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The Krylov State Research Center (KGNC) has presented the model of a light multi-purpose aircraft carrier at the Army-2018 International Military-Technical Forum for the first time. It is on display at the Krylov’s exhibition stand.

"The light multipurpose aircraft carrier is designed to ensure combat sustainability of the fleet’s forces and weapons which are engaged in hostilities in blue and green waters by fulfilling anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense tasks as well as by destroying air, surface, underwater and onshore targets," KGCN said in its documents.

The light aircraft carrier’s standard displacement is 37000 tons; normal displacement - 40500 tons and full displacement - 44000 tons.

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ORIGINAL: Filitch

New terrorist provocation. Coming soon... US Navy and USAF highly likeli are as stooges.

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ORIGINAL: Filitch

I knew that you agree that USN and USAF are serving terrorists.

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ORIGINAL: Scorpion86
as well as pushing to update and upgrade legacy aircraft (MiG-29, Su-27, Su-24, Su-25 and Mi-24) and missile systems (S-300, Tor, Buk, and surprisingly, S-125).

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ORIGINAL: User2

I wonder how are they going to maintain S-300 components which were never produced in Ukraine and what are they going to do with S-300PS missiles whose guaranteed lifetime has already been exceeded.

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The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy) commissioned its 28th Type 054A Frigate (Jiangkai II-class) 'Xianning' (咸宁 with hull number 500). The Commissioning ceremony took place on August 28, 2018 at (what seems to be) Yulin Naval Base located in the Yalong Bay (city of Sanya) on Hainan island. The frigate joined the PLAN South Sea Fleet.

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Based on ship spotters images from China, it appears that the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy) first Type 055 Destroyer 'Nanchang' (南昌, with hull number 101), sailed out for its first sea trials on 24 August, 2018. The vessel (first of the Renhai-class cruiser, its NATO designation and classification) was built at Jiangnan Changxing Shipbuilding and Heavy Industry Corporation (Jiangnan-Changxing) in Shanghai (a member of China State Shipbuilding Corporation CSSC).

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What is likely the fiftieth Type 056 Corvette (Jiangdao class) for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy) was launched in early August. The vessel to be named Wuzhou (梧州) with hull number 626 was built and launched by the Huangpu Wenchong Shipyard of the Chinese naval group CSSC.

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The U.S. Navy awarded a contract to The Boeing Co. Aug. 30 for the MQ-25A Stingray, the first operational carrier-based unmanned refueling aircraft. This fixed-price-incentive-firm-target contract with a ceiling price of $805.3 million provides for the design, development, fabrication, test, delivery, and support of four MQ-25A unmanned air vehicles, including integration into the carrier air wing for an initial operational capability by 2024.

When operational, MQ-25 will improve the performance, efficiency, and safety of the carrier air wing and provide longer range and greater persistence tanking capability to execute missions that otherwise could not be performed.

Boeing was competing against designs by Lockheed Martin and General Atomics.

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LIG Nex1 is right on track with its Tiger Shark Heavyweight Torpedo System program, Navy Recognition has learned from the South Korean defence company. The Tiger Shark was unveiled last year during the MADEX 2017 naval defense exhibition in Busan, South Korea.

LIG Nex1 is in charge of developing the new torpedo with ADD (Agency of Defense Development) and the Republic of Korea Navy (ROK Navy). "Currently, we have done and fulfilled all the required tests, and are waiting the contract with DAPA for mass-production; of that we are expecting the second half of next year" said an LIG Nex1 representative involved with the program when we asked him about the current status of Tiger Shark. DAPA is South Korea's defense acquisition program administration.

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The HMS Albion, a 22,000 ton amphibious warship carrying a contingent of Royal Marines, passed by the Paracel Islands in recent days, said the sources, who were familiar with the matter but who asked not to be identified.

The Albion was on its way to Hanoi, where it docked on Monday following a deployment in and around Japan.

One of the sources said Beijing dispatched a frigate and two helicopters to challenge the British vessel, but both sides remained calm during the encounter.

The other source the Albion did not enter the territorial seas around any features in the hotly disputed region but demonstrated that Britain does not recognise excessive maritime claims around the Paracel Islands. Twelve nautical miles is an internationally recognised territorial limit.

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A contrary (sort of) view on last week's NY Times piece on China's build-up.

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Finally, it quotes a Beijing report titled "China's National Defense in 2006" as stating that China "pursues a three-step development strategy in modernizing its national defense." The first step: "[L]ay a solid foundation by 2010." Second: Achieve "major progress by 2020." Third: Be "capable of winning [information-technology] wars by mid 21st century."

In other words, it's worth keeping an eye on China. But it's probably not worth spending tens or hundreds of billions of dollars now for a program like the F-22, which its own sponsors admit might be needed in case a threat develops 20 years in the future.

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ORIGINAL: Dysta

10 years ago, USAF made a bad decision regarding to the F-22 production. Whether Gates believes China cannot challenge USAF even after 2020, or F-35 production can proceed flawlessly, a mistake is still a mistake:

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/war_stories/2008/02/china_canard.html

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Finally, it quotes a Beijing report titled "China's National Defense in 2006" as stating that China "pursues a three-step development strategy in modernizing its national defense." The first step: "[L]ay a solid foundation by 2010." Second: Achieve "major progress by 2020." Third: Be "capable of winning [information-technology] wars by mid 21st century."

In other words, it's worth keeping an eye on China. But it's probably not worth spending tens or hundreds of billions of dollars now for a program like the F-22, which its own sponsors admit might be needed in case a threat develops 20 years in the future.

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ORIGINAL: jtoatoktoe

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ORIGINAL: Dysta

10 years ago, USAF made a bad decision regarding to the F-22 production. Whether Gates believes China cannot challenge USAF even after 2020, or F-35 production can proceed flawlessly, a mistake is still a mistake:

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/war_stories/2008/02/china_canard.html

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Finally, it quotes a Beijing report titled "China's National Defense in 2006" as stating that China "pursues a three-step development strategy in modernizing its national defense." The first step: "[L]ay a solid foundation by 2010." Second: Achieve "major progress by 2020." Third: Be "capable of winning [information-technology] wars by mid 21st century."

In other words, it's worth keeping an eye on China. But it's probably not worth spending tens or hundreds of billions of dollars now for a program like the F-22, which its own sponsors admit might be needed in case a threat develops 20 years in the future.

The F-22/F-35 Hybrid Lockheed Martin is pushing for Japan (and Maybe the U.S.) could go a long way in righting the wrongs in the F-22 program.

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ORIGINAL: kevinkin

Some news from an area of continuing conflict:

https://defence-blog.com/news/ukraine-deploys-modern-armoured-artillery-boats-to-azov-sea-to-counter-russian-aggression.html

I wonder how well the Kerch Strait Bridge is defended?