may be a chance to get help upgrading its aging air force. Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air ForceSouth Korean troops guard a MiG-19 that a North Korean pilot used to defect in May 1996. KCNA via REUTERSGiven the North Korean air force's needs, it's easy to see Kim's visit as something of a prospective shopping trip.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, —, Vladimir Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Kim, Putin, CHOO YOUN, Antonov, Mikhail Japaridze, Kim's, Kim strode, Shoigu, Sergey Kobylash, Denis Manturov, Kim Jong Organizations: North, Service, Russian Defense, Vostochny, Amur Aircraft, Knevichi, Korean People's Army Air, Air Force South, MiG, Getty, Air Force, North Korean, Defense Intelligence Agency, DIA, KCNA, REUTERS, Kremlin Locations: Russia, Ukraine, North Korea, Korean, Russian, Moscow, Pyongyang, KONG, AFP, Soviet Union, China, Komsomolsk, Vladivostok, Japan, Korea

WASHINGTON, Oct 11 (Reuters) - The U.S. says it has accepted an invitation to attend China's top annual security forum in late October, the latest sign of potentially warming ties between the two countries' militaries. The Pentagon did not say whom China had invited or who from the U.S. side would attend, and China's embassy in Washington also declined to give details. Before 2019, the U.S. often sent embassy defense attaches. CHINA'S DEFENSE MINISTERAs China's defense minister, Li typically would give a keynote speech at the forum and meet with delegations. Beijing has offered no official explanation about Li's fate and his disappearance raises questions about how this year's forum will be conducted.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Austin, Li Shangfu, Nancy Pelosi's, China, China Chad Sbragia, Li, Sbragia, –, Xi, Liu Pengyu, Michael Martina, Idrees Ali, Don Durfee, Gerry Doyle Organizations: U.S, Pentagon, Reuters, China's People's Liberation Army, PLA, Beijing Xiangshan, Defense, Xi Jinping's Global Security Initiative, Washington, Thomson Locations: U.S, Washington, China, Beijing, United States, Taiwan, Russia, Austin

☆ As Azerbaijan claims final victory in Nagorno Karabakh, arms trade with Israel comes under scrutiny
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Max Saltman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

Israeli ‘realpolitik’Young ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh in the town of Goris during evacuations to Armenia on October 1. Hayk Baghdasaryan/Photolure/AP Ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh drive to Goris on September 28. Vahan Stepanyan/PAN Photo/AP Volunteers distribute food to ethnic Armenians arriving in Goris from Nagorno-Karabakh on September 28. Alain Jocard/AFP/Getty Images Ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh line up to receive humanitarian aid at a temporary camp in Goris on September 26. Wezeman, the researcher at SIPRI, said Israel could come under pressure from its Western allies to reconsider arms sales to Azerbaijan.

Persons: CNN —, Marut Vanyan, “ I’m, ”, “, Vanyan, Leonid Nersisyan, Rishon Le, Jack Guez, …, Pieter Wezeman, ” Wezeman, Emmanuel Dunand, Efraim Inbar, ” Inbar, Israel ’, Inbar, LORA, ” Hikmet Ajiyev, Ilham Aliyev, realpolitik, Diego Herrera Carcedo, Sergey Astsetryan, Aziz Karimov, Hayk, Vahan Stepanyan, Vasily Krestyaninov, Alain Jocard, Anatoly Matlsev, David Harapetyan, Irakli Gedenidze, Reuters Greta, Anthony Pizzoferrato, Samantha Power, Power, Astrig Agopian, Novlet, David Ghahramanyan, Israel Organizations: CNN, Azerbaijan, Applied Policy Research Institute, Israel Aerospace Industries, IAI, Autonomous Robotics, Getty, Haaretz, Artsakh Defense Army –, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense, Israeli Ministry of Defense, Ovda Airport, Israel, Jerusalem Institute for Strategy, “, APRI, Artsakh Defense Army, Reuters, AP, Erebuni, PAN, AP Volunteers, Karabakh, Technologies, US Agency for International Development, Volunteers, Vehicles, Red Cross, People, Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union Locations: Nagorno, Karabakh, Stepanakert, Karabakh’s, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Rishon, Tel Aviv, AFP, Israel’s, Artsakh, Israel, Stockholm, Baku, Lachin, Iran, Iranian, Jerusalem, Ottoman, Turkey, Ottoman Empire, APRI Armenia, Syunik, Nakhchivan, Republic of Armenia, Goris, Yerevan, Kornidzor, Russia, United States

☆ As Russia's war in Ukraine drags on, Kyiv's neighbors are loading up on new high-tech military gear
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Constantine Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementRussia's invasion of Ukraine has upended European security, driving countries there to plan once again for the possibility of a major land war. Those European countries have transferred billions of dollars' worth of military hardware to Ukraine, and now they are seeking to rebuild their own stocks. Poland and Romania both border Ukraine and have been affected by the war. US Army/Markus RauchenbergerBased on disclosed weapon transfers, Poland is Europe's second biggest contributor of military aid to Ukraine, sending Kyiv large quantities of Soviet-era arms. AdvertisementAdvertisementPoland also announced in September a $2 billion purchase of several hundred Naval Strike Missiles from Norway.

Persons: —, Markus Rauchenberger, HIMARS, Mariusz Blaszczak, Attila Husejnow, Abrams, DANIEL MIHAILESCU, spender, Constantine Atlamazoglou Organizations: Service, US Army, Baltic Fleet, Polish, Getty, Patriot, Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensors, US, US State Department, Apaches, NATO, Polish Air Force, Washington, Getty Images, Naval, Missiles, Reuters, Fletcher School of Law, LinkedIn, Twitter Locations: Ukraine, Europe, Eastern Europe, Poland, Romania, Warsaw, Bucharest, Norway, NSMs, Kaliningrad, Poland's, Belarus, South Korea, Seoul, Romanian, AFP, Getty Images Romania, Eastern, Slovakia, Czech Republic

☆ Italy says it will be equal partner in jet fighter project with UK, Japan
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A concept model of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP)'s fighter jet is displayed at the DSEI Japan defense show at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, east of Tokyo, Japan March 15, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsROME, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Italy said on Saturday it will be an equal partner in the next-generation fighter program with Britain and Japan, as further talks are still underway on the project, including on where to base its headquarters. The three countries established the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) in December after Britain and Japan agreed to merge their fighter efforts in a ground-breaking collaboration that aims to deploy an advanced aircraft by the middle of the next decade. Reuters on Thursday reported that Japan and Britain were going to dominate design and manufacturing on the project, with London likely to lead its organisation due to its deeper and more recent experience in jet fighter development. "The Global Combat Air Programme, or GCAP, is an actual trinational programme based on the principle of equal sharing, as the Prime Ministers stated in the Joint Ministerial Declaration last December," an Italian defence ministry statement said.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Angelo Amante, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Global Combat Air, Makuhari Messe, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Combat Air, of Defence, Thomson Locations: Japan, Chiba, Tokyo, Italy, Britain, London

☆ New missiles could help Ukraine's future F-16 fighters to take on Russian jets, but the planes will likely be more useful for other missions
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

The Pentagon plans to send highly capable air-to-air missiles that the jets can carry. A US Air Force aircraft fuels craftsman marshals a US F-16 at Rovaniemi Air Base in Finland during Astral Knight 23 Part 6 on August 23, 2023. These capabilities, coupled with its physical design, make the F-16 a formidable opponent for Russian fighter jets like the MiG-31 and Su-35, experts and former pilots say. AdvertisementAdvertisementAn F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 85th Test Evaluation Squadron flies a test mission March 19, 2019 near Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Snodgrass said these missiles are "fairly comparable" to Russian air-to-air missiles like the R-27 and R-77.

Persons: Albert Morel Additionally, John Baum, Baum, it's, Guy Snodgrass, Russia's Su, Joshua Hoskins, Snodgrass, Biden, ANDREY SMIRNOV, Doug Birkey, Evgeniy, we've, Tannehill, ABIS Kayla Hayes, Moscow's, Perry Aston Organizations: Pentagon, Aviation, Service, AIM, US Air Force, Rovaniemi Air Base, Astral, Russian, Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Air Missiles, Air & Space Forces Magazine, Washington, Air Missile, US Navy, Getty, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, AP, Kyiv, Avionics, 3C Orion, Marine Corps Base, Australian Defense Force, NATO, Army Tactical Missile, Storm, Alabama National, 187th Fighter Wing, Joint Base, Sweden, Gripen Locations: Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Russian, Finland, Fla, Kyiv, Moscow, Russia, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Crimean, Md, Stockholm

☆ Ukrainian attack causes 'serious damage' at Crimea air base - Ukrainian intelligence source
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KYIV, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Ukraine's SBU security service and navy struck the Saky air base in Russian-occupied Crimea overnight, inflicting "serious damage", a Ukrainian intelligence source said on Thursday. The Russian military, meanwhile, said it had destroyed 19 Ukrainian drones over Crimea and the Black Sea, and gave no details on casualties or damage. Ukraine has ramped up attacks in the Black Sea and Crimea, which was seized and annexed by Russia in 2014, as Ukrainian forces press on with a nearly four-month-old counteroffensive. Kyiv said a series of attacks on Crimea last week damaged two Russian patrol ships and destroyed a sophisticated air defence system. On Wednesday Kyiv said Ukrainian forces struck a Russian Black Sea fleet command post near Sevastopol in Crimea.

Persons: Tom Balmforth, Anna Pruchnicka, Mark Heinrich, Timothy Organizations: Security Service, Navy, Wednesday Kyiv, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Crimea, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Russia, Kyiv, Russian, Sevastopol

[1/2] A model of a new fighter jet of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) led by Britain, Japan, and Italy, is seen at the DSEI defence event in London, Britain, September 12, 2023. Reuters/Sarah Young/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Japan, Britain and Italy plan to choose Britain as the headquarters for their next-generation fighter program, four sources in Japan said, putting London at the forefront of a partnership that could expand to include other nations. "Discussion about the headquarters is ongoing and we are unable to comment on the location," Japan's defence procurement agency said in an email. "No final decisions have been made on the locations and we will not comment on speculation," a spokesperson at Britain's defence ministry said. Officials at the Italian defence ministry were unavailable for comment.

Persons: Sarah Young, Leonardo, LDOF.MI, Richard Berthon, Britain's, Tim Kelly, Nobuhiro Kubo, Paul Sandle, Angelo Amante, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Global Combat Air, Reuters, Rights, London, United, United Arab Emirates, Combat, Britain's Ministry of Defence, BAE Systems PLC, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Electric Corp, Royce PLC, Japan's IHI Corp, Thomson Locations: Britain, Japan, Italy, London, Saudi Arabia, United Arab, GCAP, European

But part of Xi's drive to improve his fighting force has been to stamp out corruption that has long plagued China's military and other state institutions. A leader China's space and cyber warfare development and then head of military procurement, Li, 65, was elevated to defence minister in March. He also has a more public role than others on the Central Military Commission, China's top defence body, commanded by Xi. Li's term at the Central Military Commission highlighted his ties to Xi, who has strengthened his grip across the military. A bigger question is what priority Beijing will continue to place on China's military diplomacy amid ongoing regional tensions.

Persons: Li Shangfu, Li, Xi, Nancy Pelosi, Lloyd Austin, James Char, Russian Su, Zhang Youxia, Zhang, Laurie Chen, Greg Torode, John Geddie, William Mallard Organizations: Reuters, Central Military Commission, West, People's Liberation Army, PLA, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, Strategic Support Force, Equipment Development Department of, Communist Party Congress, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, United States, Taiwan, Beijing, Russia, Washington, U.S, Singapore, China, Belarus, Ukraine, Russian, Hong Kong

☆ The Public Face of China's Military Under Corruption Probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

Persons: Greg Torode, Laurie Chen BEIJING, Li Shangfu, Li, Xi, Nancy Pelosi, Lloyd Austin, James Char, Russian Su, Zhang Youxia, Zhang, Laurie Chen, John Geddie, William Mallard Organizations: Reuters, Central Military Commission, West, People's Liberation Army, PLA, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, Strategic Support Force, Equipment Development Department of, Communist Party Congress Locations: United States, Taiwan, Beijing, Russia, Washington, U.S, Singapore, China, Belarus, Ukraine, Russian, Hong Kong

☆ UK, Japanese, Italian Partners Agree Next Steps for Fighter Jet
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's BAE Systems, Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Italy's Leonardo have agreed the next steps to deliver the concept phase of a next-generation combat aircraft, BAE Systems said on Tuesday. The three nations agreed in December 2022 to collaborate to build an advanced front-line fighter to enter service around the middle of the next decade. The new Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) agreement will support discussions to set out working arrangements and capability requirements for the aircraft, BAE said. The three nations will update on the project's progress at London's DSEI international arms fair this week, BAE said. Britain's defence ministry had committed 2 billion pounds to the project, formerly known as Tempest, before Japan and Italy joined.

Persons: Italy's Leonardo, Herman Claesen, BAE's, GCAP, Sachin Ravikumar, Paul Sandle, Sarah Young Organizations: BAE Systems, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Global Combat Air, BAE, London's Locations: Italy, Japan

☆ In U.S.-China AI contest, the race is on to deploy killer robots
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +26 min

In this high-tech contest, seizing the upper hand across fields including AI and autonomous weapons, like Ghost Shark, could determine who comes out on top. This could become critical if the United States intervened against an assault by Beijing on Taiwan. Cheap and expendableThe AI military sector is dominated by software, an industry where change comes fast. Still, the available disclosures of spending on AI military research do show that outlays on AI and machine learning grew sharply in the decade from 2010. The Costa-Mesa, California-based company now employs more than 1,800 staff in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Persons: America’s, Shane Arnott, Anduril, ” Arnott, Arnott, ”, “, Mick Ryan, Eric Schmidt, hasn’t, Lloyd Austin, –, Stuart Russell, Russell, Kathleen Hicks, “ We’ll, Palmer Luckey, Luckey, ” Arnott didn’t, Biden, Tsai Ing, Frank Kendall, Datenna, Martijn Rasser, Feng Yanghe, Feng, Palmer, ” Anduril, Arnott wouldn’t, David Lague, Edgar Su, Catherine Tai, Peter Hirschberg Organizations: Australian Navy, Ghost Sharks, Sharks, Reuters, Defense, Australian, Chinese Communist Party, Beijing, People’s Liberation Army, PLA, Department of Defense, Pentagon, Australia’s Department of Defence, Australian Defence Force, Technologists, University of California, U.S ., U.S, Teledyne FLIR, Facebook, VR, Military, . Air Force, FH, U.S . Central Intelligence Agency, Department, Statistics, Harvard University, Biden Administration, Special, Command, Ministry of Defense, Veteran Locations: China, Australia, United States, Sydney, Britain, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Europe, Asia, Ukraine, ”, America, U.S, Taiwan, East Asia, Beijing, Russian, Berkeley, Fort Campbell , Tennessee, Kenya, “, Russia, Colorado, Zhuhai, Netherlands, Costa, Mesa , California, United Kingdom, Virginia, Canberra, Washington

☆ Saudi Arabia wants to buy its way into a major 6th-gen fighter jet project, but not all its potential partners are welcoming
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Saudi Arabia reportedly wants to join the effort, but Japan is said to be wary of letting Riyadh in. A senior British defense told The Financial Times that the UK views "Saudi Arabia as a key partner in the fighter program and we are working to ensure strong progress as soon as possible." AdvertisementAdvertisementJapan also fears Saudi Arabia might want to export the cutting-edge jet to adversaries, such as China and Russia, or use its veto power to prevent Tokyo from exporting it to one of its allies. Indonesia, for example, has joined South Korea's KF-21 Boramae project, which aims to produce a quasi-stealth fighter jet by the late 2020s. AdvertisementAdvertisementOn the other side of Asia, Azerbaijan recently joined Turkey's TF Kaan stealth fighter project.

Persons: Bill Bostock, milch, Shigeto Kondo, Pascal Rossignol, GCAP, Tempest, China's, Paul Iddon Organizations: Service, Global Combat Air Program, The Financial Times, Financial Times, Britain's Telegraph, Japanese Institute of, Eastern, Al, KF, Indo, Getty, South Korea's KF, Turkey's TF, JF, 51st Paris Air Show, REUTERS, Rafale Locations: Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Wall, Silicon, Tokyo, British, London, Saudi, China, Russia, Jakarta, AFP, Indonesia, Asia, Azerbaijan, Ankara, Pakistan, Baku

☆ Former generals weigh in on how much say the US should have in Ukraine's counteroffensive as Kyiv's frustration with critics boils over
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Ukraine has blamed a lack of equipment and tough defenses while some in the West have put the blame on Kyiv's forces. "Everyone is now an expert on how we should fight," Ukraine's defense ministry said on social media Thursday. He wrote that the general is "extremely talented," but "he has never before" coordinated the kind of operations Ukraine is executing now. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe US has reiterated that it will continue to support Ukraine's war effort, even as the counteroffensive is expected to potentially last for at least a couple more months and the conflict possibly for years. In a recent conversation with Insider about Ukrainian operations, Hodges said that the Ukrainians "have recognized that they have to adapt, which is what they're doing."

Persons: Dmytro Kuleba, it's, —, Jose Colon, Jack Keane, Keane, Metz, Michael O'Hanlon, George S, O'Hanlon, Hertling, Valery Zaluzhny, Diego Herrera Carcedo, Mick Ryan, Michael Kofman, Franz, Stefan Gady, Ben Hodges, David Petraeus, Mark Milley, Milley, Petraeus, Frederick Kagan, Hodges, Kyiv's, Ryan Organizations: Service, —, PKP, Ukrainian Army, Anadolu Agency, Getty, US Army, Institute for, Street, Patton's Third Army, NATO, intel, Army, Foreign Affairs, US Central Command, CNN, Joint Chiefs, Staff, The Washington Post, American Enterprise Institute, Russia, Nazis Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Kyiv, Europe, Chasiv Yar, Russia, Donetsk Oblast, America, Ukrainian, France, Metz, Vietnam, Korea, US Army Europe, Australian, American, Singapore, Japan, United States, Philippines

☆ Huge purchases of tanks and helicopters suggest Poland is borrowing a battlefield idea from the US Army
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Among its purchases are US-made tanks and helicopters designed to work in tandem on the battlefield. Despite only being a member of NATO since 1999, Poland is spending much more than older alliance members. Poland has sent some of its older hardware to Ukraine, including Soviet-designed MiG-29 fighter jets and T-72 tanks and Polish-built Krab 155-mm self-propelled howitzers. WOJTEK RADWANSKI/AFP via Getty ImagesWhat is significant isn't just Poland's spending spree but also what it is buying. Poland is also spending $10 billion for 18 HIMARS launchers and reportedly plans to acquire up to 500 more launchers.

Persons: Mariusz Blaszczak, WOJTEK RADWANSKI, Radosław Sikorski, Artur Widak, Abrams, Vladimir Putin's, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, NATO, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Apaches, Polish Army, Getty, Abrams, US State Department, Joint, Army Tactical Missile, Financial Times, AHS, Nowa, Soviet, US Army, Apache, U.S . Army, Aviation, Defense, Foreign Policy, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Poland, Europe, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Germany, France, Soviet, Warsaw, AFP, South Korea, Russia, Polish, Forbes

The Osprey is an especially complex aircraft with a troubled history. With two rotor blades above extended wings, it takes off like a helicopter and can fly like a fixed-wing aircraft — which means that pilots need expertise in both. Last year, nine Marines were killed in two separate crashes. One Osprey aircraft crashed in June during a training mission near Glamis, Calif., killing five. Another crashed in a valley in Beiarn, Norway, killing all four on board.

Persons: Peter Dean, “, Dean Organizations: Marine Corps, Ospreys, Marines, Osprey, United States Studies, University of Sydney Locations: North Carolina, Glamis, Calif, Beiarn, Norway

☆ Ukraine's efforts to rack up Russian defectors and their equipment helped land the country an Mi-8 helicopter and fighter jet parts
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A Russian pilot defected to Ukraine with an Mi-8 helicopter and fighter jet parts this week. Ukraine offers monetary rewards to Russian soldiers who bring their equipment to Ukraine. AdvertisementAdvertisementUkraine has sought to incentivize Russian soldiers to defect since the war began in February 2022, launching at least two programs targeted at would-be turncoats. A helicopter — like the one a Russian pilot flew into Ukraine this week — fetches $500,000, according to the legislation. The Rada bill also promises "secrecy, a safe stay in Ukraine, and support in obtaining new documents and leaving for a third country," for any Russian soldiers who abandon post.

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