Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) has entered the ground trials stage and started testing its first engine

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) has entered the ground trials stage and started testing its first engine

The Hurjet Türkiye light trainer/fighter jet developed and produced by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) has entered the ground trials stage and started testing its first engine.

Ismail Demir, President of Defense Industries of Türkiye, shared the info on his Twitter account, showing the Hurjet engine working on the ground.

According to the expatguideturkey website, Hurjet's first flight will be held on March 18, 2023. It is targeted that the first production version of the aircraft will be handed over to the Turkiye Air Force Command in 2025.

The Hurjet or the abbreviation for Hurkus Jet (Free Bird) was developed in two variants, namely the advanced training version (AJT) and the light attack/combat version (LAA).

Hurjet AJT will be used as a pilot transition before flying 5th generation fighter jets such as the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning ll and TUSAS TF-X.

Meanwhile, the Hurjet LAA (Hurjet-C) will be used as a CAS (close air support) aircraft whose role is currently performed by the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon jet.

Regarding performance, the Hurjet is described as having a maximum speed of Mach 1.4, a flight altitude of up to 13,700 m, and a range of 2,592 km. The Hurjet's cockpit adopts a single large multifunction integrated modular (OMIM) display, through which the pilot can view sensor video displays, digital maps and other intelligent multifunction features.

The Hurjet prototype is equipped with a 79 kN General Electric F404-GE-102 afterburning turbofan engine. Similar engines are also used on the KAI T-50 and Boeing T-7A trainer jets.

source : www.airspace-review.com

New Level of US-China Conflict, Dangerous Accusations About Hot Air Balloons

New Level of US-China Conflict, Dangerous Accusations About Hot Air Balloons.

The recent accusations sent from the US to China are downright dangerous, which could bring more uncertainty to the already strained bilateral relationship, Chinese analysts told Chinese state media Global Times.

China urged the US to be more sincere about improving relations with China than taking provocative actions, especially after images of white balloons made headlines in the US and some Western countries on Friday.

That's because Pentagon officials claimed that a Chinese spy balloon hovering over Montana this week had a flight path spying on "sensitive sites" in the US.

Pentagon: CENTCOM Find Ships Loaded with Weapons & Ammunition Heading to Yemen in Gulf of Oman

A spokesperson from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday that the balloon did indeed belong to China but denied that the blimp had a spy function, that the blimp was for meteorological research purposes. The Chinese side regrets the accidental entry into US airspace due to force majeure, and will continue to communicate with the US side and properly deal with these unexpected situations caused by force majeure, the spokesman said.

The balloons – the size of three buses, flew at an altitude "well above commercial air traffic and presented no military or physical threat to people on the ground," Brig. General Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters at a news conference, the Washington Post reported. The sighting of a hot air balloon that the US accuses of being a Chinese spying tool. Before clarifying the facts, the US military and media accused China of espionage, and this incident has inflamed the US's recent situation regarding the "China threat" to a new level, with some Chinese analysts saying the statements lacked any real evidence.

The accusations leveled could bring new tensions to Sino-US relations, as they are a follow-up to more intensive US moves to contain China in the military, technology and diplomacy fields as well as on issues of major concern to China, including on the island of Taiwan. .

The series of US actions against China were also accompanied by news from the US that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken would visit China on February 5 and 6. China has yet to confirm Blinken's visit, although a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson previously welcomed him.

source : islamtoday.id

The Su-35SM will use the AESA radar and the Himalayan EW system

The Su-35SM will use the AESA radar and the Himalayan EW system

January 13, 2023 / by Author Poetra

What Russian fighter jet lovers have been waiting for may soon come true in the next few years. This is in line with the Russian Defense Ministry's program to upgrade the Su-35S fighter jet to the Su-35SM.

This step was taken in an effort to balance the production of the Su-57 Felon and the increasing need for front-line combat aircraft.

Several Russian sources said the process of upgrading the Su-35S was under way. It is hoped that this new variant of the aircraft will have various advantages that it does not currently have. There has been no official statement from the company regarding the details of the increase in the Super Flanker's capabilities.

However, a number of leaks have been circulating. A number of features were mentioned will get a replacement. To support modern combat, the Ibris-E radar currently used on the Su-35S will reportedly be replaced with the AESA radar used on the Su-57. AESA radars are important for increasing mastery of modern air combat that is growing.

In terms of armament, the Su-35SM will also be equipped with the new K-77M (Izdeliye 180) missile which features its own AESA seeker radar and trimmed fins. This missile has been tested on the Su-57 where the missile is placed on a hanger under the wing.

The K-77M is capable of reaching a distance of 400 km with a warhead weighing 60 kg and a speed of Mach 6. By carrying this missile the Su-57 will significantly increase its capabilities.

Meanwhile, the L175M Khibiny-M KNIRTI electronic warfare system, which provides radio-electronic protection for fighter aircraft from surface-to-air or air-to-air missile attacks, will be replaced by the Himalayan electronic warfare protection (EW) system found throughout the Su-35SM body.

The Himalayan EW system was tested on the Su-57 Felon in 2014. The Su-35SM will also be equipped with a new communications, data exchange, navigation and identification system (OSNOD). This system was tested in 2019.

OSNOD system provides encrypted communication and anti-jamming function. OSNOD will allow the Su-35SM to function as part of a larger fighter network. The OSNOD system can control various types of aircraft in real time during combat operations.

The Su-35SM will also be equipped with a laser beam emitter that can blind infrared from enemy missiles. This system is mainly used in close combat when there is visual contact between two fighters.

-Poetra-

www.airspace-review.com

Germany's Hensoldt Radars TRML-4D is sending more air surveillance to Ukraine

Germany's Hensoldt is sending more air surveillance radars to Ukraine.

22 January 2023. by Author Poetra.

TRML-4D radar

Hensoldt

AIRSPACE REVIEW (airspace-review.com) – German radar specialist Hensoldt supplied two more TRML-4D high-performance radars to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses. The delivery of this radar as part of a double-digit million euro order by Ukraine.

The two radars will be delivered in the next three months. The TRML-4D radar uses the latest AESA (active electronically scanned array) radar with multiple digital beams. The radar is capable of detecting, tracking and classifying a wide variety of air targets, including cruise missiles to low-flying, fast small aircraft, helicopters and drones. The TRML-4D is capable of quickly detecting around 1,500 targets within a radius of up to 250 km.

source : airspace-review.com

Denmark will donate its 19 CAESAR 8X8 SPH to Ukraine

Denmark will donate its 19 CAESAR 8X8 SPH to Ukraine.

January 23, 2023 / by Author Jaden.

CAESAR 2

The Danish Armed Forces (Forsvaret) will donate all 19 units of its CAESAR 8X8 SPH (Self-Propelled Howitzer) artillery weapon system to Ukraine. The Danish government has consulted with the country's Parliament on this matter at a meeting of the Foreign Policy Council, local media reported. It said all 19 CAESAR artillery guns owned by Denmark would be donated along with a training and education package for prospective crew members from Ukraine.

On 14 March 2017, Denmark selected the CAESAR 8X8 to be the Royal Danish Army's new artillery system. A total of 19 of these howitzers were purchased and mounted on Tatra 815 8X8 trucks. Of the quantities purchased, 15 units have been received in 2021. Meanwhile, 4 other units are planned to be shipped in 2023.

“This is a very big and significant donation. We are in constant contact with Ukraine about this CAESAR artillery. I am happy because we have now received broad support from the Danish Parliament," said Danish Defense Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen. CAESAR (CAmion Équipé d'un Système d'ARTillerie) or a truck equipped with an artillery system, is a 155/52 mm SPH manufactured by Nexter, France.

source : airspace-review.com

A landslide victory for Ukraine, the US officially supplies the Patriot Missile System for the war against Russia

A landslide victory for Ukraine, the US officially supplies the Patriot Missile System for the war against Russia.

Susi Susanti, Okezone · Thursday 22 December.

WASHINGTON - The United States (US) said on Wednesday (21/12/2022) that it would provide Ukraine with an advanced Patriot air defense system to help counter Russia's relentless air strikes.

The system is part of a $1.85 billion aid program launched in conjunction with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Washington, which was his first trip abroad since invading Russia in February.

The announcement is a significant victory for Kyiv, which has repeatedly pushed Washington to provide the Patriot system, and a sign of strong US support for Ukraine that will help bolster the country's defense.

"Today's assistance includes the Patriot Air Defense System for the first time, which is capable of taking down cruise missiles, short-range ballistic missiles, and aircraft at much higher altitudes than previously provided air defense systems," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. a statement. The statement, quoted by AFP.

Ukraine's air defenses have played a key role in protecting the country from attack and preventing Moscow's forces from taking over the skies. But as Russia experienced increasing setbacks on the ground, it began systematically targeting critical infrastructure in Ukraine in attacks that have disrupted power, air and heat for millions of people. Created by Raytheon, the MIM-104 Patriot is a surface-to-air missile (SAM) system originally developed to intercept high-flying aircraft. It was modified in the 1980s to focus on new tactical ballistic missile threats, and proved itself against Iraq's Russian-built Scuds in the first Gulf War - the first time the system had been used in combat.

While Russia has not used many ballistic missiles during its war in Ukraine, Washington says Moscow has discussed getting them from Iran.

"Unlike other Western systems that have been delivered to Ukraine, (Patriot) has some anti-ballistic missile capabilities (depending on the type of missile used)," Karl Mueller, a senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation, told AFP. "If Russia acquires a large number of ballistic missiles from Iran, as many predict, most of the rest of Ukraine's air defense systems will not provide any protection against them," he added. Patriot has proven effective in Saudi Arabia against Iranian ballistic missile designs fired from Yemen, and prime contractor Raytheon says the system has intercepted more than 150 ballistic missiles in combat since 2015. When Russia invaded in February, Ukraine's air defenses consisted mostly of Soviet-era aircraft and SAM systems, which Kyiv used effectively to deny Moscow air superiority.

They have been significantly enlarged since the start of the war: the United States provided NASAMS and Germany IRIS-T - two advanced systems - while older equipment such as the S-300 and HAWK systems and Stinger missiles have also been developed.

Kyiv has used a variety of systems against the Moscow cruise missiles and bomb-like Shahed-136 drones, but modern SAM launchers and missile systems - including NASAMS - are sorely in short supply. Ukraine's international backer's aim is to build a 'multi-layered' air defense for the country consisting of low, medium and high altitude systems that can protect against a wide range of threats.

Turkey Upgrades F-16 Fighter Jets with Homemade Mission Computer Systems

Turkey Upgrades F-16 Fighter Jets with Homemade Mission Computer Systems.

Friday, 13/1/2023.

ANKARA - Turkey is upgrading the capabilities of its F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet with a domestically made mission computer system codenamed MGB. This is a Turkish Air Force program to upgrade F-16 Block 30 fighter jets to the more advanced Block 70.

The MGB's mission computers serve to expand the capabilities of F-16 pilots through the latest avionics infrastructure. Turkish F-16s will receive a new console with multifunction color display. Turkey will also upgrade the "friend-foe" system.

A Turkish source said the domestically made "friends-enemy" system is equivalent to NATO's KY58 and KY100. Turkey refers to this system as IFF Mod 5/S which is like the NATO system, it provides encrypted communications and links.

The creation of the MGB mission computer is part of Ankara's plans to make the Turkish armed forces more independent, not dependent on foreign manufacturers and suppliers. “Turkey will receive its first F-16 upgrade this year,” said Professor Ismail Demir, President of the Defense Industry Agency (SSB) quoted from the Bulgarian Military website, Tuesday (10/1/2022).

The third important component that will help upgrade the Turkish F-16s is the replacement of the new radar. Turkey's obsolete F-16 Block 30 fighter jet radar will receive the MURAD AESA radar designed and manufactured by Turkish company Aselsan.

Turkey claims that the MURAD AESA radar has better detection and targeting than its US competitor, the APG-83 radar. Bosphorus media reported that a total of 79 F-16 Block 30 fighter aircraft of the Turkish Air Force will be modernized under Turkey's Ozgur programme.

Turkey Upgrades F-16 Fighter Jets with Homemade Mission Computer Systems

The MGB mission computer was first introduced by the Turkish Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank before parliament in November 2022. Quoted from the Anadolu Agency (AA) website, the MGB mission computer is designed to be the "brain" of Turkey's 5th generation fighter aircraft.

The mission computer was designed by the Research Center for Advanced Technology Informatics and Information Security (BILGEM) of the Türkiye Scientific and Technological Research Council (TÜBITAK). Later this mission computer was delivered to the Turkish Aerospace Industry (TAI).

This increase makes the capabilities of the Turkish F-16 fighter jets more sophisticated and extends their service life. Most importantly, Turkey is not completely dependent on mission computer systems made by other countries and can be applied to TAI's 5th generation fighter aircraft.

Source: science.sindonews.com

Taiwan Can Beat China If The US and Japan Get Together

Taiwan Can Beat China If The US and Japan Get Together

WASHINGTON - A simulation run by the think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has determined that Taiwan will emerge victorious if faced with a Chinese invasion in 2026.

However, this victory assumes that Taipei will receive military support from the United States (US) and Japan.

Even that victory, if it did come, would come at a high cost in the three or four weeks of fighting that was expected to ensue.

The results of the war simulation released on Monday (9/1/2023) were carried out using historical and operational research. The model is run 24 times.

Dozens of ships, hundreds of planes and tens of thousands of troops will be lost on all sides of the potential war.

There are also scenarios in the simulation, though rare, where China comes out on top.

According to CSIS, Taiwan must survive and the US must have access to bases in Japan for Taiwan to win.

The group is also running a scenario in which Taiwan does not receive direct military support from Japan and the United States.

In that scenario, China comes out on top. Unlike the situation in Ukraine, the United States will not be able to pump weapons into Taiwan and China will easily isolate the island.

Japan is not committed to defending Taiwan in a potential war with the mainland. However, last year he decided to increase his military capabilities, moving from a "defence only" force to a more substantial force.

The simulation model also noted that war would be disastrous for all countries involved, and that was without considering the possibility of using nuclear weapons.

China has the world's third largest nuclear stockpile while the United States ranks second.

Any potential prolonged nuclear conflict between the two powers would devastate the world and make Taiwan the best of afterthoughts.

While the CSIS simulation model predicts Taiwan will win in most scenarios with the support of the United States, it acknowledges that China may look at the military situation from a different light.

“While our analysis suggests that the United States and Taiwan will win and suffer heavy casualties, it is conceivable that China views it differently,” CSIS International Security Program senior adviser Mark Cancian told The Hill Tuesday (10/1/2023).

"That's why we recommend increasing deterrence so we don't get into this situation in the first place," he said.

While Cancian takes a firm stance on funding Taiwan, he insists the study does not presume that the United States must defend Taiwan with direct military action.

Instead, he said, his aim was to highlight how costly such wars can be.

It should also be noted that CSIS is a notoriously pro-war think tank, and has been funded by weapons manufacturers and defense contractors.

source : international.sindonews.com

Poland considers Ukraine's request to donate 240 Leopard 2 tanks

Poland considers Ukraine's request to donate 240 Leopard 2 tanks.

January 9, 2023. author of Author Poetra

The Polish government is considering Kyiv's request to donate its more 240 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

Polish diplomats told US media recently.

It is said that it is possible that all 240 German-made Leopard 2 tanks will be transferred to Ukraine if Poland can quickly receive replacements.

According to The Wall Street Journal, early in the war Poland had provided Ukraine with more than 240 modernized Soviet-made tanks.

“They are really considering giving anything just to help Ukraine,” said a Czech official closely involved in aiding Western arms shipments to Ukraine commenting on the Polish official's remarks.

It added that the speed of its delivery to Ukraine depended on how quickly Poland received the replacement tanks it had ordered from South Korea and the US.

It is said that Berlin has approved the planned donation of Leopard tanks to Ukraine.

"Now the problem is only time, when," continued the Czech official.

Poland has more than 1,000 tanks including various variants of the Leopard tank. One of them is 249 units of Leopard 2.

Source: www.airspace-review.com

The US wants to extend the life of the Lockheed F-117 Night Hawk stealth attack aircraft to 2034

The US wants to extend the life of the Lockheed F-117 Night Hawk stealth attack aircraft to 2034

The US Air Force intends to maintain its Lockheed F-117 Night Hawk stealth aircraft through the middle of the next decade. The service is considering ways to keep the attack aircraft in service until 2034.

One of the features of the Lockheed F-117 Night Hawk is that its operation began back in 1983, although the military first recognized the existence of the attack aircraft only 5 years later. In 2008, the US retired all F-117s. In more than two decades, 64 aircraft were produced, and the development program cost more than $6.5 billion.

The US Air Force is seeking companies interested in a potential 10-year contract to maintain the Night Hawk starting in 2024.

Source: sundries.com.ua

NATO and European Union Sign Joint Security Declaration Amid the Russia-Ukrainian War

NATO and European Union Sign Joint Security Declaration Amid the Russia-Ukrainian War.

BRUSSELS - NATO and the European Union (EU) signed a declaration of joint security cooperation – the first since Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year – highlighting the importance of the US-led trans-Atlantic alliance.

Speaking at a joint press conference with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said they were determined to take the partnership between NATO and the EU to another level.

Stoltenberg stressed the importance of the changing security environment in Europe after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He said the partnership between NATO and the European Union would become even more important once Finland and Sweden become full NATO member states.

"With their accession, NATO will protect 96% of the citizens of the European Union and a higher share of its territory than ever before," Stoltenberg told reporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels as quoted by The Washington Times, Tuesday (10/1/2023) .

Even as some European leaders continued to call for emphasis on US military support, the joint declaration stated that NATO remains the foundation of collective defense for its allies and essential to Euro-Atlantic security.

“Our declaration makes it clear that NATO remains the foundation of our collective defense and remains critical to Euro-Atlantic security. It also recognizes the value of a more capable European defense that contributes positively to our security and is complementary and interoperable with NATO,” Stoltenberg said, agreeing that the EU's embryonic defense capabilities should complement NATO, as reported by Euronews.

This was also agreed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

“Russia's threats and challenges are the most direct, but they are not the only ones. We are also witnessing China increasingly trying to reshape the international order to its advantage. So we have to strengthen our own resilience. And with this new joint declaration, we are also taking our partnership to the next level," he said.

According to the declaration European countries should spend more and build stronger armies, but their efforts should complement NATO's strategy, rather than compete with it.

This is actually the third declaration that deepens security and defense cooperation in Europe. The declaration is based on similar agreements in 2016 and 2018 in the context of Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine.

The European Union and NATO have 21 members who share common values and play complementary and strengthening roles in supporting international peace and security.

The increased cooperation between the two organizations has given it a new impetus since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Source: international.sindonews.com

Zelensky believes Russia is ready to launch a new, larger offensive

Zelensky believes Russia is ready to launch a new, larger offensive.

Kompas.com, January 4, 2023.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia plans to call up more troops for a new major offensive.

Zelensky believes Russia will mount a major offensive even though Moscow has faced some of its biggest internal criticism of the war over the attack which killed scores of new conscripts.

Kyiv has been saying for weeks that Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to order another mass conscription and close its borders to prevent men from escaping conscription.

"We have no doubt that Russia today will throw everything they have and everyone they can muster to try to turn the tide of the war and at least delay their defeat," Zelenskiy said in his video address late Tuesday (3/1/2022).

Russian Drone Attack on Ukraine on New Year's Eve to Putin and Zelensky's Speeches

Russian Drone Attack on Ukraine on New Year's Eve to Putin and Zelensky's Speeches

"We must thwart this Russian scenario. We are preparing for this. The terrorists must be defeated. Any new offensive attempts by them must fail," he added.

Russia's defense ministry on Wednesday (4/1/2022) blamed its troops' use of cellphones for a Ukrainian attack on New Year's Eve that it says killed 89 servicemen.

This is the deadliest incident Moscow has claimed for its troops since the start of the war.

If Russia plans a new mobilization, the deaths of a number of conscripts on New Year's Eve could undermine morale.

Hundreds of thousands of people fled Russia when Putin ordered the first call-up of reservists since World War Two in September after a military setback.

Putin said last month there was no need for further mobilization. But in a sign the Kremlin may now be considering, a small group claiming to represent Russian soldier widows issued a call on Tuesday for Putin to order a massive mobilization of millions of people.

Source: www.kompas.com

Russian Drones Are 7 Times Cheaper Than Ukrainian S-300 Air Defense Missiles

Russian Drones Are 7 Times Cheaper Than Ukrainian S-300 Air Defense Missiles.

Thursday, January 05, 2023.

The fact remains that the smaller kamikaze drones used by the Russians were far cheaper than the Ukrainian air defense missiles used against them.

This was revealed in a New York Times (NYT) report which added that the price difference was creating problems for Kiev and its Western backers.

In its Tuesday article, the newspaper did not question Kiev's claim that most of the drones (UAVs) launched by Russia were shot down.

The NYT points out, however, that even in this case Ukraine's air defense stockpile has been depleted.

"How long can Ukraine sustain its efforts when many of its defensive measures cost far more than the drones?" wrote the NYT wondering.

“In addition to trying to destroy the incoming drones with anti-aircraft guns and small arms fire, the Kiev forces also rely heavily on fighter and ground-launched missiles which are very expensive,” wrote the NYT.

The newspaper quoted the head of Ukrainian consultancy Molfar, Artem Starosiek, as claiming using missiles against UAVs costs up to seven times more than the drones themselves.

"The drones used by Russia are priced at around $20,000 per unit, while surface-to-air missiles from the Ukrainian arsenal range from $140,000 for the Soviet era to $500,000 for the US-supplied NASAM system," Starosiek said.

The article claims the drone that Russia used in Ukraine was the Shahed-136, which was supplied by Iran. This claim has been denied by Moscow and Tehran on numerous occasions.

The Russian Ministry of Defense (Kemhan) confirmed that the Geran-2 drone was domestically manufactured, as was all the other hardware used in the military operation against Kiev.

Iran's Foreign Ministry only confirmed the delivery of a small number of drones to Russia before the outbreak of conflict with Ukraine.

Tehran stressed no new shipments had been made since then.

Nevertheless, Starosiek defended the Kiev strategy, arguing, “It still costs far less to shoot down a drone than to repair a damaged or destroyed power plant.”

However, the NYT warned, “The price differential between drones and air defense is an imbalance that could over time work in favor of Russia, against Ukraine and its allies, according to some analysts.”

As per Molfar's estimates, Russia has targeted Ukraine's military infrastructure and energy systems with around 600 drones since September, when UAVs began to be used more widely.

Russia drastically ramped up its attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure in early October in response to repeated Ukrainian sabotage on Russian soil, including the Crimea Bridge bombing, which Moscow blamed on Kiev.

Although the attack was welcomed by top Ukrainian officials, Kiev has denied involvement.

Source: international.sindonews.com