CV32

The Lancasters were not really a problem, as they were demilitarized B.I standard I just assumed the REAF returned them to something resembling B.I. There appears to be little helpful info about the Halifax, however, as these were not bombers (but transports) when transferred. So I guess my question is what bomber standard should they most resemble?

23 January 1983 Having failed to boost into a high altitude 'storage' orbit, the Soviet nuclear powered radar ocean reconnaissance satellite (RORSAT) Kosmos 1402 tumbles into the Indian Ocean. Most of the satellite is burned up, excepting the nuclear fuel core containing about 100 lbs of enriched uranium. The core eventually plunges into the South Atlantic, about 1,000 miles east of Brazil, on 7 February.

The Halifax (and to lesser extent, the Lancaster) may be a bit of a guess, as apparently these were A.IX paratroop transport versions converted back into bombers by the REAF. I am assuming they were most similar to the B.VII?

New Report Questions F-35 Job Creation Claims (DefenseNews) Opinion: No Time For Inaccuracy On JSF Costs (Aviation Week)

INS Vikramaditya Deployment Options for India (Defense Aerospace)

Yeah, I am aware of the spyflight site but there's no specifics on the nature of the equipment other than a rather vague reference to ELINT missions, which implies ESM aboard USAF RB-29s but does not do a good job of confirming it.

Silly me, asking for more DB requests. Like calling for fire support on your own coordinates. Once again, thanks a lot, Enrique. Your help with the database work here at HG is truly superb. What's your source for the RB-29 with ESM? Which equipment in particular?

21 January 1968 A B-52G (callsign 'Hobo 28', serial 58-0188), from the 380th Strategic Bomb Wing at Plattsburgh AFB, NY, suffers an onboard fire while flying a 'Chrome Dome' strategic alert mission near Thule, Greenland. Unable to extinguish the fire, the crew bail out of the aircraft (with one fatality) and it crashes onto the frozen sea about 12 km west of Thule. It is a 'Broken Arrow' incident, as the aircraft is carrying four 1.1 megaton B28FI Mod 1 nuclear bombs. Project 'Crested Ice' is launched to remove debris and contain environmental damage, but some components are never recovered.

Former NATO commander warns of wider war in Middle East (Stars and Stripes)

UN rescinds invitation to Iran for Syria peace talks (Stars and Stripes)

I believe the EKA-3B fuselage blisters held ALQ-92 jammers (mostly for jamming GCI datalinks). The ALQ-100 was a track breaker (DECM), but I am not sure the EKA-3B also carried the ALQ-126 (another, later track breaker). Source(s)?

Global piracy reaches six-year low, but report highlights concerns over As-Pac spike (Jane's)

The Skies Of Korea: The Air War for a New Era (Defense Media Network)

20 January 1981 Ronald Reagan is inaugurated as the 40th President of the United States. Within 20 minutes of his inaugural address, the remaining 52 American hostages held in Iran since November 1979, are released.

Quoted for truth.

I have added all of these, and they will appear in the next iteration. Any further requests before I kick a new version out the door later this week?

Very much so. Excellent book!

17 January 1991 At 2:38 AM, Operation Desert Storm is launched with the words "Party in ten", spoken by AH-64A Apache pilot 1st Lt Tom Drew. This meant that in 10 seconds, AGM-114 Hellfire laser guided missiles would be impacting their targets - a pair of critical early warning radar sites (comprising a co-located 'Squat Eye' and 'Flat Face', and a 'Spoon Rest') - in southern Iraq. The missiles (and subsequently, 2.75 inch rockets and 30mm Chain Gun ammo) were fired by Task Force Normandy, which all-helo force comprised eight Apaches (with a ninth as backup), a UH-60A Black Hawk, and two USAF MH-53J Enhanced Pave Low IIIs.

China confirms hypersonic vehicle test (Jane's)

16 January 1979 The Shah of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlevi, flees to Egypt at the height of the Iranian Revolution. Prime Minister Shapour Bakhtiar opens the way for Ayatollah Khomeini to return.

15 January 1949 Mao's communist Red Army defeats nationalist forces at Ten-tsin (Tianjin), marking the end of the Tianjin Campaign and sealing the fate of the KMT in northern China.

The T-50 Fighter Will Feature Even Greater Stealth Capabilities (Defense Aerospace) PAK FA stealth features patent published (Jane's)

DDG 1000 Preps for Heavy Weather Trials (DOD Buzz) Fingers crossed ...

If Scotland Votes for Independence, Its Going to Need an Army (War is Boring blog)

Drive on Moscow: How I Conquered Russia on My iPad (War is Boring blog)