Current Events in Asia-Pacific

LCS Freedom Arrives in Singapore (DefenseNews, Intercepts blog)

It hit its target over 300 kilometres away in four minutes and three seconds, reaching speeds of roughly 4,050 kilometres per hour — more than three times the speed of sound https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-26/australia-army-tests-precision-strike-missile-in-mount-bundey-nt/105576916?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other

China’s Claim That Its Fractional Orbital Bombardment System Was A Spaceplane Test Doesn’t Add Up (The War Zone)

From DefenseNews [excerpt]

From Reuters [excerpt]

Obvious material here ... Japan explores war scenarios with China (The Diplomat, Flashpoints blog)

From ARES Blog On The Nose - Making Missiles go Faster Posted by Graham Warwick at 11/10/2008 9:38 AM CST Indian researchers say they have tested a novel and simple way to reduce the drag and increase the range of high-speed missiles. In hypersonic shock-tunnel tests reported in the journal Physics of Fluids, the technique resulted in a 47% reduction of drag on a blunt cone representing the nosecone of a missile or space vehicle. Blunt noses are used to reduce the aerothermal loads on missiles at high speed, but they increase wave drag. Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore tested various ways of reducing drag, including mounting …

Limited liftoff looming: Y-20 transport prepares for first flight (The Diplomat)

From Jane's Intelligence Digest China-US hotline could stay cool 01 May 2008 On 10 April, Chinese General Liang Guanglie and United States Defense Secretary Robert Gates conducted their first phone conversation using the new "hotline" linking the Chinese and US defence establishments. During the call, Liang berated Gates for selling arms to Taiwan and for maintaining ties with the Taiwanese defence community. Gates in turn warned Liang that Washington would resist attempts by either Beijing or Taipei to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. The exchange epitomises why the Sino-American military hotline is unlikely to overcome the misunderstandings, …

From DefenseNews Kyrgyzstan Moves To Shut Key U.S. Base By TOLKUN NAMATBAYEVA, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Published: 4 Feb 07:40 EST (12:40 GMT) BISHKEK - Kyrgyzstan's government on Feb. 4 approved the closure of a U.S. airbase on its territory used as a vital supply route for Western military operations in Afghanistan. The decision by the Central Asian state came as a snub to the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama, who has singled out Afghanistan as the main front in U.S. military operations overseas and plans to deploy 30,000 more troops there over the next 18 months. Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev announced the closure a day earlier in Moscow…

Very interesting images of J-31, including 4xAAM on the open weapons bay: http://airforceworld.com/pla/j21-fighter-shenyang-j31-chinese-stealth-jet.htm

China's Army Hacked Pentagon Network Deutsche Presse-Agentur | September 04, 2007 Military.com China's Army hacked into a computer network at the Pentagon in an attack that has US officials concerned about the growing regularity and sophistication of China's technological assaults, the Financial Times reported Tuesday. Computer specialists with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) penetrated an unclassified network used by policy aides to US Defence Secretary Robert Gates in June, resulting in a weeklong shutdown of the system, the newspaper said in a report that quoted unnamed US officials. The PLA has demonstrated the ability to conduct attacks that disabl…

A couple of just released reports from the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) on the RAAF F-35A and F/A-18: Management of Australia’s Air Combat Capability—F-35A Joint Strike Fighter Acquisition http://www.anao.gov.au/~/media/Files/Audit%20Reports/2012%202013/Audit%20Report%206/201213%20Audit%20Report%20No%206%20OCRed.pdf Management of Australia’s Air Combat Capability—F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet Fleet Upgrades and Sustainment http://www.anao.gov.au/~/media/Files/Audit%20Reports/2012%202013/Audit%20Report%205/201213%20Audit%20Report%20No%205%20OCRed.pdf

How FP Stumbled Into a War With China — and Lost (Foreign Policy) Discussion of a simulated conflict in the East China Sea.

Credible Chinese Undersea Nuclear Deterrent is Imminent (The Diplomat, Flashpoints blog)

China’s Artificial Islands Are Bigger (And a Bigger Deal) Than You Think (War on the Rocks) Great article if you're considering a South China Sea scenario!

Whether under her own power or under tow, Varyag left the Port of Dalian according to Xinhua News. A quick search of the various Chinese forums shows an empty bearth where Varyag was supposedly tied up. Visibility was quite poor at the time which assists in a quiet/covert departure. Xinhua reports that the initial trial won't be long and that the vessel will return to complete her 'refit' soon. Hopefully we'll be seeing some periscope photos in the near future, hopefully they'll include the tug. Later D

From Defense Aerospace North Korea Conducts Missile Tests (Source: Voice of America news; issued July 5, 2006) WHITE HOUSE --- U.S. officials say North Korea has test fired at least six missiles, including a long-range missile that failed shortly after launch. High level consultations are underway. White House officials call the series of launches a provocation, but add there is no immediate threat to the United States. All the tests occurred early Wednesday morning local time within the span of hours. Most involved short to medium range missiles that landed in the Sea of Japan. But one, the failed missile, was a Taepodong 2, the intercontinental missile th…

From Navy Times Kitty Hawk returns to Japan after China snub By Eric Talmadge - The Associated Press Posted : Tuesday Nov 27, 2007 6:58:19 EST YOKOSUKA, Japan — The aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk and its battle group returned to Japan on Tuesday after being refused entry for a port call in Hong Kong, where the ships were set to mark Thanksgiving. The Kitty Hawk, which has its home port in this city just south of Tokyo, was forced to return to Japan early when Chinese authorities at the last minute refused to allow the warship and its escort vessels to enter Hong Kong harbor. “We are befuddled at this point,” said battle group commander Rear Adm. Rick Wren. …