HMS OCEAN SAILS FOR NATO EXERCISE IN THE BALTIC SEA

The Royal Navy’s Fleet Flagship HMS Ocean makes her way out of Devonport to take part in a huge multinational NATO exercise in the Baltic Sea. Exercise Baltops is an annual workout which tests the 16 allied and partner maritime nations taking part. The helicopter carrier will be taking part in one of the largest… Continue reading HMS OCEAN SAILS FOR NATO EXERCISE IN THE BALTIC SEA

IGNORING TURKEY, U.S BACKS KURDS IN DRIVE AGAINAST ISIS IN SYRIA

Syria Democratic Forces fighters carry their weapons in a village on the outskirts of al-Shadadi town, Hasaka countryside, Syria February 19, 2016. REUTERS/Rodi Said - RTX27SIQ

Sourced : The Washington Post By Liz Sly and Karen DeYoung A U.S.-backed force of Kurds and Arabs advanced toward an important Islamic State transit town in Syria on Wednesday, brushing aside Turkish opposition to the involvement of Kurds in operations to recapture the strategically vital area. U.S. commandos are accompanying the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic… Continue reading IGNORING TURKEY, U.S BACKS KURDS IN DRIVE AGAINAST ISIS IN SYRIA

STRATEGIC WEAPONS : CHINA BOOSTS RANGE AND ACCURACY

Sourced : Strategy Page Recent developments in Chinese ballistic missile and warhead technology indicate that China not only has a missile warhead that is maneuverable but can, when mounted on new, longer range missiles, can hit U.S. carriers or small land targets over 3,000 kilometers away. The various components of such a system began to… Continue reading STRATEGIC WEAPONS : CHINA BOOSTS RANGE AND ACCURACY

TURKEY WANTS JOINT OPERATION WITH USA IN SYRIA, BUT WITHOUT KURDS

Turkish army tanks take up position on the Turkish-Syrian border near the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province September 29, 2014. Turkish tanks and armoured vehicles took up positions on hills overlooking the besieged Syrian border town of Kobani on Monday as shelling by Islamic State insurgents intensified and stray fire hit Turkish soil, a Reuters correspondent said. At least 30 tanks and armoured vehicles, some with their guns pointed towards Syrian territory, were positioned near a Turkish military base just northwest of Kobani. Plumes of smoke rose up as shells hit the eastern and western sides of Kobani and sporadic bursts of machinegun fire rang out. REUTERS/Murad Sezer (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS CONFLICT MILITARY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Sourced : Sputniknews Turkey is discussing with the USA a joint special operation in Syria on condition that it does not include Kurdish militia forces, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said. “If we join forces, they [USA] have their own special forces and we have our special forces,” the minister was quoted as saying by… Continue reading TURKEY WANTS JOINT OPERATION WITH USA IN SYRIA, BUT WITHOUT KURDS

RUSSIA FLIGHT TESTS A–235 NUDOL ANTI-SATELLITE MISSILE

Sourced : The Washington Free Beacon By: Bill Gertz Russia conducted a successful flight test of a developmental anti-satellite missile on Wednesday that is capable of destroying satellites in orbit, American defense officials said. The A–235 Nudol direct ascent anti-satellite missile was launched from the Plesetsk test launch facility, located 500 miles north of Moscow,… Continue reading RUSSIA FLIGHT TESTS A–235 NUDOL ANTI-SATELLITE MISSILE

DEFENCE MINISTER SEES CARRIER PREPARATIONS AT PORTSMOUTH NAVAL BASE

A Defence Minister visited Portsmouth Naval Base last Monday (23rd of May) to see how it is preparing to accommodate the Royal Navy’s two new 65,000-tonne aircraft carriers. Mark Lancaster, Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans, saw progress on various infrastructure works and in particular a new centre of specialisation which is nearing completion. The… Continue reading DEFENCE MINISTER SEES CARRIER PREPARATIONS AT PORTSMOUTH NAVAL BASE

THE INDIAN OCEAN WON’T BE A “NUCLEAR FREE ZONE” ANY TIME SOON

Sourced : The Diplomat By Ankit Panda Sartaj Aziz, adviser to Pakistan’s prime minister on foreign affairs, presented an interesting proposal to the Pakistani Senate on Thursday. He said that he would consider having Pakistan introduce a resolution at the United Nations that would urge the body to declare the Indian Ocean a “nuclear free… Continue reading THE INDIAN OCEAN WON’T BE A “NUCLEAR FREE ZONE” ANY TIME SOON

AN IED ON A LIFE RAFT KILLS A TURKISH COAST GUARD SAILOR CLOSE TO SYRIAN WATERS

Sourced : Bosphorus Naval News A Turkish Coast Guard sailor died (according to different Turkish sources the victims were three sailors) and a fisherman wounded when a life raft with two bodies on it exploded. The incident happened off the coast of Samandağ in Hatay province, in the morning of 22nd May 2016. According to… Continue reading AN IED ON A LIFE RAFT KILLS A TURKISH COAST GUARD SAILOR CLOSE TO SYRIAN WATERS

NATO AGREES BIGGER MISSION TO STOP MEDITERRANEAN SMUGGLERS

070813-N-5459S-543 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 13, 2007) - The ships of Standing NATO Maritime Group (SNMG) 1 transit in formation for a photo exercise. From left, Portuguese frigate NRP Alvares Cabral (F331), Canadian frigate HMCS Toronto (FFH 333), guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), German replenishment tanker FGS Spessart (A 1442), Dutch frigate HNLMS Evertsen (F805), and Danish corvette HDMS Olfert Fischer (F355). Normandy is flagship for SNMG-1, which is conducting NATOÕs first maritime out-of-area deployment by circumnavigating Africa. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Vincent J. Street (RELEASED)

Sourced : The Daily Herald NATO agreed on Thursday to broaden its operations in the Mediterranean to help the European Union stop criminals trafficking refugees from North Africa but will not act until the fate of rescued migrants is cleared up. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said a meeting of NATO foreign ministers supported… Continue reading NATO AGREES BIGGER MISSION TO STOP MEDITERRANEAN SMUGGLERS

FRANCE BEGINS NAVAL TESTS OF DASSAULT NEURON

Sourced : Naval Today DGA, the French General Directorate for Armament, announced that it has started a new testing campaign for its unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), Dassault nEUROn. The aim of this round of testing, as DGA said, is to study the use of the UCAV in a naval context. DGA said the campaign… Continue reading FRANCE BEGINS NAVAL TESTS OF DASSAULT NEURON