News Story: Iran to stage large-scale air defense drills

TEHRAN, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Iran will launch a large-scale air defense exercise in the country's southern regions on Monday, reported Tasnim news agency on Sunday.

Iran's Air Defense Commander Brig. Gen. Farzad Esmaili said that the drill, code-named "Defenders of Velayat Skies 7," will cover the southern provinces of Hormozgan and Bushehr along with the southwestern province of Khuzestan.

Read the full story at Xinhua

Think Tank: Sea, air, land and space updates (13-Sep-2016)

BAE Systems CV90 (Recon variant)

Christopher Cowan, Thulasi Wigneswaran, Elisabeth Buchan and Alexander Vipond

Sea State

The US Navy’s newest destroyer, the USS Zumwalt, began the long voyage to its home port of San Diego last week. Its first stop was Newport, Rhode Island, where visitors were given a tour of the futuristic destroyer’s bridge, mission centre and armament. The destroyer will visit several other ports along the way—including a stop in Baltimore on 15 October—where it’ll be formally commissioned into the USN during Fleet Week. USS Zumwalt is the USN’s largest destroyer to date and has been plagued by cost and technical issues. The vessel, which boasts a stealthy design that makes it look like a cross between the USS Monitor and the Starship Enterprise (yes, that one), is helmed by Captain James Kirk. How fitting.

In other news from across the Pacific, NATO warships have gathered in Halifax, Canada this week for a 13-day anti-submarine warfare exercise dubbed Cutlass Fury. Canada’s largest anti-submarine warfare exercise in 20 years also includes vessels from the US, France, Germany, Spain and the UK. It comes at a time when concern about Russia’s resurgent submarine operations has been ratcheted up.

USA: CVW-5, Japanese squadron continue milestone exercise

By Lt. Brian Dallaire, VFA-195 Public Affairs

An E-2C Hawkeye from VAW-115, an F/A-18E Super Hornet from VFA-195, and an F-4EJ Phantom II fighter from the JASDF's 302nd Tactical Fighter Squadron fly in formation as part of the second Benkyoukai training exercise. (U.S. Navy/Cmdr. Guy Snodgrass) >>

ATSUGI, Japan - The second annual Benkyoukai training event between the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 was conducted Aug. 1-4.

The weeklong event, led by the Dambusters of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 195, incorporated dissimilar air combat training (DACT) with the Japanese 302nd Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS).

“We are incredibly pleased with the results from this most recent round of training and are already looking forward to the next Benkyoukai event,” said Capt. John Enfield, commanding officer of CVW-5, “The next series of events will significantly expand the number of participants as USN and JASDF forces continue to build upon a strong start.”

The first Benkyoukai, a Japanese word that translates to mean partnership and collaborative learning, took place in April and incorporated F-15J Eagles from the 305th TFS, F-4EJ Phantom II fighters from the 302nd TFS, and F/A-18E Super Hornets from VFA-195.

USA: VFA-195 Trains with Japan Air Self-Defense Force

By Lt. Amy Lowe, Strike Fighter Squadron 195 Public Affairs

An F/A-18E Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 195 operates with Japan Air Self-Defense Force Phantom II's during a weeklong Benkyoukai exercise. (U.S. Navy/Cmdr. Ryan Jackson) >>

ATSUGI, Japan - The "Dambusters" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 195 concluded their weeklong interoperability training with members of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) 302nd and 305th Tactical Fighter Squadrons (TFS) Benkyoukai Partnership Week on April 15.

The week-long exercise with the JASDF is designed to increase operational effectiveness between the United States Navy and JASDF.

Benkyoukai Partnership Week consisted of a JASDF visit to VFA-195's hangar at Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi, three days of intensive Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT), and concluded with the Dambuster’s visiting the 302nd and 305th hangars at their home base in Hyakuri Air Base, located on Japan's east coast.

Editorial: FA-50 Enters Service

In October the South Korean Air Force accepted into service the first squadron of 20 locally made FA-50 fighter-bombers. These were ordered in 2012, cost $30 million each and are equipped with South Korean, American, and Israeli electronics. The first FA-50 was delivered in 2013 and the rest arrived by mid-2014. The single engine, single seat aircraft is intended to eventually replace South Korea's aging fleet of F-5 fighters. But the first FA-50 squadron will have to show what they can do in active service.

The FA-50 is the combat version of the South Korean designed and manufactured T-50 jet trainer. This aircraft began development after 2000 and all this cost of over two billion dollars. The first test flight of the T-50 took place in 2002. The 13 ton aircraft is actually a light fighter and can fly at supersonic speeds. With some added equipment (radars and fire control) the T-50 becomes the FA-50, a combat aircraft. This version carries a 20mm auto-cannon and up to 4.5 tons of smart bombs and missiles. The T-50 can stay in the air about four hours per sortie and has a service life of 8,000 hours in the air.

Read the full story at Strategy Page