Rnews Crooked Bough News Round-up: Military Watch

Military Watch

— Mass Transfer of Iranian Ballistic Missiles to Russia Confirmed: Bartering For Soybeans and Wheat: at 9/9/24 5:40am
Following several weeks of reports that Iran and Russia are<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/acquisitions-iranian-missiles-inevitable" target="_blank"> planning the transfer</a> of tactical ballistic missiles from the former to the latter, and two years of <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/fateh110-missile-perfect-ukraine" target="_blank">speculation</a> that such acquisitions could take place, multiple sources have confirmed that the Russian Armed Forces have begun receiving Iranian missiles. The Wall Street Journal was one of the first Western sources to report the transfer had already taken place, citing European officials who stated that the EU and U.S. were planning to escalate economic warfare efforts against the Middle Eastern country in response. "Iran has sent short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, giving Moscow another powerful military tool to use in its war against Ukraine. The move follows stern warnings from the West not to supply the weapons to Moscow," the article stated, noting that Washington had already informed its allies of the transfer. Intelligence sources were subsequently cited by CNN stating that the deal had been in the works for almost a year. The Fateh-110 ballistic missile and its new <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/acquisitions-iranian-missiles-inevitable" target="_blank">lighter counterpart the Fateh-360</a> are reportedly the primary missile classes in which Russia has shown an interest. Both have very short ranges of just 300 and 120 kilometres, allowing them to serve as lower cost and lighter counterparts to missiles from the Russian<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/western-foreign-fighters-casualties-iskander" target="_blank"> Iskander-M system</a> and the KN-23 and <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/1000-kn24-nkorean-frontline-forces-unprecedented" target="_blank">KN-24 systems </a>acquired <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/move-aside-iskander-kn23b-russia-top" target="_blank">from North Korea</a>. Iranian ballistic missiles have demonstrated very high levels of precision in <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/number-of-american-casualties-from-iranian-missile-strike-rises-to-109-pentagon" target="_blank">combat operations </a>in the past.&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/09/09/article_66dec357270364_65137167.jpg" title="Missile Battery From Fateh-360 System">As of September 9, Western sources estimate that over 200 missiles from the <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russia-fateh360-iran-acquire" target="_blank">Fateh-360 system</a> have been delivered, leaving the possibility of Fateh-110 deliveries in question. It is notable that the North Korean <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/nkorea-long-range-rocket-artillery" target="_blank">KN-25 rocket artillery system</a> provides a similar range to extended ranged variants of the Fateh-110, with acquisitions of these Korean system potentially having diminished Russian interest in the larger Iranian missiles. Responding to reports of missile transfers to Russia, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry threatened Tehran with consequences, issuing the following statement: “We warn official Tehran that if the fact of Iran’s transfer of ballistic missiles to the Russian Federation is confirmed, this will have devastating consequences for Ukrainian-Iranian bilateral relations.” It is notable that the export of<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/ukrainian-artillery-destroyed-iran-drones-shahed136"> Iranian military drones </a>to Russia from late 2022 caused sufficient concern in Ukraine that Ukrainian officials openly&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/zelensky-aide-wants-attack-iran">advocated launching attacks</a>&nbsp;on industrial targets in Iran, with similar threats expected to be issued once Iranian missiles begin to be used. The possibility of Ukraine planning attacks on Iranian targets also cannot be ruled out, with Ukrainian special forces having already <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/major-battles-malian-wagner-jihadists" target="_blank">supported attacks</a> on Russian strategic partners namely Mali and Syria.&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/09/09/article_66dec40cf3a5b0_53596293.jpg" title="Missile Launch From Fateh-360 System">The export of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia was confirmed by Iranian Member of Parliament Ahmad Bakhshaesh Ardestani, a member of the parliamentary committee on national security, who provided the following details regarding the terms of the transfer: "We have to engage in barter to meet our needs, including importing soybeans and wheat. Part of the barter involves sending missiles and another part involves sending military drones to Russia.” Asked whether this could lead to increased sanctions against Iran, Ardestani replied: "It cant be worse than it is now. We give rockets to Hezbollah, Hamas and Hashd al-Shaabi, so why not give them to Russia?" "We sell weapons and get dollars. We bypass sanctions thanks to our partnership with Russia. We import soybeans, corn and other goods from Russia. Europeans sell weapons to Ukraine. NATO entered Ukraine, so why dont we support our ally by sending missiles and drones to Russia?" Ardestani added. Although Iran was previously expected to acquire <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/iranian-pilots-train-su35-choice" target="_blank">Russian Su-35 fighters</a> worth approximately $2 billion as part of barter agreements, as well as <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/iran-confirms-mi28-su35-tensions" target="_blank">Mi-28 attack helicopters</a>, a number of reports have indicated that this deal may have collapsed. Iranian <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/iran-first-fighters-yak130-su35-recieve" target="_blank">acquisitions</a> of Russian Yak-130 trainers in September 2023, however, are thought to have been financed by barter deals, with Russia reported to have paid for other portions of its arms acquisitions through exports of physical gold.&nbsp;
[Author: editorial@militarywatchmagazine.com (Military Watch Editorial Staff)] [Category: Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Missile and Space]
— Footage Confirms Two More U.S.-Supplied Abrams Tanks Destroyed by Russian Forces in Pokrovsk: at 9/8/24 10:33pm
Recent footage has confirmed the destruction of two further M1A1 Abrams tanks operated by the Ukrainian Army, following a series of consecutive losses for the scarce U.S.-supplied vehicles. The first tank was seen near the village of Volchye in the Pokrovsk direction in the dispute Donbas region, in the vicinity of where the large majority of confirmed Abrams losses have occurred. The second of the two tanks was destroyed in the same region near the settlement of Berdychi. The second tank could be seen to have been up-armoured with additional plating, anti-drone cages and Soviet Kontakt-1 explosive reactive armour. The images were released only around a week after prior footage confirmed serious damage to another Abrams tank, which was filmed <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/captures-leopard2a6-abrams" >being captured</a> and towed away by Russian forces near the&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/ukrainian-army-disordered-retreat" >strategically located town</a>&nbsp;of Avdiivka alongside a Leopard 2A6 tank. The M1 Abrams is widely considered the most capable tank class produced in the Western world, and other than South Korean K2 tanks recently <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/nato-top-tankfirst-live-fire" target="_blank">acquired by Poland</a>, is seen to be the most formidable armoured vehicle in terms of its combat capacity operated by any NATO member.&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/09/09/article_66deb7357c53f8_77606971.JPG" title="Disabled M1A1 Abrams Near Volchye, Pokrovsk">At close to 70 tons, and in some configurations closer to 80 tons, the Abrams is one of the heaviest tank classes in the world and carries significantly more armour than most other tanks. The<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/ukraine-receives-abrams-deliveries" target="_blank"> first deliveries</a> of the vehicles to Ukraine in September 2023 fuelled widespread projections in the Western world that they would provide overwhelming superiority over Russian armour and allow Ukrainian units to may important breakthroughs - potentially even spearheading an assault on the Crimean Peninsula. Over 20 of the 31 tanks delivered to Ukraine are now thought to have been destroyed, disabled or captured, with at least one of the kills having been&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russian-t72b3-abrams-ukraine">achieved by a Russian T-72B3</a>&nbsp;tank after the two exchanged fire in the first week of March. The vehicles were notably deployed to the frontlines only after almost five months in Ukraine, with the tanks&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/new-footage-shows-ukraine-s-u-s-supplied-abrams-tanks-in-first-combat-images-indicate-possible-combat-loss">first seen</a>&nbsp;deployed on February 23. The first loss of an Abrams tank was then&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/footage-destruction-abrams-ukraine">confirmed</a>&nbsp;three days afterwards. After multiple further losses in February and March, the Ukrainian Army in late April&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/ukrainian-army-withdraws-abrams-losses">withdrew its remaining Abrams tanks</a>. Losses have remained high, with some recent kills&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russian-army-takes-out-another-ukrainian-abrams-tank-with-guided-artillery-shot">confirmed on July 30</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russian-precision-artillery-abrams-destroy">on July 3</a>, and previously in&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russian-precision-artillery-abrams">early May</a>, all of which saw the vehicles filmed being destroyed by guided artillery. A more recent&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/footage-taking-out-abrams-ukraine">kill on August 11</a>&nbsp;was filmed being achieved by a drone.&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/09/09/article_66deb7b0af23b0_83014374.png" title="Ukrainian Abrams Tank Hit By Precision Guided Artillery Early May">The original M1 Abrams was developed with the primary mission of combating Soviet forces in the European theatre of the Cold War. A major factor adding urgency to development was the result of U.S. and Israeli assessments after the 1973 Yom Kippur War, which had seen the Soviet T-62 tank first engage Western armour. The T-62 was assessed to have significant superiority over the top American tank the M60, despite having been superseded in the Soviet inventory by the newer T-64 and the T-64’s lower cost derivative the T-72. Such concerns were heightened by the results of armoured clashes in the Iran-Iraq War, which saw Iraqi T-62 and particularly T-72s consistently win <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/soviet-vs-nato-tanks-how-russian-armour-proved-its-superiority-on-middle-eastern-battlefields" target="_blank">overwhelming victories</a> against Iran’s U.S. and British supplied M60 and Chieftain tanks. The Abrams first entered service in 1980, although its 105mm gun was considered underpowered compared to the 125mm guns used by modern Soviet tanks.&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/09/09/article_66debbcc364fc2_31352395.webp" title="Up Armoured M1A1 Abrams in Ukraine in May 2024">Responding to concerns regarding the Abrams’ limited firepower, the M1A1 variant was put into production in 1986 with the improved 120mm smoothbore gun among other improvements. Entering service more than 20 years after the T-64, the M1A1 was seen to have belatedly bridged the performance gap with the older Soviet vehicles, although the American vehicle’s size and very high fuel and maintenance requirements raised questions regarding its suitability for operations on a large scale when logistics were expected to be heavily strained. It remains hotly disputed by both Russian and Western analysts today whether the latest variants of the Abrams or the<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/t90m-arenam-protection-missiles" target="_blank"> Russian T-90</a>, the latter a loose derivative of the T-64, is considered to have a greater combat potential, with neither country having operationalised a <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/t14-tested-troop-trials-armata" target="_blank">clean sheet new tank</a> design since the 1980s. Where the Russian Army has <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russian-army-rt90m-active-protection" target="_blank">continued to receive</a> new T-90s at an accelerating rate, however, Washington has shown no signs of planning to supply new Abrams tanks to replenish Ukraine’s own losses.&nbsp;
[Author: editorial@militarywatchmagazine.com (Military Watch Editorial Staff)] [Category: Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Ground]
— Russia Singles Out Western Personnel in Ukraine in Latest Precision Strikes: at 9/8/24 9:26pm
The Russian Armed Forces have continued to single out Western personnel in the Ukrainian theatre in multiple strikes as part of their ongoing war effort, with this recently confirmed by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Speaking to local media, Peskov stated regarding Western personnel both providing training and directly taking part in combat operations: "Our military is increasingly effectively carrying out strikes against such targets. This is very good from the point of view the special military operation and achieving the goals that have been set.”&nbsp;&nbsp;One of the most recent strikes launched targeted Western contractors near the settlement of Stetskovka, located north of the city of Sumy in northeastern Ukraine. The Russian Defence Ministry stated regarding the strike: "Strike on mercenaries ... Stetskovka area (north of Sumy) ... As a result, the missile strike eliminated up to 30 foreign mercenaries and 6 units of hardware in a temporary deployment point.” Drone footage released showed the strike being carried out. Russian state sources have consistently referred to foreign combatants in the theatre as “foreign mercenaries,” although many have been volunteer fighters. The less pejorative term “contractors” is used to refer to equivalent Russian contract personnel such as those from the Wagner Group.<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/09/09/article_66dea3491267c4_72521174.png" title="Explosion After Strike on Western Personnel Near Stetskovka">The Ukrainian-led&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/ukraine-twin-assaults-kursk-belogrod">assault on the Russian Kursk region</a>&nbsp;launched on August 6 has notably seen foreign personnel play a <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/contractors-kursk-polish-french-details">significant role</a>, with American Forward Observations Group forces having been pictured operating in the region. Ukrainian personnel involved in the Kursk operation have themselves attested to the presence of Western personnel, with a notable example being the following statement from 80th Airborne Assault Brigade serviceman Ruslan Poltoratsky: "When we crossed the border with Russia, at first I thought there was some line noise. But then I distinguished what they were saying - they were speaking English, Polish, maybe even French. I did not understand anything, I said into the walkie-talkie - repeat, repeat, hearing some gibberish.” "When they had already taken positions [in the Kursk Region], they also went on the air with their superiors, with ours as well, and I also heard them saying something in English and in some other language. Something about houses, chaos," he added. Russian military sources, and civilians in areas held by Ukrainian and allied forces have made a number of separate reports on the operations of Western personnel in Kursk. Major General Apty Alaudinov, deputy chief of the Russian Armed Forces’ Main Military-Political Department and commander of the Akhmat Special Forces commando unit, stated in mid-August that a large number of French and Polish military contractors were encountered during operations.&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/09/09/article_66dea4e586a762_11639797.png" title="Forward Observations Group Personnel in Kursk">Western advisors, logisticians, combatants, and other personnel operating newly delivered NATO-standard hardware have played a central and growing role in the war effort since early 2022, ranging from<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/royal-marines-fighting-russia-months" >&nbsp;British Royal Marines deployed</a>&nbsp;for frontline combat operations from April that year at the latest, to&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/royal-marines-fighting-russia-months" >SAS advisors</a>&nbsp;who have reportedly provided significant support armoured offensives against Russian positions. Strikes on the positions of Western personnel in Ukraine have been common since the outbreak of hostilities in early 2022, with an early example being the targeting on March 13, 2022 of a military training base in Yavoriv less than 15 kilometres from the Polish border where close to 1000 foreign fighters were based, killing an estimated 180 personnel. A notable example from early 2024 was a<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/strike-ukraine-french-contractors-africa" > strike on the headquarters</a> of European contractors, predominantly of French origin, on January 16, which &nbsp;caused at least 80 casualties 60 or more of which were killed.&nbsp;Russian state media reported that these personnel were “highly trained specialists who work on specific weapons systems too complex for the average Ukrainian conscripts,” which “put some of the most lethal and long-range weapons in the Ukrainian arsenal out of service until more specialists are found” to replace them.&nbsp;Western personnel have also been singled out for targeting far from their bases, with a notable example being an Iskander-M <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/retribution-iskander-missile-georgian-legion-losses" >missile strike</a> against&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/georgian-legion-examine-militia-ukraine" >Georgian Legion foreign fighters</a>&nbsp;near the frontlines in late April 2023, destroying 15 vehicles, killing up to 60 personnel and seriously wounding more than 20 more.&nbsp;
[Author: editorial@militarywatchmagazine.com (Military Watch Editorial Staff)] [Category: Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Missile and Space, Battlefield]
— U.S. Air Force F-35s Demonstrate Ability to Use Makeshift Runways Close to Russian Borders: at 9/7/24 5:58pm
The U.S. Air Force 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath has deployed two <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/air-force-general-warns-f-35-still-far-from-ready-for-war-problematic-jets-not-worth-including-in-war-plans" target="_blank">F-35A fifth generation fighters </a>to test their ability to operate from highways in Finland, marking the first time that F-35s from the country have landed on a European highway. The deployment was carried out on September 4, and showcased the Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept which emphasises the ability to operate fighters from unconventional locations. While the F-35B used by the U.S. Marine Corps was designed specifically to be able to operate from makeshift runways due to its ability to vector thrust downwards to generate additional lift, the F-35’s ability to operate from highways has only been demonstrated relatively recently. The Norwegian Air Force in September 2023 became the first service in the world to operate F-35As from highways, with Chief of the Royal Norwegian Air Force Major General Rolf Folland having <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/gamechanger-f35a-norway-first-highways" >observed</a> at the time: “This is a milestone… This demonstrates our ability to execute a concept of dispersal. Fighter jets are vulnerable on the ground, so by being able to use small airfields – and now motorways – [the Air Force can] increase our survivability in war.”&nbsp;The exercise notably also saw Finnish highways used. A number of countries have reinforced their highways to accommodate fighter aircraft in order to increase options for wartime basing, with another notable example other than Finland being the <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/chinese-squadrons-operate-american-f16s" >Republic of China where F-16s</a> and F-CK fighters have demonstrated a <a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=taiwan+f-16s+highway+takeoff&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8" target="_blank">similar capability</a>.&nbsp;Such reinforcement is highly costly and therefore uncommon.<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/09/08/article_66dd0b9543a296_58570019.jpg" title="Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35A on Finnish Highway">The deployment of U.S. Air Force F-35s to Finland has particularly serious implications for Russian security due to the Nordic country’s recent accession to NATO in April 2023, which has <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/finland-nato-accession-russian-security">effectively doubled </a>the alliance’s European border with Russia. Following the accession, Washington and Helsinki have been involved in <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/us-finland-f35-russian-border-deal">negotiations</a> for a Defense Cooperation Agreement which, according to Finnish media, will allow the United States to set up extensive military infrastructure in the country to facilitate forward deployments of American F-35s. This could included a permanent or a rotational deployment of the aircraft. The F-35 is considered unrivalled in terms of sophistication by any non-Chinese fighter class, with its advanced penetrative capabilities providing an ability to deliver conventional and <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/f35s-cert-stealthy-nuclear-strike" target="_blank">nuclear strikes </a>deep into Russian territory. A single F-35 deployed a B61-13 nuclear bomb is estimated to be <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/f35-bomb-one-fighter-310000-russians" target="_blank">able to kill </a>up to 310,000 citizens in Moscow, while the aircraft have a potent capability to seek and destroy Russia’s own nuclear assets to prevent retaliation.&nbsp;This makes deployment of the aircraft to Finland a potentially very serious threat to Russian security. Deployment of U.S. Air Force F-35s in the country, possibly on a permanent basis, would supplement the Finnish Air Force’s own plans to <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/european-lost-finland-signs-f35" target="_blank">acquire 64 F-35As</a> to replace its ageing F-18C/D fighters, which will revolutionise its offensive capabilities overnight.&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/09/08/article_66dd0c141bed20_01396957.jpg" title="48th Fighter Wing&nbsp;F-35A (Jerry Ridout)">Commenting on the latest deployment commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe General James Hecker stated that it was key milestone in strengthening NATO’s operational flexibility. “The successful first-ever landing of our fifth-generation F-35 on a highway in Europe is a testament to the growing relationship and close interoperability we have with our Finnish Allies,” he said. “The opportunity to learn from our Finnish counterparts improves our ability to rapidly deploy and employ air power from unconventional locations and reflects the collective readiness and agility of our forces,” the commander added. The F-35 is set to see its capabilities significantly enhanced in the near future with the integration of Block 4 software, as well as the new AN/APG-85 radar and <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/obsolete-f16s-target-practice-aim260" >AIM-260 air to air missile</a>. With most Russian fighters carrying radars well over twice as large as those the F-35 can accommodate, the new radar is expected to ensure that the fifth generation fighter retains an edge in situational awareness compensating for its small size with greater sophistication. Although the Soviet Union had ambitious fifth generation fighter programs under development, with its promising <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/su57-half-price-ambitious-mig142" >MiG 1.42 program</a> having been scheduled for service entry in the early 2000s, in the post-Soviet years Russia’s fighter aviation industry has fallen significantly behind leaving it without a fighter with comparable offensive applications to the F-35. Russia accordingly relies very heavily on ground based air defence systems <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russia-growing-use-a50u-hunt-ukr" >such as the S-400</a> to counter new generations of American and allied air power.&nbsp;
[Author: editorial@militarywatchmagazine.com (Military Watch Editorial Staff)] [Category: North America, Western Europe and Oceania, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]
— Russian Army Receives New Batch of T-90M Tanks: Will They Bring Active Protection Systems to the Frontlines?: at 9/7/24 5:01pm
The Russian state owned factory Uralvagonzavod has delivered a new batch of T-90M main battle talks to the Army. While the size of the batch remains unknown, the delivery follows over two years of efforts to significantly increase output of T-90s to meet wartime requirements amid war in Ukraine and rising tensions with NATO members. Uralvagonzavod is the only one of five major tank producing factories that operated the Soviet Union in the 1980s which still produces tanks today, and is by far the largest tank plant in the world with the possible exception of newer Chinese facilities. Although before 2022 local orders for new tanks from the factory were negligible, with only 10 new tanks acquired in the 2010s, Uralvagonzavod retained a very large output far surpassing the collective outputs of all tank plants in the Western world combined due to export demand for the T-90 primarily<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russia-exports-almost-all-tanks-t90s-clients" target="_blank"> from Algeria and India</a>. Recent efforts to <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/medvedev-t90m-built-tackle-western" >surge production</a> to near Soviet era levels of well over 1000 per year have reportedly fallen far short, although the current output remains uncertain with some reports indicating that over 300 T-90Ms will be delivered in 2024.&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/09/08/article_66dcf806754ff9_06761546.jpeg" title="T-90M Main Battle Tank">The T-90M has been widely praised by Russian officials, with both President Vladimir Putin and former president Dmitry Medvedev <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/putin-medvedev-t90m-best-tank" target="_blank">referring to it</a> as the most capable tank in the world. The tank is nevertheless notable less mobile than the more costly Soviet T-80, which was terminated from production in the 1990s in favour of the cheaper T-90 which costs only a fraction as much to produce and far less to operate. The T-80’s strong performance in the Ukrainian theatre has led Russia to <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russia-resumed-production-turbine-t80" target="_blank">move</a> to <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/t100-incoming-tank-production">resume production</a> of the vehicles after three decades, although this may not materialise before the 2030s. The T-90M’s performance has been improved considerably through the<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/t90m-arenam-protection-missiles" target="_blank"> integration of the&nbsp;Arena-M</a> hard kill active protection system, which is expected to be fitted onto all models, although it remains uncertain whether the latest batch will be the first to be built with the upgrade. It was confirmed in August that the first batch of tanks with the systems has been ordered.&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/09/08/article_66dcf8116e3727_48926679.jpeg" title="Russian Army T-90M Main Battle Tank in Ukrainian Theatre">The Arena-M provides the T-90M with a radar system to continuously monitor the surrounding environment, and when detecting an incoming projectile tracks it automatically, calculates its trajectory, and deploys protective munitions to intercept and destroy it before it impacts the tank. The most well known system of its kind is the Israeli Trophy, which has been integrated onto the country’s Merkava IV tanks. The Arena-M can intercept rockets, missiles and high explosive anti tank shells travelling at up to 1000 meters per second, and can do so 50 meters away, with promotional materials claiming that it can counter top-attack missiles. The lack of a hard kill active protection system had previously left Russian tanks like the T-90M increasingly behind the cutting edge, with China, North Korea and South Korea all having introduced their own such systems, while the United States and Germany have begun to invest in acquiring the Trophy system from Israel. The T-90M is otherwise<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/added-armour-works-t90m-drone-strike" target="_blank"> well armoured</a>, and integrates Relikt explosive reactive armour as well as extra armour isolating its ammunition internally.
[Author: editorial@militarywatchmagazine.com (Military Watch Editorial Staff)] [Category: Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Ground]
— Egypt Orders J-10C Fighters to Replace Ageing F-16s - Reports: at 9/7/24 5:05am
The Egyptian Defence Ministry has reportedly placed its first ever order for Chinese fourth generation fighters, with an unspecified number of J-10C fighters reported to have been ordered on August 19. This development comes as Cairo has continued to strengthen strategic and economic ties with Beijing, and follows its admission to the Chinese-led BRICS bloc earlier this year. The acquisition makes Egypt the second client for the J-10C <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/why-pakistan-s-new-j-10c-fighters-have-f-22-style-golden-stealth-canopies" target="_blank">after Pakistan</a>, although unconfirmed reports indicate that neighbouring Sudan had <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/sudan-discussing-acquisition-of-china-s-j-10c-fighters-new-squadron-could-be-africa-s-finest" target="_blank">reached an agreement</a> on acquisitions before the outbreak of an insurgency in the country in April 2024 delayed talks for a purchase. The fighters are reportedly intended to replace Egypt’s ageing F-16 Fighting Falcons as these begin to be phased out of service. The acquisition has been speculated to be intended as an alternative to American proposals that Egypt acquire the F-16V upgrade package to modernise its F-16s, with the J-10C considered to have a superior combat capability to this enhanced F-16 model while coming at a similar cost to the package. Other than three squadrons of <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/mig29-fighter-marks-40-years-in-service-how-russia-s-extremely-manoeuvrable-fighter-has-evolved" target="_blank">MiG 29M fighters </a>ordered from Russia in 2015, all of Egypt’s fourth generation fighters are of Western origin, with the J-10C acquisition seen as a potential turning point for the country’s fleet in line with prevailing political trends.<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/09/07/article_66dbc3e70d2f10_30955345.jpeg" title="Egyptian Air Force F-16">Reports of orders for the J-10C have emerged as Egyptian officials have<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/israel-relocation-gazans-egypt-cleansing" target="_blank"> expressed growing concern</a> with the ongoing Western-backed Israeli war effort in the Gaza Strip, with Cairo being particularly concerned that the Israeli operation is intended to push the Gazan population onto Egyptian territory. The acquisition of J-10s is particularly significant when considering the current state of the Egyptian fighter fleet, which has long been considered almost totally incapable of fighting a major inter-state war. The close to 200 F-16s that form the backbone of the fleet are considered <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/egypt-f16s-40-years-downgrade" target="_blank">among the least capable</a> fourth generation fighters in the world, and have been <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/can-t-shoot-very-far-why-egypt-s-massive-but-downgraded-f-16-fleet-is-totally-obsolete-for-modern-warfare" target="_blank">heavily downgraded</a> and restricted to using obsolete Cold War era weaponry - and no beyond visual range air to surface weapons whatsoever. This combined with the United States’ control over spare parts supplies, and its tight restrictions imposed on how the aircraft can be operated, seriously limits Egyptian air power.&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/09/07/article_66dbc40048c8f6_42564097.png" title="J-10C with PL-15 and K/JDC01A Laser Designator Pod">Alongside its F-16s, Egypt’s French-supplied Rafale fighters ordered since 2015 also suffer from significant downgrades to performance, most significantly the lack of Meteor air to air missiles which seriously limits their combat potential. The J-10C by contrast will provide Egypt with two of the most capable air to air missile classes in the world, the PL-10 and PL-15, which Western sources have widely conceded are significantly more capable than their American counterparts the AIM-9X and AIM-120D. For Egypt, which used Cold War era AIM-9 variants and the obsolete AIM-7, this represents a technological leap of several decades in terms of performance. The J-10C will represent by far the most capable fighter in the country in terms of air to air performance, and possibly the most capable on the African continent. The fighter has proven during simulated combat engagements to be capable of outperforming modern ‘4+ generation’ fighters close to twice its size,<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/china-s-j-10c-reportedly-crushed-the-russian-su-35-in-combat-exercises-how-the-firebird-came-out-on-top" target="_blank"> including Russian Su-35s</a> and Chinese J-16s, while its arsenal of compatible air to ground ordinance is considerable.&nbsp;The J-10C is considered far more capable than any fighter in the Israeli fleet other than its <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/israel-s-second-f-35-fighter-squadron-is-now-active-how-stealth-aircraft-fit-into-fleet-modernisation-plans" target="_blank">two squadrons of F-35s</a>, with large scale acquisitions potentially forcing Israel to expand F-35 orders and to invest in more capable air to air missiles for its aircraft.
[Author: editorial@militarywatchmagazine.com (Military Watch Editorial Staff)] [Category: Asia-Pacific, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]
— Russian Air Force Receives New Precision Guided Glide Bombs with Further Extended Range: at 9/5/24 3:38am
The Russian Air Force has received a new class of precision guided glide bomb with a significantly extended range, according to local media reports. Designated the UMPB D-30SN, the winged bomb was photographed under the wings of a<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/replenishing-strike-fleet-su34s" target="_blank"> Su-34 strike fighter</a>, which is the most widely used fighter class in the Russian Air Force and has been responsible for the bulk of <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/gates-hell-bunker-busting-glide-bombs" target="_blank">glide bombing missions</a>. With other fighters such as the Su-30SM and Su-35 having also been <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/su35-intensified-strikes-avdiivka" target="_blank">deployed for glide bombing missions</a>, despite having lower weapons payloads and shorter ranges, there is a high possibility that they will also receive the new class of glide bomb. While previous glide bombs from the widely used FAB-500 series had ranges estimated at 50-60 kilometres, the D-30SN is estimated to have a 78-85 kilometre range - an increase of approximately 45-50 percent. This has the potential to allow Russian fighters to intensify strikes by flying shorter sorties, and to engage well defended targets from safer distances.&nbsp;While traditional non-gliding gravity bombs leave aircraft vulnerable to air defences, including handheld air to surface weapons, air launched missiles are not only several times more costly, but also seriously limit the magnitude of the explosive payloads that each aircraft can deliver per sortie as large portions of their weights are taken up by fuel and propulsion systems. Glide bombs have thus increasingly become a favoured weapon that maximises the ordinance the fighter fleet can deliver while minimising risk to the aircraft. Notable features on the new glide bomb include the integration of cruciform tail fins and a foldable main wing, the latter which lies flush with the bomb’s body. Alongside the new bomb, a new 3000 kilogram glide bomb, the FAB-3000M54 is also close to completing testing, which will provide more options for very high ordnance strikes on enemy targets.
[Author: editorial@militarywatchmagazine.com (Military Watch Editorial Staff)] [Category: Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]
— Footage Shows Ukrainian Abrams Tank Taking Out Russian Infantry at Close Range: at 9/4/24 5:57pm
Footage captured by Ukrainian drones from the town of Pokrovsk in the disputed Donetsk region has shown a U.S.-supplied M1A1 Abrams tank operated by the Ukrainian Army successfully neutralising a concentration of Russian infantry. The tank was operated by the Ukrainian Army 47th Separate Mechanised Brigade, while supporting reconnaissance drones were operated by the 25th Separate Assault Battalion which identified the Russian personnel in a nearby building. The Abrams was able to engage the targets at close range, firing several rounds from its 120mm main gun. With remaining Abrams tanks in Ukrainian service having seen armour protection improved locally, Soviet Kontakt-1 explosive reactive armour could be seen in the vehicle, as well as increased enhanced armour on the vehicle’s engine transmission compartment and its front and rear wheels.&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/09/04/article_66d833e9504335_83634723.webp" title="Up-Armoured Ukrainian M1A1 Abrams with Kontakt-1 Blocks">The 47th Separate Mechanised Brigade has consistently been prioritised to receive the most capable military equipment supplied by NATO members, including American Bradley Fighting Vehicles and German Leopard 2A6 tanks, later followed by M1A1 Abrams tanks. All three classes of tracked and armoured vehicle have taken heavy losses, with the first images of Bradleys and Leopard 2A6s being destroyed in large numbers having <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/leo2a6-destroyed-ukraine-bradleys">emerged in June</a> just days after they were committed to the frontlines. Today the majority of Leopard 2s and Abrams tanks in Ukrainian service have been destroyed, disabled or captured. Furthermore,&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/47th-mechbrigade-surrounded-lowammo">interviews</a> with personnel from the 47th Brigade by late 2023 highlighted increasingly serious shortages of ammunition in the unit. Abrams tanks only began frontline operations in February 2024, with footage confirming the vehicles took <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/ukrainian-army-withdraws-abrams-losses">heavy losses </a>in their <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/footage-destruction-abrams-ukraine">first engagements </a>with Russian forces in February-April, before they were temporarily withdrawn from the frontlines to receive more armour protection. Close to 20 out of just 31 of the vehicles delivered are estimated to have been disabled, captured or destroyed, with the class having taken major losses to drone and guided artillery strikes in particular, but also <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russian-t72b3-abrams-ukraine" target="_blank">to the 125mm guns</a> of T-72B3 tanks.&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/09/04/article_66d8341c1a4ff7_01438153.png" title="Destroyed Ukrainian M1A1 Abrams Tank with Kontakt-1 Explosive Reactive Armour in Kursk">Western media outlets interviews with Ukrainian personnel have highlighted their&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/dissatisfied-abrams-losses-technical-issues" >dissatisfaction</a>&nbsp;with the Abrams’ performance, citing both technical issues, including vulnerability of electronic components to condensation, as well as their vulnerability to Russian fire. The sheer size of the vehicles, which are far larger than Soviet designed tanks, has reportedly led them to attract particularly high quantities of fire, while their much larger profiles make them easier to target. Although the bulk of early kills against Abrams tanks were achieved near Avdiivka, more recently footage on August 11 showed the destruction of one of the vehicles in a<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/footage-taking-out-abrams-ukraine" > drone strike </a>in the Pokrovsk direction. The tanks have also seen limited deployments to the Russian Kursk region to support Ukrainian offensives. Footage showing an Abrams tank neutralising Russian inventory at close range in Pokrovsk provides a rare reprieve for the tank’s combat record in what has otherwise increasingly widely been considered an embarrassment both for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which hyped the vehicles’ arrival considerably, and for American industry.
[Author: editorial@militarywatchmagazine.com (Military Watch Editorial Staff)] [Category: Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Ground, Battlefield]
— Russian Acquisitions of Iranian Ballistic Missiles ‘Inevitable’ - European Officials: at 9/4/24 5:42am
The Russian Defence Ministry is expected with a high degree of certainty to begin procuring tactical ballistic missiles from Iran, according to unnamed European officials cited by Bloomberg. The sources referred to the expected missile transfer as "a worrying development in the conflict,” stating that deliveries were thought to be imminent but declining to give information on the quantities of missiles set to be supplied. The G7, formed of six Western countries and Japan, is currently considering increased targeting of the Iranian economy through sanctions should sales materialise, although according to Bloomberg and other Western sources the effect of these was not likely to be significant to achieve desired Western Bloc objectives. In early August European intelligence sources cited by the British media outlet&nbsp;Reuters <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russia-fateh360-iran-acquire" target="_blank">reported</a> that the Russian Armed Forces were set to receive several hundred Iranian Fateh-360 short range ballistic missiles. Ballistic missile sales would follow the success of Iranian drones such as the&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/ukrainian-artillery-destroyed-iran-drones-shahed136" >Shahed-136</a>&nbsp;in gaining a <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/iran-s-shahed-136-drone-has-become-russia-s-primary-aircraft-for-striking-ukrainian-positions-unprecedented-attacks-near-odessa" target="_blank">central position</a> in the Russian inventory from mid-late 2022, and subsequently beginning licensed production in the country. Arms exports not only provide Iran’s defence sector with a means of gaining revenue, but their employment against <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/contractors-kursk-polish-french-details" target="_blank">Western</a> and Western-aligned Ukrainian forces also helps to combat a common adversary of both countries. Use of Iranian drones has caused sufficient concern in Ukraine that Ukrainian officials have <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/zelensky-aide-wants-attack-iran" target="_blank">advocated launching attacks</a> on industrial targets in Iran.<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/09/04/article_66d7d9d77ccf19_30559297.jpeg" title="Shahed-136 Drone Over Kiev">The Fateh-360 is one of Iran’s newest ballistic missile systems, and was unveiled only in April 2022. It is one of the lightest and shortest ranged missiles classes produced in the country, and can engage targets only up to 120 kilometres away, making it more comparable to rocket artillery systems than the ballistic missile systems in its reach. Indeed, its range is less than one third that of the Russian Army’s longest ranged rocket artillery system the North Korean supplied KN-25. The Fateh-360 was designed as a lighter counterpart to the already small Fateh-110 ballistic missile, which reports for close to two years have indicated Russia has&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/fateh110-missile-perfect-ukraine">sought to acquire</a>&nbsp;from Iran. A significant possibility remains that Russia will acquire both systems.&nbsp;Each of the small solid fuelled missiles employed by the Fateh-360 uses satellite guidance and carries a 150 kilogram warhead. Although Russian industry already produces the 9K720 tactical ballistic missile for its&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/iskander-successes-strike-artillery" >Iskander-M system</a>, this much larger and more costly, with a heavy 500 kilogram warhead, 500 kilometre range, and complex semi-ballistic trajectory. While acquiring North Korean KN-23B missiles from late 2023 provided Russia with a heavier, longer ranged and <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/move-aside-iskander-kn23b-russia-top" target="_blank">higher end counterpart</a> to the Iskander-M, Iranian missiles are expected to provide the country with the cheapest systems in its arsenal, providing greater versatility to respond to a wider variety of threats. &nbsp;
[Author: editorial@militarywatchmagazine.com (Military Watch Editorial Staff)] [Category: Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Missile and Space]
— Replenishing the Strike Fighter Fleet: Russian Air Force Receives New Batch of Su-34s: at 9/3/24 2:49am
The United Aircraft Corporation owned by the Russian government has delivered a new batch of Su-34 fighters to the Defence Ministry, following prior deliveries reported in <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/ruaf-new-batch-su34-glide-bomb" >April</a> and <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russian-su34-batch-production-surge" >June</a>. This follows the Defence Ministry of directives given in October 2023 to expand Su-34production, in parallel to increases in production of the&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/nine-weapons-russia-s-new-su-57-fighter-carries-in-its-internal-missile-bays-from-dogfighting-missiles-to-guided-bombs" >Su-57 fifth generation fighter</a>. While producing new fighters to fulfil outstanding orders, the Chkalov Aircraft Factory&nbsp;in Novosibirsk, Siberia, is also responsible for modernising existing Su-34s in the fleet. When giving orders to increase production in 2023, then Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/su34m-strike-fighters-batches-capabilities" >observed</a> regarding the Su-34’s role in the Russian Air Force: “This warplane is the main workhorse, they have four, five sorties every day,” stressing the “need to step up, hurry up” with production. Su-34s have been procured in much larger numbers by the Russian Air Force than any other post Cold War fighter class, with expansion of production making a production run of close to 250 fighters or more appear highly likely. The first Su-34s entered service in 2014, the same year as the <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/su35-dud-ten-years-expect" target="_blank">Su-35 air superiority fighter</a>.<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/09/04/article_66d7afe43051d6_44492861.JPG" title="Su-34 Fighters From September 2024 Delivery Batch">The Su-34 continues to be widely relied on for both nuclear deterrence and for tactical strike missions across all theatres from&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russia-enclave-airstrikes-100-jihadists" >Syria</a>&nbsp;to the&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russia-to-deploy-new-su-34-strike-fighter-unit-to-arctic-amid-tensions-with-america" >Arctic</a>&nbsp;to the Western Pacific, but has played a particularly central role in the Russian-Ukrainian War where the effectiveness of its glide bomb strikes have been widely highlighted with much concern by Western sources. The aircraft have been seen employing ODAB-500 500 kilogram glide bombs with thermobaric warheads&nbsp;in the Ukrainian theatre, which are <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/footage-su34s-thermobaric-ukrainian-vacuum" >well optimised</a> for neutralising well fortified enemy positions. Multiple Ukrainian personnel in January 2024 informed the&nbsp;New York Times&nbsp;that new&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/gates-hell-bunker-busting-glide-bombs" >Russian strikes </a>using glide bombs imposed “additional devastating power,” and with 500kg of explosives could thus obliterate their underground bunkers. One serviceman compared the impact of Russian glide bomb strikes to “hell’s gates,” stressing that the Russian Air Force “would send them two by two by two, eight in an hour… It sounds like a jet coming down on you.”&nbsp;
[Author: editorial@militarywatchmagazine.com (Military Watch Editorial Staff)] [Category: Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]
— Replacing Russia’s T-90 on World Markets: China’s High Tech VT-4 Tank Excels in Trials in Algeria: at 9/2/24 5:45am
The Chinese VT-4 main battle tank has successfully completed assessments in Algeria, including long range firing exercises during which it achieved a 100% hit, and exercises testing its continuous driving capabilities over 500 kilometres and its ability to fire under a range of conditions. The tank’s performance was reportedly noted positively by the Algerian Armed Forces. The Algerian Army is the <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russia-exports-almost-all-tanks-t90s-clients" >second or third largest operator </a>of the T-90 main battle tank after India, and possibly Russia depending on how many have been commissioned and <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/ukraine-captures-t90m-capable" target="_blank">lost by the country</a> since February 2022. Multiple sources have reported that Russia has been unable to meet Algerian orders for further T-90s for over two years, with T-90s built for export having instead been commissioned into the Russian Army from 2022. With North Korea being under a UN arms embargo, and in any case having only very recently began to serially produce its <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/details-nkorea-next-generation-tank" >modern Chonma 2 tank</a>, this has left China as the only supplier of compatible main battle tanks. China currently has <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/chinese-tanks-how-capable-are-they" target="_blank">five separate tank classes</a> in production, including the Type 96 sold to Algeria’s close strategic partner Sudan, derivatives of the Type 59 sold to Iraq, and the Type 99A which <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/china-s-most-powerful-battle-tank-marks-ten-years-in-frontline-service-how-powerful-is-the-type-99a" target="_blank">forms the elite</a> of China’s own ground forces.&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/09/02/article_66d5ddc9c60a05_65401220.jpeg" title="Algerian Army T-90SA During Live Fire Exercises ">The VT-4 shares several technologies and design features with the VT-5 light tank which entered service in China in the end of the 2010s. The vehicle was developed specifically for export, and has been sold to Thailand, Pakistan, and on a very small scale to Nigeria. Pakistani reports indicate that the tank has a superior performance to <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/how-pakistan-acquired-the-soviet-union-s-heaviest-and-most-dangerous-battle-tank">T-80s supplied by Ukraine</a>, and is expected to have significant advantages over India’s T-90 tanks. For Algeria, the VT-4 represents one of the most attractive options to modernise the country’s tank units and diversify away from a heavy reliance on Russian armour, particularly due to Russia’s shortfalls as a supplier. Entry into the Algerian market, which is by far the most lucrative in Africa and, outside the Gulf, in the Arab world as well, potentially places Chinese industry in a strong position to market its&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/first-look-china-tank-prototype-light" target="_blank">next generation main battle tanks</a>. Previously Russia was expected to market its successor to the T-90, the <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/t14-tested-troop-trials-armata">much delayed T-14 Armata</a>, to the Algerian Army.&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/09/02/article_66d5df25b68b45_03467611.png" title="VT-4 Tanks in Thai Service">The VT-4 boasts very high levels of mobility, with its1,300&nbsp;hp diesel engine ensuring a high power-weight ratio. The tank benefits from torsion bar suspension, an integrated hydraulic transmission system, and automatic gear transmission&nbsp;for steering and acceleration. Like Russian tanks, but unlike American and German ones, the vehicle uses an autoloader allowing its weight to be reduced considerably and its crew cut from four to just three personnel. The tank uses a 125mm main gun, which is the same calibre used by Russian and North Korean tanks, where Western, Japanese and<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/nato-top-tankfirst-live-fire"> South Korean tanks</a> use 120mm guns. The tank uses composite armour and FY-4 explosive reactive armour for protection, reportedly providing an equivalent of approximately 700mm of protection. Algeria is reportedly evaluating a more advanced variant of the tank, the VT-4A1, which boasts a hard kill active protection system equivalent to the well known Israeli Trophy system, and includes associated radar equipment. The enhanced tank variant also integrates grenade launchers and a laser warning receiver. T-90 tanks <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/t90m-arenam-protection-missiles">up until August 2024</a> notably lacked any kind of hard kill active protection systems, with Russia considered unlikely to be able to supply such systems for Algeria’s T-90s for the foreseeable future.&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/09/02/article_66d5de10997448_50355781.jpeg" title="Algerian Army T-90SA Tanks During Exercises">The Algerian Armed Forces have increased their reliance on Chinese military equipment significantly in recent years, and in August announced the acquisition of YJ-12B anti ship cruise missiles, complementing its acquisition of Chinese CX-1 anti ship cruise missiles in 2018. Other notable acquisitions have included CH-4 and WJ-700 drones, WM-80 rocket artillery systems, PLZ-45 self-propelled howitzers, <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/chinese-missile-russia-needs-hj12" target="_blank">HJ-12 anti tank missile systems</a>, CHL-906 electronic warfare systems, Adhafer Class stealth corvettes, and according to some sources even <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/hq9b-multi-layered-air-defence-unveiled" target="_blank">HQ-9B air defence systems</a>. Algeria on May 22 was confirmed to have <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/africa-join-china-led-alliance" >applied</a> to become a dialogue partner of the Chinese-led Shanghai Cooperation Organisation military bloc, and on September 1 was announced to have joined the Chinese-led BRICS New Development Bank. The growing discrepancies between China and Russia as economic, strategic and defence partners in the former’s favour is expected to lead Algeria to continue to expand defence cooperation and arms acquisitions. The African country redoubled investments in its military capabilities since <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/ten-years-since-the-wests-war-against-libya-how-it-served-as-a-warning-regarding-us-and-european-intentions" >NATO’s assault</a>&nbsp;on neighbouring Libya in 2011, and&nbsp;has continued to perceive a <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/us-training-fight-algeria-drills-attack-s400" >significant threat</a> from Western military activities in its region.
[Author: editorial@militarywatchmagazine.com (Military Watch Editorial Staff)] [Category: Africa and South America, Ground]
— Footage Shows Russian Army Capturing Leopard 2A6 and M1A1 Abrams Tanks Near Avdiivka: at 9/1/24 11:12pm
Footage released by Russian Army units on the frontlines near the <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/ukrainian-army-disordered-retreat" >strategically located town</a> of Avdiivka in the disputed&nbsp;Donbas region has shown the recovery of a disabled German-supplied Leopard 2A6 main battle tank fielded by the Ukrainian Army, as well as a more heavily damaged American supplied M1A1 Abrams tank. The two tank classes are considered among the most capable in the Ukrainian inventory, and have been supplied in far fewer numbers by NATO members than other classes such as the Leopard 2A4, Leopard 1 and T-72. While Leopard 2A6s were&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/leo2a6-destroyed-ukraine-bradleys" >first deployed</a> on the frontlines in June 2023, and were quickly being filmed taking heavy losses to Russian forces, the Abrams was <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/new-footage-shows-ukraine-s-u-s-supplied-abrams-tanks-in-first-combat-images-indicate-possible-combat-loss" target="_blank">first deployed</a> for combat only in February 2024, with Avdiivka being the site of this deployment. While the large majority of engagements with Abrams tanks have occurred around Avdiivka, some of the tanks have been deployed to support a Ukrainian and <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/contractors-kursk-polish-french-details" target="_blank">allied offensive</a> into the Russian Kursk region, which began on August 6. The first of these was confirmed to have <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/footage-uparmoured-ukrainian-abrams" >been destroyed</a> in the third week of August.&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/09/02/article_66d5870b740547_93244712.png" title="Recovery of M1A1 Abrams Tank Near Avdiivka">Russian forces have captured multiple Abrams and Leopard 2 tanks in the past, including both the <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russian-soldiers-capture-leo2-bradley" >Leopard 2A4 </a>and the <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/new-details-capture-leopard2a6-heading" >Leopard 2A6</a> variants. The <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russia-majority-ukraine-leo2" >majority of Leopard 2s</a>, and the <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/footage-uparmoured-ukrainian-abrams" >majority of Abrams tanks</a> delivered to the country have been captured, disabled or destroyed, with Western states’ ability to replenish these losses remaining limited. The first loss of an Abrams tank was&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/footage-destruction-abrams-ukraine" >confirmed</a>&nbsp;on February 26, three days after the vehicles were&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/new-footage-shows-ukraine-s-u-s-supplied-abrams-tanks-in-first-combat-images-indicate-possible-combat-loss" >first seen</a>&nbsp;deployed in combat, with multiple subsequent losses following. At least one of these kills was&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russian-t72b3-abrams-ukraine" >achieved by a Russian T-72B3</a>&nbsp;tank after the two exchanged fire in the first week of March. After heavy losses in February and March, the Ukrainian Army in late April&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/ukrainian-army-withdraws-abrams-losses" >withdrew its remaining Abrams tanks</a> due to concerns regarding their vulnerability. Losses have nevertheless remained high, with some of the most recent including kills&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russian-army-takes-out-another-ukrainian-abrams-tank-with-guided-artillery-shot" >confirmed on July 30</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russian-precision-artillery-abrams-destroy" >on July 3</a>, and previously in&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russian-precision-artillery-abrams" >early May</a>, all of which saw the vehicles captured on video being destroyed by guided artillery. A more recent <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/footage-taking-out-abrams-ukraine" target="_blank">kill on August 11</a> was filmed being achieved by a drone.&nbsp;With Russia already having access to both Leopard 2A6 and the M1A1 Abrams tanks, many in better conditions than those newly captured, the value of the latest captured vehicles beyond propaganda purposes remains uncertain.
[Author: editorial@militarywatchmagazine.com (Military Watch Editorial Staff)] [Category: Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Ground, Battlefield]
— A Stealth Bomber Addition to AUKUS: B-21 Acquisitions Again Discussed in Australia: at 9/1/24 3:36am
The Australian Institute for Public Affairs research institute has recommended that the Royal Australian Air Force acquire B-21 Raider next generation stealth bombers from the United States, with the intercontinental range strategic aircraft seen as a valuable complement to the country’s nuclear attack submarines currently on order. The institute referred to the B-21 as “an additional element” which could be added to the AUKUS trilateral defence and security. “The benefit of ‘Plan B-21’ is that it will deliver significant long range strike capability to the ADF sooner than nuclear powered submarines,” the report added, concluding: “we judge that a capacity to operate and maintain the platform [B-21] in the Indo-Pacific would add a powerful deterrent option, earlier, to the U.S. and to Australia.” The possibility of Australia acquiring B-21 bombers has been raised since the late 2010s, while the possibility of the country entering a <a href="https://thediplomat.com/2023/04/what-nuclear-weapons-sharing-trends-mean-for-east-asia/" target="_blank">nuclear sharing agreement</a> with the United States to be able to use American nuclear warheads in wartime has been raised increasingly since 2021.&nbsp;Nuclear sharing would allow each B-21 to drop 12 B61-12 precision guided nuclear bombs on separate targets across a targeted state, with the bombs having variable yields of between 300 tons and 50,000 tons allowing them to strike small targets such as fortifications, or larger ones <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/f35-bomb-one-fighter-310000-russians" target="_blank">such as major cities</a>.<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/09/02/article_66d517080e03c0_86576539.jpeg" title="B-21 Bomber on Maiden Flight" >Much like the AUKUS nuclear submarine program, a B-21 acquisition has been advocated as a means of projection power into Northeast Asia to provide Australia with options to launch attacks on Chinese and North Korean targets in support of a broader Western Bloc war effort. Australia was previously the only client for the American F-111 long range strike fighter, which proved highly successful in intimidating neighbouring Indonesia with its advanced precision strike capabilities during conflict over East Timor. This helped Canberra to gain highly <a href="https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/review-shameful-lust-riches-under-timor-sea">favourable access </a>to disputed fossil fuel deposits in the area. A B-21 purchase could be an effective successor to the F-111 acquisition, and be used to similar ends but across a much wider area. Australia’s current fleet of F-35s and F-18s notably lack a comparable range to the F-111.The Institute for Public Affairs&nbsp;notably further advocated that Australia offer “to host a U.S. B-21 contingent” in order to “strengthen deterrence in the 2020s and manage the risk of delays in the AUKUS submarine.” This appears increasingly likely to materialise as the country has served as an increasingly <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/australian-base-permanently-host-b52" target="_blank">important staging ground</a> for American bomber operations, which helps mitigate the growing <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/precaution-against-chinese-and-korean-missiles-u-s-building-major-secondary-airbase-in-east-asia-in-case-guam-neutralised" target="_blank">vulnerability</a> of facilities on Guam. The B-21 was initially scheduled to make its first flight in 2020, although years of delays raised the possibility that the aircraft could begin flying after its&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/world-s-first-21st-century-bomber-to-fly-china-s-h-20-and-america-s-b-21-in-a-neck-to-neck-race" >Chinese rival the H-20&nbsp;</a>had already started flight testing. The bomber <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/b21-first-bomber-34yrs-first-flight" target="_blank">made its first flight</a> on November 10, 2023, making it the world’s first clean sheet new bomber design to do so since the B-2 Spirit made first flew on July 17, 1989. Compared to the B-2, the B-21 is considerably stealthier, but has a significantly smaller shorter ranged airframe intended to be much cheaper to produce and operate.&nbsp;
[Author: editorial@militarywatchmagazine.com (Military Watch Editorial Staff)] [Category: North America, Western Europe and Oceania, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]
— F-35A vs. Gripen E: Why the Royal Thai Air Force May Be Better Off Without Stealth Fighters: at 8/30/24 7:05pm
Thailand’s <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/frustrated-swedish-gripen-thai-orders" target="_blank">confirmed selection</a> of the Swedish-American Gripen E/F fourth generation fighter to serve as its next combat aircraft, and decision to acquire 10-14 of the aircraft, has made the country the first foreign client for close to a decade for the troubled fighter program. The decision came two years after SAAB President and CEO Micael Johansson&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/ceo-of-sweden-s-saab-admits-extreme-frustration-as-clients-don-t-want-gripen-fighters-no-sales-for-over-eight-years" >informed reporters</a>&nbsp;of his “extreme frustration” at the lack of Gripen sales, as the aircraft has consistently <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/f35-europe-clients-production-dominance-market" target="_blank">lost ever tender </a>in which it competed with the American F-35A. It is thus notable that the Gripen was not the Royal Thai Air Force’s first choice for a new fighter, with the service having originally planned to acquire <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/new-powerplant-f35-review-needed" target="_blank">F-35A fifth generation fighters</a> to replace its ageing&nbsp;F-16A/B Block 15 fighters. While the Thai cabinet approved a budget for four F-35As on January&nbsp;12, 2022, the Pentagon made clear on May 22 the following year that the F-35 would not be made available to the country. Despite the F-35A having been the Royal Thai Air Force’s first choice, a comparison of the fighter with the Gripen E/F shows that both aircraft have very different advantages, and while the F-35 as a fifth generation fighter undoubtedly has a greater combat potential, acquiring the Gripen may result in an overall stronger Thai fighter fleet.&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/08/30/article_66d153ee283c35_80165116.jpg" title="Gripen Leads Two F-35s in Formation">The F-35A and the Gripen E/F are notably at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of maintenance needs and operational costs, with the former having by far the <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/norway-fifthgen-engineer-shortage-f35-ground" target="_blank">highest requirements</a> and costs of any fighter in production in the Western world, while the latter’s costs are by far the lowest. As a result, over its lifetime a Gripen E/F is expected to cost less than one third as much as an F-35A to field - meaning for the same price as four F-35As the Royal Thai Air Force could field 12 Gripen E/Fs. Furthermore, the Gripen E/F’s very low maintenance needs serve as a major force multiplier, with the Royal Thai Air Force having famously kept its Gripen C/D fleet at close to 100 percent availability. By contrast, even in the United States which has priority access to spare parts the U.S. Air Force has struggled to <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/lawmakers-impatient-f35-55pct-rates" target="_blank">remain at 55 percent</a>&nbsp;availability. In practice, this means that Gripen E/Fs can fly close to twice as many sorties as F-35As, meaning a fleet of 12 Gripen E/Fs could fly close to six times as much as a fleet of four F-35As fielded for the same price.&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/08/30/article_66d1544f5b9a88_50227517.jpg" title="Gripen with Meteor Training Rounds">A major advantage of the Gripen E/F for Thailand remains that the class has compatibility in training and maintenance with the existing Gripen C/D fighters the country already fields, which significantly simplifies operations compared to acquiring an entirely new class of fighter from a new generation. Where the F-35 is not thought to currently be offered for export with its most capable class of air to air missile, the AIM-260, with even the older AIM-120D off limits to most clients, the Gripen E/F’s <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/world-s-top-seven-most-dangerous-standoff-air-to-air-missiles-from-european-meteors-to-russian-r-37s" target="_blank">Meteor missile</a> is currently available. The missile is considered broadly on par with the the Chinese PL-15, and is one of the most capable air to air weapons in the world, with a performance thought to fall between those of the AIM-120D and AIM-260. The capabilities of the missile help to somewhat compensate for the inherent advantages that the F-35 retains in its air to air capabilities.&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/08/30/article_66d154a3159468_97690124.jpg" title="F-35 Fifth Generation Fighter">Despite the Gripen E/F’s many often overlooked strengths, the F-35 remains a more capable fighter overall. Its stealth capabilities provide it with significantly greater survivability at beyond visual ranges against all manner of threats, while its AN/APG-81 radar is not only more advanced than the Gripen’s Raven ES-05, but is also over one third larger providing a tremendous advantage in situational awareness. This is supplemented by a distributed aperture system and by the world leading Multifunction Advanced Data Link system which further significantly boost situational awareness to a level that is unrivalled by any non-Chinese fighter. Designed for penetration strikes into heavily defended airspace, the F-35’s electronic warfare capabilities also have few rivals worldwide, with the fighter capable of gathering intelligence on enemy radars using sensors spread across its airframe. Nevertheless, the F-35’s complexity is also often its greatest downside, with the fighter’s reliability for high intensity combat operations having repeatedly been brought to question, while software bugs remain widespread - an issue not seen on the simpler Gripen E/F. The F-35 would have placed the combat capabilities of one small Thai unit in a very high league worldwide, rivalled only both other F-35 squadrons and by Chinese J-20 and <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/fc31-stealth-export-manoeuvrability" target="_blank">FC-31 units</a>. Nevertheless, for the Royal Thai Air Force’s overall combat potential, there are strong arguments in favour of the Gripen E/F as a more reliable, less maintenance intensive, and for most combat missions the more efficient and cost effective aircraft. This is aside from the fact that for Thailand’s relatively neutral geopolitical position, the Gripen E/F has far fewer <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/malaysian-prime-minister-mahathir-claims-american-fighters-are-only-useful-for-airshows-why-f-18s-can-t-fight-without-washington-s-permission" target="_blank">restrictions imposed</a> on how it can operate, including retaining the ability to conduct joint exercises with Chinese air units which is strictly prohibited for American fighters such as the F-16 and F-35.
[Author: editorial@militarywatchmagazine.com (Military Watch Editorial Staff)] [Category: Asia-Pacific, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]
— Indian Navy Introduces First Nuclear Missile Submarine From its Next Generation: at 8/30/24 5:58am
The Indian Navy has introduced its first of a new generation of enhanced Arihant Class ballistic missile submarines, the INS Arighat, which promises to significantly strengthen the second arm of the country’s nuclear triad. The warship has faced significant difficulties in its preparation for service since being launched seven years ago on November 19, 2017, with its service entry being more than three years behind schedule. The&nbsp;Arighat&nbsp;is one of the lightest nuclear powered submarines in the world, displacing just 6000 tons when fully submerged, with each requiring only an 83 megawatt nuclear reactor for power. To place this in perspective, the Russian Borei Class ballistic missile submarine displaces 24,000 tons and is powered by a&nbsp;190 megawatt reactor, while the world’s largest ballistic missile submarine the Typhoon Class displaces over 40,000 tons.&nbsp;Each&nbsp;Arihant Class ship&nbsp;can carry up to 12 K-5 short ranged ballistic missiles, which have ranges of just 750 kilometres - comparable to that of an extended range Scud missile. They can alternatively be armed with four larger K-4 intermediate range ballistic missiles, which have 3,500 kilometres ranges. The submarine class has the shortest engagement range of any kind of ballistic missile submarine, although India is thought to be planning a compact intercontinental range ballistic missile class for its future strategic submarines.&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/08/31/article_66d27a3fa10292_46924056.jpg" title="INS Arighat (X/@deepanshuS27)">Although the Indian Navy already fields one&nbsp;Arihant Class submarine, the INS Arihant, the warship was seen as a stopgap design until further improvements could be made, with the&nbsp;INS&nbsp;Arighat being the first of a much improved class.&nbsp;Two further modernised Arihant Class submarines are currently in production for the Indian Navy, with some reports indicating that these will be equipped with K-4 intermediate range ballistic missiles, where the&nbsp;INS&nbsp;Arighat has reportedly been armed with short ranged K-5s.&nbsp;Of the world’s nine nuclear weapons states, only Pakistan and Israel lack ballistic missile submarines, although both deploy cruise missiles tipped with nuclear warheads on smaller diesel electric powered submarines. India and North Korea are the most recent counties to have built nuclear armed ballistic missile submarines, with the Korean People’s Army Navy having completed its second Gorae Class ballistic missile submarine in late 2023. While all of North Korea’s modern submarines are indigenous, India still relies on Russian submarines to form the bulk of its fleet. Displacing over twice as much as the Arihant Class, by far the largest submarine class set to be fielded by the Indian Navy is the nuclear powered Russian Akula Class attack submarine, of which one has been leased from the country with the lease of up to two more currently under consideration. Although the Akula Class is an older Russian design, with the first having been commissioned in 1984, it is still expected to provide a revolutionary boost to the country’s undersea capabilities, and to potentially bolster the country’s nuclear deterrent by deploying nuclear tipped cruise missiles.&nbsp;
[Author: editorial@militarywatchmagazine.com (Military Watch Editorial Staff)] [Category: South Asia, Naval]
— Three Conflicting Reports on What Caused Ukraine’s First F-16 Loss: Friendly Fire, Russian Strike, or Unexplained Crash: at 8/30/24 5:57am
The Ukrainian Air Force was confirmed on August 29 to have lost its first <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/biden-hits-major-missile-upgrade-ukraine-f16" target="_blank">F-16 fourth generation fighter</a>, with the aircraft having been destroyed on August 26 just 25 days after deliveries began. The loss of one of just six F-16s delivered represents a significant blow to Western efforts to re-equip the Eastern European country with NATO’s <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/f16-50-years-underdog-to-powerhouse" target="_blank">most widely used fighter class</a>, and depending on the circumstances of the loss potentially has significant implications for the future of these efforts. Reports have conflicted regarding the circumstances under which the F-16 was lost, with three causes each having widely reported by different sources.The first explanation, reported by Ukrainian and by Western state affiliated sources, is that the fighter crashed. The aircraft was flown by one of Ukraine’s most experienced pilots, Oleksiy Mes, known as “Moonfish,” who reportedly died while attempting to intercept the “biggest ever aerial attack” by Russia against Ukraine. “During the approach to the next target, communication with one of the aircraft was lost. As it turned out later, the plane crashed, the pilot died,” the Ukrainian General Staff reported. Both Russia and Ukraine have made several highly dubious claims during the war, and the fact that a crash would be the explanation least damaging to morale and to the reputation of the F-16 program has led many sources to doubt this explanation. Nevertheless, the speed with which F-16s were supplied, which left relatively little time for training, means this explanation cannot be ruled out.&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/08/30/article_66d17dc67f9962_92254553.jpeg" title="Damaged Ukrainian MiG-29 Fighters After Russian Strike">A second explanation reported by a number of Ukrainian and Russian sources is that the F-16 was shot down by local air defences in a friendly fire incident. Such shootdowns by both sides have been <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/ukrainian-mig29-friendly-frontlines" target="_blank">reported multiple times</a> in the conflict. With the F-16 lost during a Russian attack, the possibility of such a shootdown by long range radar guided surface missiles would be highly possible.A third explanation for the loss of the fighter is that it was destroyed by a Russian <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russian-iskander-missile-strike-destroys-rare-ukrainian-su-27-fighter-at-mirgorod-airbase" target="_blank" >missile attacks on facilities</a> hosting the aircraft. Russian forces have successfully launched such attacks to destroy fighters on multiple occasions, meaning such a strike would be far from unprecedented. With F-16s being far less well suited than Soviet built fighters such as MiG-29s to operating from austere or makeshift airfields, the aircraft’s ability to be relocated to avoid future strikes remains limited.&nbsp;This leaves F-16s particularly vulnerable to such strikes, with their deployment locations being far easier to predict.<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/08/30/article_66d17d7ce9c480_06030343.avif" title="Ukrainian F-16 Pilot Oleksiy Mes - Known as `Moonfish`" >It is likely that the cause of the loss of the F-16 will never be known for certain. Air Forces have a long history of hiding or misattributing their losses to avoid negative publicity from their fighter losses, and as a result the circumstances of the losses of many fighters from decades ago still remain unknown. A notable example involving the F-16 was the Pakistan Air Force’s loss of one such aircraft during a clash with<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/the-war-where-the-mig-23-demonstrated-its-high-potential-legacy-of-the-soviet-swept-wing-fighter" target="_blank"> Soviet MiG-23s </a>in 1987. While the Soviets claimed the third generation MiGs had shot down one of the new fourth generation fighters, the Pakistan Defence Ministry claimed that their F-16 had been lost in a friendly fire incident, which whether true or not, helped prevent damage to the reputation of the new American fighter class.&nbsp;The United States would four years later claim that its first fighter loss of the Gulf War, a U.S. Navy F-18 fourth generation fighter, was shot down by Iraqi air defences, before sources only years later conceded that it had been <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/top-six-air-to-air-engagements-in-the-gulf-war-how-iraq-and-the-u-s-went-head-to-head-with-foxbats-f-15s-and-more" target="_blank">shot down in air to air combat</a> in a one-on-one engagement with a third generation MiG-25. Concealing this had for years allowed American leaders to claim that their fighters suffered no losses whatsoever in air to air combat, and thus assert that their fighters were overwhelmingly superior to Soviet ones. With other examples remaining manifold, there remains a significant possibility that the first loss of a Ukrainian F-16, the deliveries of which have been anticipated for over a year, has seen reports on the surrounding circumstances altered for public relations purposes. Russia has notably similarly been accused of underreporting and misattributing its own fighter losses, particularly when these involve the country’s top air superiority fighter the Su-35.
[Author: editorial@militarywatchmagazine.com (Military Watch Editorial Staff)] [Category: Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]
— First Clear Look at China’s Technology Demonstrator For a Future Stealth Ship: at 8/30/24 3:06am
New images have provided a more detailed look at a mysterious stealth frigate currently being tested in China, which is thought to be a technology demonstrator for the country’s next generation of surface warships. China is currently producing destroyers at a rate comparable to the capacities of the next several producers combined, and has in some years <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/ten-new-destroyers-built-in-china-in-2019-unprecedented-rate-of-fleet-expansion-sets-beijing-up-for-global-primacy" target="_blank">launched ten destroyers </a>in a single year. To place this figure in perspective, only six countries in the world field more than ten destroyers in their entire fleets, with the U.S. Navy fielding 75, Japan 36, and South Korea 13. With the Type 052D and <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/destroyer-lhasa-drills-near-japan" target="_blank">Type 055 destroyers </a>having been in production for over a decade, the stealth capabilities, and possibly other design features, being tested on the unnamed new light frigate, are expected to influence the designs of future ships that succeed them. Referred to in local media as a “comprehensive test platform,” the stealth frigate was first confirmed to have headed out to see in mid-May, six months after the first images of the ship emerged in November 2023.&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/08/30/article_66d149b5035639_36317721.webp" title="Unnamed Chinese Stealth Ship Tech Demonstrator">Among the new ship’s notable stealth features are an integrated mast structure on the bridge, radar-reflecting fixtures on its superstructure, smooth planar and faceted inward-canted surfaces above the ship’s waist, and a lack of major protruding aerials. The ship is approximately 97 meters long, and carries an unusual single aperture launcher that is speculated to contain an electro optical device or directed energy weapon. Although reducing radar cross section is considered less critical for surface ships than it is for combat aircraft, it nevertheless provides a number of important advantages. The United States notably sought to develop a stealth destroyer in the 1990s, the <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/9billion-zumwalt-first-deployment-upgrades" target="_blank">Zumwalt Class destroyer</a>, although the program was considered a resounding failure with ships costing over $9 billion each, having their main armaments removed, and suffering from notoriously poor reliability.&nbsp;With the U.S. having continued to rely heavily on the Arleigh Burke Class destroyer designed during the Cold War, and made slow progress towards developing a next generation destroyer class, this has presented China’s defence sector with the opportunity to be the first to successfully pursue such a program.
[Author: editorial@militarywatchmagazine.com (Military Watch Editorial Staff)] [Category: Asia-Pacific, Naval]
— Top Afghan Defence Official Calls For Acquisitions of Russian Air Defence Systems: Could S-300s Soon Defend Kabul?: at 8/29/24 7:41pm
The head of the logistics department of the Afghan Ministry of Defence General Sayed Abdul Basir Saberi had advocated that the country under the new Taliban government acquire Russian military equipment including air defence systems. Speaking to Russian state media outlet TASS, the official stated when asked what kinds of Russian armaments he believed his country needed to acquire, he state: “I think we need air defence and airspace control equipment. We have ground equipment. I think we will purchase [such products] from you at the international level, when there are [international legal] conditions for this. In the future, we plan to buy Russian-made equipment that will enable us to create an air defence. We would like to have such weapons, as you are the most advanced country in the world in terms of these technologies.” The Afghan Armed Forces currently rely overwhelmingly on <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/Black-Hawk-Taliban-parade" target="_blank">U.S.-supplied military equipment</a>, which was provided primarily to fight Taliban forces before they took power in the country in 2021.&nbsp;The country currently fields little to know long range air defence assets.<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/08/30/article_66d140a5a0e8c7_10409781.jpeg" title="Taliban Badri 313 Forces">Since coming to power, the Taliban government has taken significant steps to improve relations with neighbouring China and Russia. Widespread references in the West to a possible need to return to Afghanistan may have fuelled concerns that Afghan forces may need to combat a possible second invasion in future, after the U.S. led a coalition assault on the country and overthrew its government in late 2001, followed by an occupation that lasted a few months short of 20 years. It remains highly uncertain whether Afghanistan can acquire Russian air defence systems, with the sophistication of many more complex systems requiring levels of technical education that are not thought to be prevalent in the country. Taliban forces have also been engaged in counterinsurgency operations against the Islamic State terror group, which officials both from the Taliban and from the former Afghan government have widely <a href="https://tass.com/world/944720" target="_blank">alleged</a> to be supported by Western countries.
[Author: editorial@militarywatchmagazine.com (Military Watch Editorial Staff)] [Category: Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]
— A New Closer Look at China’s FC-31 Stealth Fighter Amid Rumoured New Export Agreement: at 8/28/24 7:49pm
Images released on August 29 have provided what may be the first ever look at a serially produced FC-31 fifth generation fighter of the ground based variant. The FC-31 is currently reported to be on order for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy, with a second variant designed for conventional ground based operations having been developed for export. The FC-31 is a medium weight fifth generation fighter, and while being significantly larger and having more thrust than the American F-35, it is still much smaller and lighter than<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/china-surge-j20-120-f35s-48" target="_blank"> China’s top air superiority fighter</a> the J-20. The ground based variant of the fighter can be distinguished from carrier based variants by its landing gear, which lacks comparable reinforcement and has only a single front wheel. The ground based variant also integrates what appears to be an infrared search and tracking system underneath its nose.&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/08/29/article_66d08b8c7ae570_56446809.webp" title="Prototype of FC-31 Carrier Based Variant">The likely clients for the FC-31 have been widely speculated, with the fighter potentially being the most attractive fifth generation fighter on markets today. The aircraft’s avionics and stealth capabilities are considered on par with those of the F-35, and more advanced than those of the <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/facilities-expanded-su57-fighter-production" target="_blank">Russian Su-57</a>, while the fighter boasts a much longer range and far superior flight performance to the F-35. Most significantly, China does not place <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/malaysian-prime-minister-mahathir-claims-american-fighters-are-only-useful-for-airshows-why-f-18s-can-t-fight-without-washington-s-permission" target="_blank">strict restrictions</a> on how the fighter can be used, where the F-35 is notoriously strictly controlled in the fleets of its clients outside the Western world. In January 2024 the head of the Pakistan Air Force Air, Chief&nbsp;Marshal Zaheer Sidhu, was confirmed to have&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/pakistan-announces-acquisition-of-first-fifth-generation-fighters-what-chinese-fc-31-stealth-jets-will-do-for-its-fleet">announced</a>&nbsp;that the country was preparing to place an order for FC-31s.&nbsp;With Pakistan having begun <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/why-pakistan-s-new-j-10c-fighters-have-f-22-style-golden-stealth-canopies" target="_blank">receiving J-10C fighters</a> in 2022, and expected to acquire up to 60 of the aircraft to replace its ageing Cold War era F-16s, the FC-31 provides the country with a further revolutionary enhancement to its aerial warfare capabilities and with distinct superiority over any fighter fielded by neighbouring India.&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/08/29/article_66d08e6ddc27e8_57558775.jpeg" title="FC-31 Prototype ">Leading speculated clients for the FC-31 currently include Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria and <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/will-thailand-be-the-next-client-for-america-s-f-35-stealth-fighter-or-will-washington-lead-it-to-look-to-chinese-aircraft" target="_blank">Thailand</a>. The appearance of what appears to be a serially produced FC-31, which closely follows the release of new footage just four days prior showing an aircraft from the program <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/fc31-stealth-export-manoeuvrability" target="_blank">conducting complex manoeuvres</a>, coincides with rumoured talks by Chinese and Egyptian officials on a possible Egyptian acquisition of the aircraft.&nbsp;Egypt previously sought to acquire a high performing air superiority fighter in the form of the Russian Su-35, which it ordered in late 2018 before cancelling the deal due to threats from Washington to impose economic sanctions. This may have proven counterproductive for the United States, as while the Su-35 suffers from several <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/su35-dud-ten-years-expect" target="_blank">serious performance limitations</a> compared to modern fifth generation fighters, the FC-31 has the potential to provide Egypt with the most capable fighter anywhere in Africa or the Middle East.
[Author: editorial@militarywatchmagazine.com (Military Watch Editorial Staff)] [Category: Asia-Pacific, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]
— New Italian F-35 Deployment to East Asia Intended to Support Japan’s Ambitions For Revived Aircraft Carrier Fleet: at 8/27/24 7:56pm
The Italian Armed Forces have begun their second deployment of&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/f35-low-altitude-drawback-above" target="_blank" >F-35 fifth generation fighters</a>&nbsp;to Japan, and their first of the F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing capable variant. Eight of the new stealth fighters are currently on the aircraft carrier Cavour, which is on a tour of the Pacific. The Italian Navy will reportedly share information on the deployment of these specialist F-35 variants with officials from the Japanese Self Defence Force, as the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force, the official name of the country’s navy, <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/japan-begins-refitting-izumo-class-carriers-to-deploy-f-35b-stealth-fighters" target="_blank">prepares to deploy F-35Bs</a> from two of its four carriers - the 27,000 ton warships Izumo and Kaga. Italian Navy Rear Admiral Giancarlo Ciappina confirmed that Japanese naval and air force officials would be hosted on the carrier to “follow the activity with the F-35B.” Italy notably received F-35Bs far earlier than Japan, but has ordered just 30 of the aircraft, where Japan is set to acquire 42 for its lager carrier fleet. Highlighting the importance attributed of the partnership with Japan in F-35 operations, Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto personally visited Japan and boarded the Cavour, stating regarding plans to work with Japan’s navy: “We are talking about ships and aircraft from different countries preparing to operate, should the need arise, as if they are all part of the same force.”&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/08/28/article_66cf3b3abfdd11_19306047.jpg" title="Japanese Izumo Class Carrier">Minister Crosetto notably stated that the Cavour’s visit to the Pacific “was not a matter of sending a message to China or North Korea,” highlighting the primary rationale for attributed to the deployment by experts. The two East Asian countries were considered the primary targets being alluded to when the minister referred to joint operations as “part of the same force,” and represent the only major military powers in the region that are not in the Western sphere of influence and do not host Western military forces on their soil. Italy made its <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/italy-first-stealth-fighters-japan-euro-f35s" >first ever F-35 deployment </a>to Japan on August 4, when F-35As arrived at the Japanese Air Self Defence Force’s Komatsu Air Base in Ishikawa Prefecture to participate in exercises with Japanese air units including&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/japan-commencing-with-major-next-generation-upgrades-to-f-15j-samurai-fighter" >F-15J fighters</a>. Italy’s prioritisation of the Pacific for F-35 deployments follows a much broader trend of European states supporting the U.S.-led Pivot to Asia initiative to try to ensure the perpetuation of a Western-favouring balance of power in the region, with the United Kingdom having similarly prioritised deployments of its new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers with F-35Bs to the Pacific. Under the new administration of Chancellor Olaf Scholtz, Germany&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/germany-military-upgrade-fund-toamerica" target="_blank" >placed orders</a>&nbsp;for F-35s in early 2022 and months later unprecedentedly&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/as-germany-s-economy-crashes-it-sends-fighter-jets-to-east-china-sea-missiles-to-ukraine-and-mps-to-taiwan-and" target="_blank" >participated</a>&nbsp;in the Rapid Pacific exercises in Australia, deploying Eurofighters and supporting assets. The involvement of European air forces in the region has continued to grow ever since, and although their ability to contribute to broader Western Bloc capabilities in the region remains limited, particularly compared to the United States, Japan and South Korea, they are nevertheless valued.
[Author: editorial@militarywatchmagazine.com (Military Watch Editorial Staff)] [Category: Asia-Pacific, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]
— Thailand Selects First Fighter of its New Generation: ‘Frustrated’ Swedish-U.S. Gripen-E Program Finally Gets Export Orders: at 8/27/24 7:00pm
The Royal Thai Air Force has selected the Swedish-American Gripen E/F fourth generation fighter to serve as its next combat aircraft, providing a much needed export success for the troubled program which has otherwise failed to gain traction on global markets. With 10-14 fighters set to be purchased, the Air Force reported that it had spent 10 months making the decision, and that the Gripen E/F “has the capability to match the demand of the military doctrine and the Air Force’s strategy.” A key reason for selecting the fighter is thought to be its high levels of commonality with Thailand’s existing fleet of 11 Gripen C/D fighters, which were ordered 2008 and 2010 in two separate batches. The new Gripen E/F variant uses a new American F414 engine, replacing the less powerful and more maintenance intensive F404 on the original variant, although the two engines are closely related and have significant commonality in their maintenance requirements. Aside from the new engine, the new Gripen variant’s primary improvement over the older model is its avionics, which include the Raven&nbsp;ES-05 active electronically scanned array radar - where the original variant used a mechanically scanned array radar long since considered obsolete the&nbsp; PS-05/A. The aircraft’s data links, electronic warfare systems and other avionics features are also considered to be a full generation ahead of those of the original Gripen.&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/08/28/article_66ce933ada5645_39290785.jpeg" >In August 2022 SAAB President and CEO Micael Johansson&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/ceo-of-sweden-s-saab-admits-extreme-frustration-as-clients-don-t-want-gripen-fighters-no-sales-for-over-eight-years">informed reporters</a>&nbsp;of his “extreme frustration” at the lack of Gripen E/F sales, blaming political factors for the lack of sales, which reflected Stockholm’s much more limited ability to lobby for sales particularly compared to Paris and Washington. The fighter’s primary advantage over its rivals remains its very light weight, far below that of even the F-16, and accompanying very low operational costs and maintenance needs. This has allowed the Royal Thai Air Force to maintain its Gripen fleet’s availability rates at close to 100 percent, despite being an export client. To put this in perspective, the far larger and more complex American F-35 has struggled to maintain 55 percent availability rates in the U.S. Air Force itself. This serves as an effective force multiplier for Gripen fleets, ensuring that even a small fleet of 24 fighters will be able to generate sorties very rapidly in wartime. The fact that the fighters are also far better optimised than others in the Western world, with the exception of the F-35B, to operating from short or makeshift runways, is also a major factor in their favour should airfields come under attack.<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2024/08/28/article_66ce935368b2f2_14211001.jpg" title="Royal Thai Air Force F-5TH">The Gripen E/F’s small size and ease of maintenance notably come at a cost, with the aircraft’s small size meaning its weapons carrying capacity remains very limited, while its ES-05 radar, although sophisticated, is one of the smallest carried by any fighter in the world and can thus provide only very limited situational awareness. The selection of the Gripen E notably follows reports that Thailand’s older Gripen C/D fighters were <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/fa50-vs-gripen-engagement-superiority" >decisively defeated </a>in mock engagements with the Philippine Air Force’s South Korean FA-50 fighters in Australia in July. Nevertheless, there is little doubt that the Gripen E/F will represent the most capable fighter in the Royal Thai Air Force, with Gripen C/Ds and F-16s in service using obsolete avionics, leaving the F-5TH, a third generation fighter very heavily enhanced with a modern AESA radar and ‘4+ generation’ avionics, as the country’s most potent fighter today. Gripens are expected to replace some of the older F-16s in the Thai fleet, which alongside a major boost to combat capabilities will also significantly reduce operational costs. The Royal Thai Air Force has notably shown a strong interest in acquiring fifth generation fighters, and after being rebuffed from acquiring American F-35s, is expected to <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/will-thailand-be-the-next-client-for-america-s-f-35-stealth-fighter-or-will-washington-lead-it-to-look-to-chinese-aircraft" target="_blank">consider acquiring </a>the rival&nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/fc31-stealth-export-manoeuvrability" target="_blank">Chinese FC-31 fighter.</a> This would follow trends in the Army and Navy towards a fast growing reliance on Chinese equipment. The high operational costs and maintenance needs of both the F-35 and the FC-31 mean that operating a very low cost light fighter alongside them, like the Gripen E/F, would help to lower the overall Thai fleet’s operational costs maintenance needs.&nbsp;
[Author: editorial@militarywatchmagazine.com (Military Watch Editorial Staff)] [Category: Asia-Pacific, Aircraft and Anti-Aircraft]

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