RUSSIA STEPS UP TROLLING ATTACKS ON THE WEST, U.S. INTEL REPORT FINDS

Sourced : Yahoo News By : Michael Isikoff Chief Investigative Correspondent A new U.S. intelligence report says the Russian government is conducting a wide-ranging and “opportunistic” campaign to expand its political influence in Europe by deploying Internet “trolls and other cyber actors” to challenge pro-Western journalists and spread pro-Kremlin messages in social media forums. Yahoo… Continue reading RUSSIA STEPS UP TROLLING ATTACKS ON THE WEST, U.S. INTEL REPORT FINDS

EUROPEAN MALE RPAS DEFINITION STUDY CONTRACT AWARDED

In August 2016, the contract for a Definition Study of the European MALE RPAS (Medium Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft System) Programme was awarded by OCCAR to Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Dassault Aviation and Leonardo S.p.a.. The contract kick-off meeting chaired by OCCAR and involving the three companies as well as the programme… Continue reading EUROPEAN MALE RPAS DEFINITION STUDY CONTRACT AWARDED

WHY THE BATTLE FOR AL-BAB IS PIVOTAL IN SYRIA

Sourced Al-Monitor By : Kamal Sheikho The crucial city of al-Bab finds itself directly in the line of fire of all the forces in Syria competing to control it. Each party is seeking to fortify its military position in the city to grab land as the Islamic State (IS) withdraws. “Our troops will advance toward… Continue reading WHY THE BATTLE FOR AL-BAB IS PIVOTAL IN SYRIA

IRAN SAYS IT WARNED WAWAY AN AMERICAN U-2 AIRCRAFT

Sourced : Military Times An Iranian general in charge of the Islamic Republic’s air defense says his forces warned off an American U-2 spy plane trying to fly over his country. Iranian state television broadcast the comments by Gen. Farzad Esmaili on Friday, saying the incident happened “in recent days.” Esmaili said the plane flew… Continue reading IRAN SAYS IT WARNED WAWAY AN AMERICAN U-2 AIRCRAFT

TURKEY WILL NOT TAKE PART IN AL-RAQQAH OPERATION IF KURDISH MILITANTS DO

Sourced : Hurriyet Daily News Turkey will not take part in a U.S.-led coalition operation to liberate the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’s (ISIL) de facto capital of Raqqa if Syrian Kurdish fighters are also involved, Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın said. Kalın ruled out the possibility of Turkey joining an operation by coalition… Continue reading TURKEY WILL NOT TAKE PART IN AL-RAQQAH OPERATION IF KURDISH MILITANTS DO

AIRCRAFT CARRIER ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV TO REINFORCE COMBAT CAPABILITIES OF RUSSIAN TASK FORCE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

Sourced : TASS Russia’s heavy aircraft-carrying missile cruiser The Admiral Kuznetsov will join the naval task force in the Mediterranean soon, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said Wednesday. “At the moment the Russian task force in the Eastern Mediterranean consists of no less than six combat ships and three or four logistic ships from all fleets.… Continue reading AIRCRAFT CARRIER ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV TO REINFORCE COMBAT CAPABILITIES OF RUSSIAN TASK FORCE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

TYPHOON JETS SCRAMBLE FROM SCOTLAND TO INTERCEPT RUSSIAN BOMBERS

Sourced : UK Defence Journal By George Allison Typhoon jets were scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth to intercept two Russian bombers close to UK airspace. Aircraft from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire were also launched as a “precautionary measure”. It is understood the Russian Tu-160 Blackjack bombers did not enter UK airspace but flew from Norway and… Continue reading TYPHOON JETS SCRAMBLE FROM SCOTLAND TO INTERCEPT RUSSIAN BOMBERS

THE U.S AIR FORCE IS STARTING TO THINK ABOUT ITS NEXT STRIKE AIRCRAFT

Sourced : Defence One By Caroline Houck Even as the U.S. Air Force is working to get its F-35s back in the air by year’s end, service leaders are starting to think about their next strike aircraft. It is “absolutely essential that we look forward into the next generation of penetrating capability,” Chief of Staff… Continue reading THE U.S AIR FORCE IS STARTING TO THINK ABOUT ITS NEXT STRIKE AIRCRAFT

THE POST-COUP PURGE OF TURKEY’S AIR FORCE

Sourced : War on the Rocks By : Mike Benitez and Aaron Stein On July 15, 2016, members of the Turkish Air Force and Army attempted to topple Turkey’s elected government by coup. In the wake of the failed coup, over 80,000 civil servants have been suspended, including over 100 admirals and generals. Among those,… Continue reading THE POST-COUP PURGE OF TURKEY’S AIR FORCE

HOW POST-COUP PURGES DEPLETED TURKEY’S MILITARY

Sourced : Al Monitor By Metin Gurcan In the aftermath of the July 15 abortive coup attempt, four major purges on July 27, July 30, Sept. 2 and Sept. 7 dismissed thousands of officers and noncommissioned officers from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). Since then, speculation has been rife on how these purges have affected… Continue reading HOW POST-COUP PURGES DEPLETED TURKEY’S MILITARY