Americas
* Technology allowing parts to be printed is rapidly seeing military adoption, but manufacturing experts warn that they need to be designed in a fashion to allow for inspection.
* The Navy is prepping a patch of seafloor off Florida to be an undersea training ground of sorts. They have installed the first leg of data cable, surfacing at Naval Station Mayport. More will be installed to reach the grounds, about 50 miles offshore.
Europe
* France has reportedly returned Russia’s $900 million for failing to deliver the two Mistral class helicopter carriers it had manufactured. Interestingly, the Sputnik News report indicates that Russia feels it has a right to grant or withhold permission to France to resell the craft to a third nation. This could conceivably be the case were Russia contributing significant design work or classified specifications.
* Russia will reportedly design a new model of its command continuity aircraft , more commonly called a “doomsday plane.” The country has four flying now, serving to decrease the likelihood that its command and control could be decapitated.
Asia
* Pakistan continues to add to its nuclear arsenal , although Pakistani officials deny that it is moving quite at the pace indicated by a recent report. The country has the capacity to become the owner of the third largest nuclear arsenal in the next few years.
* Japan launched another helicopter carrier, its second, built by local firm Japan Marine United. The new Kaga joins the JS Izumo, which became operational in March. The Kaga is the second ship to be named after the Kaga Province of Japan. The first Kaga, part of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II played an integral role in the Battle of Midway, where it was damaged to the point that it was scuttled soon after.
* Belarus will buy four more Yak-130 jets from Russia’s Irkut Corporation.
Middle East
* Saudi Arabia will buy 75 15-meter interceptor vessels for its Coast Guard. German manufacturer Lurssen won the contract, and is subcontracting manufacturing to French Shipyard Couach.
* Iran is reported to be interested in purchasing the Sukhoi superset-100 for civil aviation. Going with a Chinese or Russian manufacturer would likely make most sense, as the Iranian government could well put itself in a sanctions penalty box again in the future, making western manufacturers the least reliable.
Today’s Video
* The PAK FA / T-50 in all its vector-thrusted maneuverability…
