Americas
* The Pentagon has turned on the F-35 tap again, with the DoD approving another $1 billion in funding to go toward reimbursing Lockheed Martin for costs incurred on the ninth batch of aircraft. Last week’s decision offers some relief to the aircraft’s chief contractor who has been paying out of pocket for the fighter’s low-rate initial production (LRIP) lots 9 and 10. Meanwhile, contract negotiations over batch nine of aircraft with the Joint Program Office (JPO) rattles on after initial predictions had it wrapped up earlier this year.
* Billionaire firebrand and scourge of the US political establishment Donald Trump has unveiled his plan to defeat ISIS and jihadist terrorism. Albeit rather vague, Trump’s plan (which can be read in full here) aims at building bipartisan and international consensus and re-classifying US allies as any nation that will stand with Washington against “radical Islamic extremism.” He also plans on tackling Hamas, Hezbollah and Al-Qaeda with military, cyber, financial and ideological warfare and vows to end any nation building in the Middle East. A step up from simply bombing the oilfields?
Middle East North Africa
* Russia has used an air base in Iran to launch bombing missions in Syria for the first time. Tuesday saw the first Tu-22M3 and Su-34 aircraft leave Hamadan air base to attack anti-Assad militants in Aleppo, Idlib and Deir al Zour provinces. The move highlights not only a deepening of Moscow’s involvement in the Syrian Civil War, but also its growing defense ties with Iran, who also has their oar in the conflict by sending technical, military and financial expertise to president Assad as well as Shia militias in both Syria and Iraq.
Europe
* Media outlets in Russia have announced the recommencement of production of NK-32 turbofan engines by manufacturer Kuznetsov. Used exclusively in the Tu-160 bomber, the initial batch of the upgraded engines will be ready by the end of 2016. A new and improved Tu-160M2 will appear between 2020-2025, with Moscow planning to acquire at least 50 of the bombers.
* British F-35Bs will be equipped with advanced short range air-to-air missiles (ASRAAM) from MBDA after London orders $238 million worth of the munition. Already in use on RAF’s Panavia Tornado GR4s and Eurofighter Typhoons, integration onto the F-35B is to be awarded in a separate MoD deal. MBDA, a European missile system conglomerate, has also been commissioned to support a Capability Sustainment Programme (CSP) for the development of the new variant of the weapon for the RAF Typhoons in a deal worth $388 million. A Block 4 software upgrade will integrate the CSP ASRAAM on the F-35B.
Asia Pacific
* The world’s first hack-proof communications satellite has been launched into orbit by China. Known as the Quantum Experiments at Space Scale (QUESS) satellite, it will undergo a two year mission to establish “hack-proof” quantum communications by transmitting uncrackable keys from space to the ground. Only designated recipients can receive the communications with any interference resulting in self-destruction.
* Saab has been contracted by the Australian Army to upgrade its RBS 70 ground-based air defense weapon system and Giraffe AMB radar. The bulk of the $24.9 million contract has been designated to modify the Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) in both systems to Mode 5 functionality.
* Japanese and South Korean destroyers are to receive the latest variant of the Aegis combat system after contracts were issued by the US DoD. Two upcoming Japanese and three new Korean vessels will receive the Aegis Baseline 9 system alongside all future US Navy destroyers. Completion of the $490 million deal is expected for June 2022.
Today’s Video
Algerian Su-30MKAs:
