Photos: SpaceX Falcon 9 V1.1 Launch from Vandenberg AFB

Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. - An upgraded Falcon 9 rocket carrying a small science satellite for Canada blasted off from a newly refurbished launch pad in California today for a key test flight. The company is developing the rocket to fly cargo and crew to the International Space Station for NASA, carry commercial and non-U.S. government satellites into orbit at a cut-rate price and break a monopoly by Lockheed Martin and Boeing's United Launch Alliance partnership for the U.S. military's business. Vandenberg AFB CA. Sept 29,2013. Phot by Gene Blevins/LA Daily News

IAF's largest aircraft makes maiden landing at Jaisalmer air base

Defence minister A K Antony formally inducted the biggest 70-tonne C-17 heavy-lift transport aircraft into service on September 2 at the Hindon air base in Delhi.

JAISALMER: C-17 Globemaster III, Indian Air Force's (IAF) biggest transport aircraft, recently made its maiden landing at Jaisalmer air base as part of the flying training schedule.

The aircraft was procured from the US under a deal expected to be worth over Rs 20,000 crore. Defence minister A K Antony formally inducted the biggest 70-tonne C-17 heavy-lift transport aircraft into service on September 2 at the Hindon air base in Delhi.

The advanced air bases near the international border would play important roles in war times and their runways also need to be prepared for the comfortable landing of such aircraft, said an air force officer. Currently, the advanced air bases too aren't big enough for the engines of C-17.

The aircraft will enhance IAF's operational potential with its payload carriage and performance capability and this would augment the strategic reach of the nation during disaster relief or any similar mission, said defence spokesperson Col S D Goswami.

It will be a game changer as it will change the way the IAF operates its transport aircraft. The C-17 fleet will provide tremendous flexibility in terms of operational response options in any future campaign. The aircraft will allow the commanders to induct troops, squadrons, re-locate forces as well as shift forces between theatres rapidly, he added.

The IAF has placed orders with the US for 10 C-17 aircraft under the deal signed in 2011 and three of them have already been delivered.

Israeli Air Force chases drones in North and South

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israeli Air Force jets were scrambled to the north and south of the country in pursuit of unidentified aircraft that entered Israeli airspace.

The Israel Defense Forces would not comment on Saturday’s incident, which involved three IAF jets in pursuit. It is believed that the military suspected unmanned drones had infiltrated Israel’s airspace.

US officials claim Iranian hackers infiltrated Navy systems

Iran has been the target of several cyber attacks over the past few years.

US officials have claimed that Iranian hackers have infiltrated unclassified US Navy computer networks.

According to a report by Wall Street Journal published on September 27, the US officials, whose names were not mentioned in the report, claimed cyber attacks against the Navy computer systems had been carried out by hackers affiliated with the Islamic Republic’s government.
The report added however that, while US military officials have been briefed on the “intrusions,” the “Pentagon wouldn’t confirm the alleged Iranian hacks.” 

Israel Navy to receive 3 new Super Dvora fast patrol boats

A SUPER DVORA Mark III fast patrol boat races on the Mediterranean Ocean. Photo: Courtesy IAI


The Israel Navy will receive three new Super Dvora fast patrol boats, used for daily patrols and counter-terrorism missions along the coastline, from Israel Aerospace Industries, the defense company announced on Sunday.

Commenting on the order for new boats, Joseph Weiss, IAI’s president and CEO, said his company’s “commitment to the Israel Navy is among the deepest of Israeli and international defense industries.”

Swiss military simulates French attack

The Swiss army carried out a military exercise in August based on the premise of an attack by a fractured, financially stricken France, according to a Lausanne-based daily.

Before Eliminating Syria’s Chemical Weapons, One Must Find Syria’s Chemical Weapons

Most of the world (including the U.S.) seems to be relieved now that there is affirmative progress towards eliminating Syria’s ghastly chemical weapon (CW) stockpiles, thereby avoiding (at least for now) a military strike that no one really wanted to undertake.  The Syrian government has announced that it will soon join the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).  Joining the OPCW will immediately trigger an obligation on Syria’s part to issue a written declaration identifying the number and types of CWs it currently possesses.  With history as a guide, we can safely predict that it will be an incomplete and inaccurate declaration.  That is true even if Syria fully intends to come clean regarding its CW stockpile.  This is the point where good intentions can go awry.  The problem here is that no one really trusts Syria.  The consequences of such mistrust are informed by experiences in Iraq and Libya over the last 20 years.

B61-12 Nuclear Bomb Triggers Debate in the Netherlands

In a few years, US Air Force C-17 aircraft will begin airlifting new B61-12 nuclear bombs into six air bases in five NATO countries, including Volkel Air Base in the Netherlands (seen above).

By Hans M. Kristensen

The issue of the improved military capabilities of the new B61-12 nuclear bomb entered the Dutch debate today with a news story on KRO Brandpunt (video here) describing NATO’s approval in 2010 of the military characteristics of the weapon.

Dutch approval to introduce the enhanced bomb later this decade is controversial because the Dutch parliament wants the government to work for a withdrawal of nuclear weapons from the Netherlands and Europe. The Dutch governmentapparently supports a withdrawal.

India's approach to Asia Pacific

Several political, security, economic and socio-cultural factors are at play making Asia Pacific a highly dynamic region. India needs to have a long term strategy to make use of the opportunities arising in the Asia-Pacific while keeping in view the security challenges. The Asia-Pacific is marked by the following key trends: rise of China; the rebalancing strategy of the US; a regional architecture underpinned by centrality of ASEAN; the growing importance of the Indian Ocean region and maritime issues; the growing salience of non-traditional security threats.

This policy brief discusses some of the key trends in the Asia Pacific and sets out a long-term approach for India so as to maximise its security and developmental opportunities. The focus is on Indo-ASEAN relations while other countries are discussed in brief.