#defensetalk

Pentagon Resumes Military Aid to Ukraine

$250 Million Released for Ukraine’s Defence

The US Defense Department announced Thursday it was resuming military assistance to Ukraine after a freeze forced by the political machinations of the impeachment process against President Donald Trump.

The Pentagon said $250 million will be released to assist with Ukraine’s defensive capabilities, air and sea surveillance, communication and…

US Army Looking for Overmatch with Future Vertical Lift

All four of Future Vertical Lift’s signature modernization efforts now have approved requirements, as the US Army strives to rapidly develop new aircraft to achieve overmatch, its leader said Wednesday.

The top priorities include the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft, Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft, Future Unmanned Aircraft Systems, and Modular Open System Approach.

“Those four lines of…

USAF Intercepts Russian Bombers Off Alaska

US F-22 Raptors Intercept Russian Bomber Formation

US fighter jets intercepted Russian bombers twice on Wednesday off the coast of Alaska, US air defense command said.

The intercepts come less than two weeks after US bombers were met by Russian jets over the Black Sea.

North American Aerospace Defense Command said US F-22 Raptors intercepted a Russian bomber formation early Wednesday that came…

Third Syrian Regime Warplane Shot Down

Turkish F-16 Claims Third Kill in Skies Over Idlib, Syria

A Turkish F-16 fighter jet Tuesday downed a Syrian regime warplane in the northwestern Idlib province and the pilot was killed, a monitoring group said.

It was the third such downing in three days amid escalating fighting between Turkish forces and Syria’s Russian- and Iranian-backed regime.

A missile fired by Syrian regime forces on the…

China, Russia Sign Heavy Helicopter Deal

China and Russia have fully agreed upon and signed a commercial contract on a joint heavy helicopter development project, said Miao Wei, China’s Minister of Industry and Information Technology, on Wednesday.

“For the next step, the Chinese government will accelerate the progress for a project approval and finish it as soon as possible, so the project can officially start,” Miao said at a press…

Taliban and Afghan Forces in Battle for Farah

First Major Assault in Taliban’s Spring Offensive Seeks to Take City of Farah in Western Afghanistan

Afghan aircraft bombed Taliban positions in the western city of Farah on Tuesday, May 15, after the insurgents launched a major attempt to capture the provincial capital as fearful residents sought shelter from explosions and gunfire.

The attack – the first major assault targeting a city since the…

Israeli Air Force Strikes Iranian Quds Force in Syria

Israeli Air Force Confirms Retaliation After Iranian Attack Against Golan Heights

The Israeli Defence Force(IDF) has confirmed that Israeli Air Force fighter jets have attacked dozens of military targets belonging to the Iranian Quds Force in Syrian territory. Israel’s strikes on Syria saw 28 planes take part in raids with a total of around 70 missiles fired, Russia’s defence ministry said on…

RUAG Accused of Selling Arms to Russia

Switzerland’s State Arms Producer Co-Operating with Criminal Investigation

Swiss prosecutors said Thursday they have opened a criminal investigation into state arms producer RUAG following a tipoff, reportedly over suspect weapons deals connected to Russian presidential bodyguards.

The office of Switzerland’s attorney general (OAG) confirmed in an email to AFP it “has opened criminal proceedings…