The vehicles passed a series of tests conducted by the Royal Thai Navy and were deployed to the RTMC’s Assault Amphibian Vehicle Battalion in Sattahip, about 116 miles (187 kilometers) away from Bangkok. 

This delivery is part of the 448 million Thai baht ($13.5 million) contract signed in August 2023 for the vehicle’s development, construction, testing, and delivery scheduled within one year. 

Chaiseri AWAVs

Powered by a 711 hp engine, the amphibious vehicle has a maximum speed of 105 kilometers (65.2 miles) per hour on land and 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) per hour on water, with a combat range of 600 kilometers (372.8 miles). 

Each AWAV is equipped with the Spanish company Escribano Mechanical & Engineering’s Guardian 1.5 Remote Weapon Station, which operates a 12.7 mm machine gun.

Additionally, it has 76 mm smoke grenade launchers as secondary armaments. 

It has a ballistic protection level of STANAG 4569 Level 3 and Level 3a/3b for mine protection to withstand threats in hostile environments. 

Each AWAV is 9.2 meters long (30.2 feet), 3 meters tall (9.8 feet), 3.1 meters wide (10.2 feet), and around 25.7 tons.

It can carry 11 troops, plus a crew of three comprising a gunner, commander, and driver.

The vehicles were developed based on the prototype model unveiled at the Defense & Security 2023 exhibition in Bangkok and will serve in the RTMC’s current fleet together with its other amphibious platforms. 

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This is part of the 2024 Navigation Plan (NAVPLAN) for America’s Warfighting Navy, which Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti described as “overarching strategic guidance to make our Navy more ready.”

Project 33 aims to help in “prioritizing raising our level of readiness for potential conflict with the People’s Republic of China by 2027 while also enhancing the Navy’s long-term warfighting advantage.”

Project 33

The seven key areas start with readying the force by eliminating ship, submarine, and aircraft maintenance delays.

Next comes scaling robotic and autonomous systems “to integrate more platforms at speed,” as the US Navy created a new job focused on drones and robotics warfare in February this year and commissioned a new unit for unmanned operations in the Middle East in January.

The remaining key areas include creating command centers for success on a distributed battlefield, recruiting and retaining talented people, delivering quality service, investing in warfighter competency, and restoring critical infrastructure that sustains and projects the fight from shore. 

The NAVPLAN was released at the Naval War College on September 18.

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However, each aircraft must remain within 30 minutes of a safe landing zone as part of “a mission planning issue,” AFSOC Commander Lt. Gen. Michael Conley and a command spokesperson said.

At the AFA Air, Space & Cyber Conference, Conley stated that the two CV-22B Ospreys in Japan and England “are almost back to full mission readiness,” and will be deployed in remote locations in a few weeks. 

The lieutenant general declined to name the locations but noted that it would not be in Europe or the Indo-Pacific. 

About 60 percent of the command’s 51 CV-22B aircraft have already returned to full flying status, and the rest should be back by late 2024 or early 2025, he added. 

This announcement comes after the decision to ground the fleet in early December following a fatal crash off the coast of Japan in November 2023, killing eight airmen. 

V-22 Osprey’s Troubled History

The Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, which can fly like a helicopter and a plane, has been involved in more than 10 deadly crashes since 1991 with 62 fatalities. 

In the past two years alone, four accidents were recorded. 

Failed gear was determined as the cause of the most recent November 2023 crash, according to the Air Force Accident Investigation Board headed by Conley.

In August 2023, three US Marines died during a drill in Australia after their plane went down. 

In 2022, four US Marines lost their lives in Norway when their aircraft crashed during NATO exercises in March, while five were killed in an accident near Glamis, California, in June.

The aircraft’s mechanical and safety issues over the years have raised concerns about the recent plan to resume operations.

“To be blunt about it, I would not put the men and women of AFSOC back on the plane if I wasn’t confident that it could do what we needed it to do,” Conley said.

“As part of my Accident Investigation Board duties, I spent time with families after the report came out, and that’s hard,” he continued.

“Those families are still grieving, and I appreciate that. They were all gracious to me and my team as we met and spent time with them. I owe it to the families to make sure that we’re giving [Airmen] the safest aircraft we can. And I wouldn’t put them in harm’s way if I didn’t have confidence in it.” 

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The ICC (P) is set to drive the service’s modernization plans for rapid collaboration and integration and continue developing a framework for its transition as a permanent institutional command by 2025.

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall observed that the service’s current processes aren’t competitive enough to face the dynamic threat environment. 

“This organization is a key part of the competitive ecosystem we are creating to reoptimize for Great Power Competition. With other [Department of the Air Force] organizations, ICC will ensure the Air Force keeps pace with our pacing challenge, China, and acute threat, Russia,” he said. 

Integrated Capabilities Command

One of its initial tasks as a provisional command is to set up teams at existing Air Force centers known for their expertise, bringing together specialists in military operations and planning.

The command will test different military strategies, develop alternative force structures, identify requirements to stay ahead of threats, as well as coordinate science, technology, experimentation, and industry needs.

“We will bring together experts from across multiple fields into one organization to drive rapid collaboration that results in a coherent demand signal to industry. This will be essential to driving capability development at the pace our security environment demands,” said ICC (P) Commander Maj. Gen. Mark Mitchum.

The command will work with the service’s Materiel Command Integrated Development Office to determine the feasibility of requirements generated by technical and acquisition experts.

Full operational capability as a permanent command will be reached once a three-star commander is nominated and confirmed, a unit manning document is approved, and the strategic basing process is completed. 

“We are going as fast as we dare to build the Air Force we need from the beginning so we remain competitive into the future. We must be integrated from the start to stay ahead of the threat,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin during the 2024 Air and Space Force Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference on September 16.

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The accused is a 39-year-old engineer named Song Wu who works at AVIC, one of the world’s largest defense contractors based in Beijing.

Song’s alleged scheme was impersonating US-based researchers’ and engineers’ email accounts to obtain proprietary software with industrial and military uses, such as the development of advanced tactical missiles, aerodynamic design, and weapons assessment. 

The targets were select employees he believed had access to the source code or software from US agencies such as NASA, the US Air Force, Navy, Army, and the FAA.

Other victims included those working at major research universities in Georgia, Michigan, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Ohio, and private aerospace industries.

Song Wu’s Charges

Song is charged with 14 counts of wire fraud and 14 counts of aggravated identity theft. He’s facing a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud and a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence in prison if convicted of aggravated identity theft.

“Efforts to obtain our nation’s valuable research software pose a grave threat to our national security,” US Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan stated. “However, this indictment demonstrates that borders are not barriers to prosecuting bad actors who threaten our national security.”

According to Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta Keri Farley, the indictment demonstrates that “cyber criminals around the world who are seeking to steal our companies’ most sensitive and valuable information can and will be exposed and held accountable.”

“As this indictment shows, the FBI is committed to pursuing the arrest and prosecution of anyone who engages in illegal and deceptive practices to steal protected information,” she added.

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The country’s air force department head Col. Hovhannes Vardanyan discussed possible areas of cooperation with Indian Armed Forces Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan at the International Defence Aviation Exposition 2024 in Jodhpur in early September. 

“We are looking at modernising our Su-30s with the help of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited as it has a lot of expertise in the field,” Vardanyan told Hindustan Times.

Though the talks are still in the early stages, an unnamed source from India’s defense ministry informed The Print that Yerevan was looking to upgrade their Su-30s and integrate Indian-made weapons, including guided air-to-surface munitions.

The source noted that first addressing missile export protocols and the regional conflict surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh is crucial.

Tensions in the South Caucasus

Armenia and Azerbaijan, both former Soviet republics, have been engaged in a long-standing territorial dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh that has resulted in significant civilian displacement.

Russia acted as a broker for ceasefires and deployed peacekeepers in affected areas.

In the two countries’ 44-day war in 2020, Baku launched a military offensive that was backed by Turkey and also reportedly by Pakistan. 

Meanwhile, Yerevan failed to deploy its four Su-30s bought from Moscow due to their lack of firepower, which significantly contributed to Baku’s ability to regain control over the region. 

The results of this loss, coupled with the landlocked country’s frustrations with delayed Russian imports, prompted its push to diversify its defense partnerships.

India looked to supply arms to Armenia to boost its growing self-reliant defense industry and counterbalance Turkey and Pakistan’s influence in the region.

Since 2020, they have enhanced their military relationship through various arms agreements and announced plans to appoint defense attachés in each other’s countries. 

In the same year, Armenia signed a $40-million defense deal and a $2-billion military partnership with India that included provisions for various Indian-made weapon systems.

Among various munitions supplied recently, India sold its first indigenously designed Pinaka Multiple-Barrel Rocket Launchers to Armenia for around $265 million, facilitated through transfers via Iran. 

“The former Soviet Republic of Armenia has become the largest importer of weapons from India after concluding deals on the purchase of Pinaka multiple-launch rocket systems and Akash anti-aircraft systems,” according to an Indian Finance Ministry report. 

Azerbaijan’s Concerns

In July 2023, the assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Department Hikmat Hajiyev urged Indian Ambassador Sridharan Madhusudhanan to reconsider how their actions may contribute to Armenia’s militarization and impact ongoing peace negotiations between the two South Caucasus nations.

Hajiyev emphasized that India’s arms supply contradicts its stated foreign policy principles grounded in international law and the Bandung Principles of the Non-Aligned Movement, of which the South Asian country is a member.

In response, Madhusudhanan acknowledged Hajiyev’s concerns while underscoring the necessity for dialogue among involved parties.

The post Armenia Seeks India’s Support to Modernize Air Force: Report appeared first on The Defense Post.

Two Tu-95MS strategic missile carrier bombers were joined by Su-35 and Su-30SM fighter jets in more than 10 hours of flight exercises, which involved executing strikes with air-launched cruise missiles against simulated enemy targets.

The Ocean-2024 military exercises, which ran from September 10 to 16, are the largest since the Soviet era, comprising more than 400 warships, submarines, and auxiliary fleet support vessels.

Furthermore, it involved over 120 aircraft and helicopters from the Navy and Aerospace Forces, around 7,000 military and special equipment units, and more than 90,000 personnel, taking place in the Pacific and Arctic Oceans and the Mediterranean, Caspian, and Baltic Seas. 

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The service aims to acquire around 100 of the nuclear and conventionally capable stealth B-21s for their long-range strike and nuclear deterrence capabilities.

“We continue to achieve B-21 production milestones; through digital engineering and open architecture design, we are getting an agile strategic deterrent that delivers a decisive response as required,” said Air Force Global Strike Command commander Gen. Thomas Bussiere.

The aircraft is currently in low-rate production and undergoing flight tests, with delivery expected by 2027.

Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota was the first location to be selected to host the B-21.

B-21 Raider Progress

In May 2024, B-21 manufacturer Northrop Grumman announced that the flight test program was a success, with observations of how the warplane’s performance closely resembled digital simulations.

The world’s first sixth-generation aircraft has stealth features that can evade “even the most sophisticated air defense systems,” while its open system architecture allows for the integration of newer technology.

“The B-21 Raider is the first strategic bomber in more than three decades. It is a testament to America’s enduring advantages in ingenuity and innovation,” US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated during the 2022 unveiling ceremony at Northrop Grumman’s facility in Palmdale, California.

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The University of Washington’s Milgard Women’s Institute led the discussions focused on strategies for building networks and mentorship. These discussions also addressed how to navigate unconscious bias in a male-dominated workplace.

Participants toured several installations as part of the program, including the 194th Wing and 194th Air Support Operations Group, the 10th Civil Support Team at Camp Murray, the Western Air Defense Sector at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and the 141st Air Refueling Wing.

For their part, RTAF officers presented on the role women play in their respective air force and other areas of opportunity. 

“Women bring a unique perspective and leadership style to the military as well as a distinct way of solving problems,” said US Air Force Col. and Director of Staff Carrie Wentzel.

“This foundation will allow us to develop initiatives and strategies to remove barriers and empower females in our respective militaries,” Wentzel added. 

RTAF Squadron Leader Karnchanok “Maestro” Chunyaruck, a C130 pilot and one of only seven female RTAF pilots, explained that this engagement can widen opportunities for women in the RTAF. 

“We also have many, many talented [non-commissioned officers] but they just don’t have the chance,” she said. “This good beginning might be a good initiative that we can bring back and let those females have the opportunity like us to improve themselves, improve the Royal Thai Air Force.” 

US-Thailand Relations

This engagement is part of the US Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program designed for capacity-building with partner nations’ national guard members for future missions. 

The WA ANG and RTAF began their State Partnership Program relationship in 2002. 

Additionally, 2024 marks the 191st year of the military and economic alliance between the US and Thailand.

The post Washington Air National Guard, Thai Air Force Strengthen Ties Through Female Leadership Engagement appeared first on The Defense Post.

The ministry’s department head of ideological work Alexander Ivanov shared his suspicions on the national talk show, Po Suschestvu, during a discussion about potential targets for spies.

“Where do you think there were the most Pokémon at that time?” he asked before stating that the bulk of virtual Pokémon were present at the “territory of the 50th air base, where the runway is, where there is a lot of military aviation equipment.”

Pokémon GO relies on GPS tracking as it invites users to turn on location and use their phone camera to search their physical surroundings and collect virtual pocket monsters.

The mobile game was developed as a collaboration among Niantic Inc., Nintendo, and The Pokémon Company.

Privacy Concerns

Since the game’s release in 2016, several governments and individuals have been wary of the game’s data-gathering capabilities.

It requires uninterrupted use of user location and camera and “full access” to Google accounts on Apple devices, which garnered multiple data privacy concerns.

At the height of the game’s popularity, Indonesian State Intelligence Agency director Sutiyoso commented that the location-based mobile game poses national security risks, although security experts and analysts did not share this view.

Egypt, Kuwait, and other Middle Eastern governments echoed similar concerns and warned players to avoid sensitive sites.

The US also established procedures preventing civilians from trespassing onto military bases and preventing service members from entering restricted areas to catch Pokémons as these might expose confidential information.

In the year of its release, Russia asserted that the mobile game was a security risk, claiming that it was part of a CIA plot.

Niantic, the game’s software developer company, is headed by former Google Geo division executive John Hanke. 

Hanke was tangled up in conspiracy theories because his former company Keyhole (later acquired by Google) received funding from various sources, including the CIA’s venture capital arm, In-Q-Tel.

However, Niantic denied the allegations and informed The Register that the game “only accesses basic Google profile information (specifically, your User ID and email address) and no other Google account information is or has been accessed or collected.”

In 2022, the year Russia invaded Ukraine, Niantic shut down game operations in the Russian and Belarus markets.

“We stand with the global community in hoping for peace and a rapid resolution to the violence and suffering in Ukraine. Niantic’s games are no longer available for download in Russia and Belarus, and gameplay will also be suspended there shortly,” the company tweeted on March 11 of that year. 

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