Current Events in Asia-Pacific

From DefenseNews Posted 07/05/07 21:39 China’s New Missile Submarine Seen By Satellite By REUTERS China’s newest ballistic missile submarine, the Jin-class vessel, has been spotted for the first time by a commercial satellite, a nuclear expert at the Federation of American Scientists said July 5. The submarine was photographed in late 2006 south of the northeastern Chinese city of Dalian, said Hans Kristensen, director of the FAS’s Nuclear Information Project. It appeared to be based on Russia’s Victor-3 model and, although photographs are unclear, resembles China’s early-1980s Xia-class submarines, said Kristensen, who spotted the long-anticipated vessel. Th…

India Mulls Big Jump in French Rafale Order (DefenseNews)

Taiwan to Get U.S. Early Warning Radar By JIM WOLF, REUTERS, WASHINGTON DefenseNews The U.S. Defense Department said on June 23 it would supply Taiwan with key elements of a missile and air defense capability, a move aimed at defusing the threat from China. Raytheon Co. won a U.S. Air Force contract worth up to $752 million to supply the Early Warning Surveillance Radar by September 2009, the Pentagon said. In a move bound to anger Beijing, which views Taiwan as a renegade province, the system will let Taiwan’s air force detect and track long- and short-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, enemy aircraft and surface ships with “no doubt” reliability…

From Defence Talk North Korea Launches Wartime Alert AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Wed, 19 Jul 2006, 00:15 Seoul: North Korea has launched a wartime alert, putting its armed forces and nationals in a state of a war mobilization, an unconfirmed news report said here Wednesday. Kim Jong-Il, head of the communist country, issued an order to that effect hours before the United Nations Security Council unanimously condemned North Korea's missile tests last week, said the Joongang daily, quoting an unnamed government source. Government officials were unable to be reached for confirmation early Wednesday. North Korean soldiers on leave were told to return to their b…

From RIA Novosti [excerpt]

From DefenseNews [excerpt]

Japan To Formally Nationalize 280 Islands (The Diplomat, Flashpoints)

http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/did-russian-built-stealth-submarine-sink-navy-nuclear-attack-24567

From http://www.defensenews.com Indonesia Sends Warships to Waters Claimed by Malaysia By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, JAKARTA Indonesia has dispatched three warships to a maritime border area also claimed by Malaysia amid rising tensions in the Sulawesi Sea, a navy spokesman said March 2. The warships were now in the disputed area off the coast of Malaysia’s Sabah state and the Indonesia’s East Kalimantan province, Navy Spokesman First Admiral Abdul Maliki Yusuf told Agence France-Presse. A fourth ship will leave for the area later March 2, Yusuf said, adding the navy also was considering sending a submarine to the area. “It is normal for the Indonesian nav…

From Aviation Week Race is on for India MMRCA Sep 21, 2009 By Neelam Mathews Flight trials for India’s biggest defense procurement program, the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA), are underway. India will acquire 126 aircraft—86 single-seat and 40 twin-seat configurations. The air force requirement for the MMRCA is based on a maximum all-up weight of 14,000-30,000 kg. (31,000-66,000 lb.). India plans to procure 18 aircraft in flyaway condition and produce 106 locally under license through technology transfer. Delivery starts within 36 months of contract signing and will be completed 48 months later. The contenders are the Boeing F/A-18, Lockheed M…

U.S. Army Learns Hard Lessons in N. Korea-like War Game (DefenseNews)

Indonesia Might Purchase Russian Su-35 Fighters (The Diplomat, Flashpoints)

The Future of Chinas Expeditionary Operations (CIMSEC)

Thoughts in future H-20 Chinese stealth bomber: https://chinese-military-aviation.blogspot.com.es/p/attack-aircraft-ii.html http://thediplomat.com/2016/09/china-confirms-development-of-new-long-range-bomber/ http://china-pla.blogspot.com.es/2016_09_01_archive.html https://tiananmenstremendousachievements.wordpress.com/2016/01/06/china-to-commission-h-20-stealth-long-range-strategic-bomber-by-2020/

North Korea’s Latest Missile Test: Advancing towards an ICBM While Avoiding US Military Action (38 North)

Did a Glowing Sea Creature Help Push the U.S. Into the Vietnam War? (The Atlantic)

From Defense Aerospace Antony Favours Brahmos Model to Develop World-Class Defence Products (Source: Indian Ministry of Defence; issued Dec. 28, 2006) Defence Minister Shri AK Antony has favoured more BrahMos-type cooperation with industry to develop world class defence products for the country. Speaking to a large number of scientists, industrialists and service personnel from both Russia and India after his maiden visit to the missile centre here today, Shri Antony said the fastest supersonic cruise missile BrahMos has given a boost to the country's defence preparedness with its speed, precision and power. He desired the quick development of the air versi…

Los Angeles Times - April 10, 2007 China Missile Test Seen As A Threat To Taiwan Exercise showed ability to blind U.S. satellites that would help defend the island, study says. By Associated Press WASHINGTON — China's anti-satellite test in January increased the country's military threat to Taiwan by demonstrating a limited ability to blind the U.S. satellites that would be deployed in defense of the island, according to a report by an independent private research group to be released today. "The test is a vivid example of how China's emerging military capabilities will complicate the strategic environment confronting U.S. forces for decades to come,"…

U.S. May Sell Weapons To Taiwan WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 (Reuters) — The Pentagon announced tentative plans on Wednesday to sell surplus P-3C Orion submarine-hunting aircraft and air-defense missiles to Taiwan in deals potentially worth more than $2.23 billion, including related gear and services. Taiwan is seeking to buy 12 surplus P-3C maritime patrol aircraft with T-56 turboprop engines, data terminals and a mobile operation command center in a deal that could be worth $1.96 billion, the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a notice to Congress. In a separate notice, the agency said it was also tentatively planning to sell Taiwan 144 SM-2 B…

Special Report: China's military hawks take the offensive (Reuters) Chinese Generals Call For War With Just About Everyone (DefenseNews, Intercepts blog)