Russia strikes add to chaotic mix of players and interests in Syria
Paris (AFP) Oct 1, 2015 -
The start of Russian air strikes in Syria has added yet another dimension to a war that already featured multiple actors pulling in different directions and serving their own interests, say experts.
"We've seen incredibly complicated, multi-faceted conflicts in the past," said Shashank Joshi, senior researcher at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London, giving the Bosnian war of ...
more
Russia hitting all of Assad's opponents: analysts
Beirut (AFP) Oct 1, 2015 -
Syrian rebels who oppose both the regime and the Islamic State group have been hit hardest by Russian air strikes, showing Moscow's determination to defend President Bashar al-Assad against all enemies, analysts say.
More than four years into Syria's devastating war, Russian warplanes began air strikes there on Wednesday, saying they were targeting IS jihadists and "other terrorist groups". ...
more
Russia launches new strikes on foes of Syria's Assad
Beirut (AFP) Oct 1, 2015 -
Russian warplanes unleashed a new wave of strikes against opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Thursday, as Moscow and Washington sought ways to avoid confrontation between their forces.
It was the second straight day of Russian raids in Syria, where Moscow has launched its first military engagement outside the former Soviet Union since the occupation of Afghanistan in 1979.
Rus ...
more
Israeli-made Dominator UAV tested in Mexico
Yavne, Israel (UPI) Oct 1, 2015 -
Israeli defense contractor Aeronautics Ltd. is flight testing its Dominator XP unmanned aerial vehicle in Mexico, which has purchased the system.
The Dominator XP is a medium-altitude long-endurance aircraft for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions and is based on the DA-42 twin star, an Austrian commercial plane.
It has a length of 28.3 feet, a maximum speed of ...
more
Europe urges militaries to 'go green'
Brussels (UPI) Sep 30, 2015 -
The European Defence Agency is encouraging European countries and their armed forces to use more renewable energy to help transition the continent to a low-carbon economy.
Calling the environmental factors increasingly "hard to overlook," the EDA says it would be better for the armed forces in Europe to adopt more sustainable practices. This includes deploying troops to low-footprint an ...
more
India commissions guided missile destroyer
New Delhi (UPI) Sep 30, 2015 -
The Indian Navy's newest Kolkota-class guided missile destroyer, the INS Kochi, was commissioned into service on Wednesday at a shipyard in Mumbai.
The ship, the second of three destroyers built under Project 15A, is 538 feet long, displaces 8,267 tons and can achieve a speed of more than 30 knots.
It is fitted armed with active phased array radar and carries BrahMos surface-to-s ...
more
U.S. Army awards General Dynamics $358 million for tank upgrades
Sterling Heights, Mich. (UPI) Sep 30, 2015 -
The U.S. Army has contracted General Dynamics Land Systems for a $358 million Foreign Military Sales contract to upgrade 150 M1A1 Abrams tanks for the Kingdom of Morocco.
Under the U.S. Army TACOM Lifecycle Management Command contract, the tanks will be completely disassembled and brought to zero-mile condition. Each tank will be upgraded to the M1A1 SA, or situational awareness, config ...
more
