Arms race (Hypersonic Weapons)

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[size=40]New [size=40]Details[/size] [size=40]About[/size] [size=40]China’s[/size] [size=40]Space[/size] [size=40]Weapons[/size] [size=40]Aimed[/size] [size=40]at[/size] [size=40]Thwarting[/size] [size=40]US[/size] [size=40]Military[/size][/size]
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ASIA & PACIFIC
01:20 16.10.2015(updated 08:39 16.10.2015) Get short URL
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New details about China's space-weapons program have been released ahead of a congressional annual report outlining Beijing's plans to destroy or jam US satellites and limit American combat operations.

The final report by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission examining China's programs, dubbed counterspace arms, is due to be published next month.
A late draft of the commission's annual report, obtained by Inside the Ring, states:
"China is pursuing a broad and robust array of counterspace capabilities, which includes direct-ascent anti-satellite missiles, co-orbital anti-satellite systems, computer network operations, ground-based satellite jammers and directed energy weapons. China’s nuclear arsenal also provides an inherent anti-satellite capability."
In the event of a conflict, the Chinese military expect to use a combination of kinetic, electronic and cyber attacks against satellites or ground support structures, Inside the Ring reports.

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China Hosts First Joint SCO Exercises to Counter Terrorists Online

The Chinese are currently developing two direct-ascent missiles capable of hitting satellites in both lower and higher orbits. Anti-satellite missile tests were carried out as recently as last year.
For space-based weapons, China reportedly is developing co-orbital anti-satellite weapons, which move close to satellite targets and then deploy weapons to disable or destroy them.
According to the commission report, the Chinese simulated such an attack in 2008 when it sent a miniature imaging satellite within 28 miles of the International Space Station without notification. China believes demonstrating its capability to damage or destroy satellites deters adversaries, the report states.
China is also planning military cyber attacks that can take control of satellites by hacking into their microwave signals.
"If executed successfully, such attacks could significantly threaten US information superiority, particularly if they are conducted against satellites with sensitive military and intelligence functions," the report says.
The commission also alleges that Chinese hackers probably were behind several computer attacks against US space assets, including a September 2014 hack.
Beijing's nuclear capabilities also could be used against satellites. A nuclear detonation in low-earth orbit would create a damaging electromagnetic pulse that could disrupt unshielded satellites.[/size]


Read more: http://sputniknews.com/asia/20151016/1028597122/china-space-weapons-us.html#ixzz3oljcF5E0

[size=40][size=40]Pentagon [size=40]Ready[/size] [size=40]to[/size] [size=40]Build[/size] [size=40]a[/size] [size=40]$550[/size] [size=40]Mln[/size] [size=40]'Bomber[/size] [size=40]So[/size] [size=40]Good[/size] [size=40]It[/size] [size=40]Will[/size] [size=40]Never[/size] [size=40]Be[/size] [size=40]Used'[/size][/size]
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US
17:35 23.10.2015(updated 17:40 23.10.2015) Get short URL
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The US Defense Department seems to be increasingly worried that its existing fleet of strategic bombers is vulnerable to the newest Chinese- and Russian-made air defenses. With that in mind, Air Force chiefs are now demanding new 'trophy' bombers with the latest weaponry, the mere presence of which would ‘give pause to US enemies.’

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US Air Force Spends $176Mln to Boost Air Attack Accuracy
"The US Air Force wants up to 100 new bombers armed with all the latest weaponry and radar-evading stealth technology, able to fly long distances, penetrate even the heaviest defenses and destroy scores of targets in a single bombing run," military analyst David Axe wrote in his article for Reuters.

The expert however noted one small peculiarity in all the above: the air force has no intention of actually putting the jets into active service, as their "mere presence…should give pause to US enemies."
"This would buy time so diplomats could negotiate to work out major conflicts without anyone resorting to violence," David Axe says.


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US Navy Orders $53.1Mln Trial Solid State Laser Model
The concept of "conventional deterrence" turns out quite costly, even though the Pentagon has played down the costs.

Each of the up to 100 new bombers would cost in the region of $550 million, or $800 million when the cost of research and development is included.
"The potentially $80-billion Long-Range Strike Program is a big deal, particularly for the Air Force," the expert says.
The Air Force is aiming to deploy the new bombers to US airbases by the mid-2020s.[/size]

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[size=40]Packing [size=40]a[/size] [size=40]Punch:[/size] [size=40]A[/size] [size=40]Self-Propelled[/size] [size=40]Gun[/size] [size=40]That’s[/size] [size=40]Worth[/size] [size=40]a[/size] [size=40]Whole[/size] [size=40]Battery[/size][/size]
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MILITARY & INTELLIGENCE
10:35 22.11.2015Get short URL
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A single Russian state-of-the-art Koalitsiya-SV self-propelled gun is worth an entire artillery battery, deputy commander of Russia’s Missile Troops and Artillery, Major-General Alexander Dragovalovsky told the press.

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Tank Killer: New Armata Gets Really Big Gun
"It’s a new weapon, cutting edge. Its capabilities effectively allow it to replace a whole battery," Dragovalovsky said.

He pointed out that Koalitsiya has a very high degree of automation, with the turret being completely unmanned and the vehicle’s crew residing within the hull.
The new 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV self-propelled gun was first presented to the public during the Victory Day Parade in Moscow on May 9, 2015.
The 152mm self-propelled gun, with its maximum firepower, is designed to eliminate enemy armored units, infantry and fortifications. It’s outfitted with an autonomous power unit, crew amenities, a satellite communication network and secure data link systems.
Due to its pneumatic loader and microwave shell priming system, the Koalitsiya-SV is capable of firing up to 16 shells per minute. Its ammunition capacity is 50-70 shells, including precision-guided munitions linked to the GLONASS system, Russia's equivalent of the US-based GPS satellite network.[/size]


Read more: http://sputniknews.com/military/20151122/1030528826/russia-koalitsiya-artillery.html#ixzz3urxz5jrG

[size=34]Germany withdraws Patriot missile defense systems from Turkey[/size]
Published time: 23 Dec, 2015 11:21
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© Osman Orsal / Reuters

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Germany has removed two Patriot missile air defense complexes and 250 personnel from Turkish territory, news agency Anadolu has reported. Berlin had earlier announced the mission’s mandate would expire in January 2016.
The Patriot complexes were loaded on a Danish ship which left the Turkish port of Iskenderun on Tuesday, bound for Germany.

#Germany withdraws Patriot missile systems from#Turkeyhttps://t.co/59w836qmvcpic.twitter.com/xiWzTFuzUB
— ANADOLU AGENCY (ENG) (@anadoluagency) December 22, 2015

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Back in January 2013, six NATO Patriot complexes - two units from each of Germany, the Netherlands and the US - were delivered to Turkey to guard the border with Syria, in a move Damascus officials linked with plans to establish a no-fly zone along the Turkish-Syrian border.
In September 2014 the Dutch Patriot systems were replaced with Spanish ones.
In mid-August 2014 the German Defense Ministry announced it was to end its border protection mission in Turkey and remove its missile defense batteries from the country.
READ MORE: Germany to withdraw its anti-air missiles from Turkey
Germany cited a “low ballistic missile threat,” as well as the “high costs of the mission” as reasons for the pullout.
A month before that, however, German media reported the nation’s Patriot air and missile defense systems stationed in Turkey had been carrying out “unexplained” commands allegedly issued by unknown hackers - a message later rebutted by Berlin.
READ MORE: German missile battery receives orders from… unknown ‘hackers’ – report
In October 2015 the US Department of Defense made a statement it would not be renewing its Patriot defense system in Turkey once its mandate expired in October. The air defense missile units were assigned to be shipped back to the US for upgrades.
READ MORE: US to pull Patriot anti-air missiles from Turkey
Although both American and German Patriot missile batteries have now been withdrawn from Turkey, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said last week that Spanish Patriots will stay in Turkey for one more year.
Stoltenberg also said recently that NATO is seeking to deploy more aircraft and command ships to Turkey in order to boost the country's defense capabilities, following the incident with the Russian Su-24 bomber downed by a Turkish F-16 fighter jet in Syrian airspace on November 24.
READ MORE: 9 quick facts about Russian Su-24 jet downed by Turkish Air Force
The British Royal Air Force (RAF) is expected to deploy additional military aircraft to Turkey's Incirlik Air Base in Adana, while German Tornado jets will arrive to Incirlik to conduct exploratory flights. Denmark and Germany are also expected to deploy additional command ships to NATO forces in the Mediterranean.
Danish frigates will be assigned to provide electronic intelligence and “protect” Turkey from Russian S-400 missile air defense complexes recently deployed in Syria at the Russian Khmeimim Air Base in Latakia.
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No US airstrikes in Syria since Russia deployed S-400 systemshttps://t.co/YphdCfKJ0lpic.twitter.com/dALQPCgTL3
— RT (@RT_com) November 28, 2015

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“This is something we have been working on long before the [Su-24] incident and is separate from the incident,” Stoltenberg told reporters following a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels in mid-December.
“I think the focus now should be on how we can de-escalate, how we can calm tensions and how we can address the need to improve, strengthen mechanisms to avoid [the kind of incident] that we saw [on November 24],” Stoltenberg said following the downing of the Russian Su-24.
On December 16 the US military announced the withdrawal of 12 F-15 fighter jets from Turkey’s Incirlik Air Base, to be relocated back to their permanent base in Britain. The US European Command explained that the deployment of these aircraft to Turkey in November was from the very beginning only planned to be short-term. The Pentagon is expected to replace F-16 interceptors in Turkey with ground attack planes.[/size]

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RUSSIA
12:46 08.01.2016Get short URL
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Russia will orbit a second new generation satellite in 2016 to keep a closer eye on ballistic missile launches anywhere in the world, the Defense Ministry said, Zvezda TV channel reported.

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Russian Missile Warning System Can Detect Mass Launch of Ballistic Missiles
The EKS-1 – the first such satellite of the unified space-based ballistic missile warning system launched late last year — is currently undergoing trials in orbit by the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces.

The new generation satellites will ensure much quicker identification of ballistic missile launches by detecting their engines’ exhaust plume in infrared light.
The first early warning ground-based station for the new network has been built in the Altay region and it has passed state trials.
More such stations will be built also in the Leningrad, Irkutsk, Kaliningrad and Krasnodar regions.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced in October last year that Russia had started the development of a new unified network to detect ballistic missile launches, which would replace the Soviet-made ballistic missile early warning systems and feature  new-generation satellites, new ground-based space monitoring stations and advanced computer networks[/size]


Read more: http://sputniknews.com/russia/20160108/1032829641/russia-satellites-missiles-warning.html#ixzz3whCg1rl9