Current Events in Asia-Pacific

Korea Herald article

Multiple Spaces Flooded on Stranded U.S. Minesweeper (DefenseNews)

Los Angeles Times April 16, 2007 N. Korea Reminded To Fulfill Its Pledge U.S. is displeased by the failure to shut a nuclear reactor but says it will wait a few more days. By Associated Press SEOUL — The U.S. said Sunday that North Korea must act within days on a pledge to halt its nuclear weapons program, after the Pyongyang government failed to meet a Saturday deadline to shut down and seal a nuclear reactor. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said Washington was prepared "to hold on for a few more days" after his Chinese counterpart, Wu Dawei, asked the U.S. for patience. "We're not happy that the [North] essentially has missed…

From DefenseNews Australia Cancels Seasprite Contract AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Published: 4 Mar 22:13 EST (17:13 GMT) SYDNEY - Australia on March 5 cancelled a $1 billion (930 million U.S.) contract for U.S.-made Seasprite helicopters following a review of the troubled project. The Australian navy ordered 11 of the anti-submarine and anti-shipping helicopters in 1997 but technical problems meant they were never fully operational and the fleet was indefinitely grounded in 2006. Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon ordered a review of the project after the center-left Labor Party won office last November as part of a wider examination of a series of controversial …

From RIA Novosti [excerpt] CV32: Russkies got no money for fuel, etc, or something deeper going on?

From Defense Aerospace More Reason to Release the Air Combat Capability Review (Source: Australian Liberal Party (Opposition); issued Sept. 12, 2008) Lockheed’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has flown into a storm of controversy in Australia and the Netherlands, amid reports it was comprehensively defeated by Sukhoi Su-35s in a wargame. The dangers of having an indecisive Defence Minister became more apparent last night when Mr Fitzgibbon validated the flimsiest of rumours about the Joint Strike Fighter. Instead of jumping at shadows, Mr Fitzgibbon should immediately release the Air Combat Capability Review so we can see what Australia’s defence experts reall…

France's DCNS Wins Australia's $50 Billion Future Submarine Contract (The Diplomat)

Last week, Harriers and the HMS Ark Royal. This week, the F-111 ... Australia's F-111 retirement to close chapter of aviation history

From DefenseNews [excerpt]

Chinas Navy Goes Stealth (The Diplomat) Namely, the Type 056 Jiangdao FFL

Before and After: The South China Sea Transformed (CSIS) The environmental damage alone is terrible.

From Aviation Week [excerpt]

From DefenseNews [excerpt]

How China Plans to Use the Su-35 (The Diplomat) Why China Wants the Su-35 (China Brief, Jamestown Foundation)

[excerpt] Beijing is revealing pictures of its indigenously built J-15 Flying Shark design that is intended to populate the decks of its first aircraft carrier. It comes equipped with large surface area wings (for extra lift at low speeds) that fold (for a small footprint on a crowded aircraft carrier deck), reinforced landing gear (for high, sink-rate landings), a tailhook (for arrested landing on short carrier decks) and a light blue paint scheme to signal its role in the People's Liberation Army’s Navy. Small canards on the nose also are to help lower the landing speed and the tail cone has been shortened to avoid ramp strikes. [/excerpt] Full story

Guys Just wondering if anyone had thoughts and time to put down some quick notes on Australias Collins Class subs? How have you seen their performance or abilities, good/bad/ugly?

BBC news report Apparently it won't sail to other countries' territorial waters... which no sensible carrier admiral would do anyway...

JH-XX, looking in some respects like a two-seat F-35 ... Secret Projects DEW Line blog RIA Novosti

China's Navy Forms First Carrier-Borne Jet Force (Defense Aerospace)

Chinese Missiles and the Wal-Mart Factor