Photos from the Su-34 production line

Many wonderful pictures taken by Gelio Vostok of the Sukhoi Su-34 production line at the V.P.Chkalov Novosibirsk Aircraft Plant.

Source: Photos from the Su-34 production line

Pentagon: U.S. military re-routed to avoid Russian jets over Syria

Pentagon spokesperson Captain Jeff Davis told reporters during a briefing on Oct. 7 that the United States was forced to re-route its military aircraft over Syria to avoid a close encounter with Russian planes.

Source: CBS News

He did not elaborate on exactly when and where in Syrian airspace the incident occurred. But earlier on, CBS reported that two U.S. F-16s came within 20 miles of Russian Su-34s.

Source: Pentagon: U.S. military re-routed to avoid Russian jets over Syria

Lockheed Martin brought F-16 cockpit demonstrator to Indonesia

Lockheed Martin brought its F-16 cockpit demonstrator to Indonesia this week to highlight the F-16V.

Source: Lockheed Martin

Source: Lockheed Martin brought F-16 cockpit demonstrator to Indonesia

Russian Navy gets involved in Syria by firing 26 cruise missiles from Caspian Sea

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told President Vladimir Putin today that four Russian Navy ships based in the Caspian Sea had fired 26 cruise missiles at 11 targets in Syria.

By Vissarion (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

“Four missile ships have launched 26 cruise missiles on 11 targets. According to the objective control data, all the targets have been destroyed, and no civilian facilities have been hit,” Shoigu said.
Shoigu added that the missiles flew nearly 1,500 km to hit their targets.

Source: Russian Navy gets involved in Syria by firing 26 cruise missiles from Caspian Sea

Bell believes Japan’s MoD will stick to UH-X decision

Bell chief executive John Garrison believes the Fuji-Bell team’s winning bid for Japan’s UH-X program will prevail despite calls by Airbus to reevaluate the decision.

Source: Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.

Moreover, Tokyo has signed a contract for 150 helicopters to replace the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s fleet of Bell UH-1s.
Bell and Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) had offered a design based on the Bell 412EPI, the aircraft will be manufactured in Japan and is available for export.

Source: Bell believes Japan’s MoD will stick to UH-X decision

Another batch of Su-34s delivered

Sukhoi has delivered another batch of Su-34 fighter bombers to the Russian Ministry of Defense on Oct. 6. The aircraft left the factory at V.P.Chkalov Novosibirsk is believed to be destined for Morozovsk air base.

By Alex Beltyukov [CC BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL 1.2], via Wikimedia Commons

Source: Another batch of Su-34s delivered

Lockheed Martin delivers first PAC-3 MSE interceptors to U.S. Army

Lockheed Martin has delivered the first PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptors to the U.S. Army on Oct. 6.

The first PAC-3 MSE production contract was awarded in April 2014.

Source: Lockheed Martin delivers first PAC-3 MSE interceptors to U.S. Army

Top U.S. General admits AC-130 struck hospital in Afghanistan

Gen. John F. Campbell, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, told lawmakers in Washington D.C. that it was a AC-130 gunship that fired on a hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan.

Photo: Senior Master Sgt. Adrian Cadiz

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Campbell told a Senate committee that Afghan forces requested air support during a firefight with the Taliban. U.S. special forces on the ground communicated the request to an orbiting AC-130 for the fire support.
“To be clear, the decision to provide (airstrikes) was a U.S. decision, made within the U.S. chain of command,” Campbell said. “The hospital was mistakenly struck. We would never intentionally target a protected medical facility.

Source: Top U.S. General admits AC-130 struck hospital in Afghanistan

Pakistan cleared to buy ScanEagle

The U.S. government has approved the sale of the Boeing Insitu ScanEagle UAV to Pakistan.

By U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joseph M. Buliavac [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Source: Pakistan cleared to buy ScanEagle

Investigations revealed chaotic scene inside CH-53E when it crashed in Gulf of Aden last year

A CH-53E from VMM-263 (Reinforced) missed the flight deck of USS Mesa Verde while descending to land and crashed into waters off the coast of Djibouti on Sept. 1, 2014. Documents released through the Freedom of Information Act revealed the chaotic scene inside the rotorcraft as it started sinking.

By U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kelvin Edwards [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

A decision not to strap down baggage inside lead to luggage being tossed around the cabin as the aircraft rolled to the right in the water. Marines were trapped under the litter and many struggled to exit as water rushed in.

Source: Investigations revealed chaotic scene inside CH-53E when it crashed in Gulf of Aden last year