News Report: China and Pakistan Demonstrate Alliance, Flex Muscles During Joint Exercise

For the first time ever, a Pakistani fighter pilot has flown a Chinese warplane during joint combat exercises between the two Asian nations. The exercises, which lasted through most of September, took place in Xinjiang, the westernmost province of China that borders Pakistan.

The Shaheen-VI exercises, the latest in a series of annual joint drills between the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) that started in 2011, happened this year between September 5 and 25. They included many firsts, according to Chinese military sources, such as live-fire target practice, night warfare, and close support operations.

But the biggest news from the exercise came when Air Vice Marshal Haseeb Paracha, head of PAF's Southern Air Command, climbed into a Chinese J-11B fighter and flew a sortie as part of the exercises. This was the first time in history that a PAF pilot flew a PLAAF plane, a symbolic gesture of the tight bonds between Beijing and Islamabad.

"The air vice marshal was accompanied by Xin Xin, a vice-chief of staff of the PLA Air Force. This marks the first time that a Pakistani top military official has flown in China's new fighter jet," reported the Chinese military in a statement. "The Chinese warplane performed acrobatic maneuvers during the flight, drawing praise from Haseeb."

News Story: China’s J-20 stealth fighter jet is in service

By: Mike Yeo

MELBOURNE, Australia — China has officially commissioned the Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter into service, the country’s defense ministry has announced.

Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the country’s Ministry of National Defense, also said in a media conference on Thursday that flight tests are being conducted as scheduled. The type is currently in low rate production for China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force, or PLAAF, with at least six examples known to be undergoing operational testing since late 2016 with the service’s 176th Air Brigade at Dingxin Airbase in China’s Gansu Province.

The J-20 is classified by the PLAAF as a fourth-generation — broadly equivalent to fifth-generation in the West — medium- and long-range fighter jet with stealthy characteristics, although these are mainly confined to the frontal aspect of the design.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: China's J-20 fighter jet put into service - spokesman

BEIJING, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- China's latest J-20 stealth fighter has been officially commissioned into military service, according to Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense on Thursday.

The flight tests are being conducted as scheduled, Wu said at a press conference.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Air dominance crucial in countering N. Korean threats - U.S. commander

SEOUL, Sept. 26 (Yonhap) -- A top U.S. military commander in South Korea on Tuesday stressed the significance of enhancing the integrated air power of the allies against North Korea armed with nuclear weapons.

Lt. Gen. Thomas Bergeson, the 7th Air Force commander, said the emergency of the North's nuclear threat has made the value of the "seamless control of airspace" even more important.

He pointed out air power's precise targeting, flexibility, speed and range were proven in past conflicts, including the Gulf War.

Read the full story at YonhapNews

News Story: Afghan air force strikes Taliban hideout, killing 8

Afghan Air Force MD-530 Light Attack Helicopters

KABUL, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least eight Taliban militants were killed after Afghan air force struck a militants' hideout in the country's eastern province of Nangarhar on Monday, the Afghan Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

The targeted hideout, lying in Nazyan district, southeast of provincial capital Jalalabad city, was destroyed following the raid, the ministry said on Twitter.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: US Vows Solid Support to Afghan Air Force

Afghan Air Force A-29 Super Tucano Ground Attack Aircraft

By Sayed Sharif Amiri

Lt. Gen. Jeffrey L. Harrigian, the Commander of US Air Forces Central Command, on Monday said the Afghan Air Force (AAF) will play an increasingly important role in future missions. 

Recently the Pentagon signed a contract worth $1 billion USD to purchase 150 C-130 aircraft for the Afghan army, a move which was warmly welcomed by the Afghan ministry of defense. 

The AAF is considered one of the key pillars of the Afghan National Army (ANA) and it is expected that within the next four years, there will be a significant change in the structure of the air force. 

Although the US has provided $4 billion USD in assistance to the Afghan air force, the AAF still needs more time and help to stand on its own. 

“We increased our number of F-16s in Bagram from 12 to 18. So that's a first step as we do our initial analysis, but we're gonna take a longer term look at this. Importantly though, I think the other piece I'd highlight to you, is that the Afghan Air Force is gonna play a particularly important role here, and that air force is gonna triple its size over the next several years, and I'd highlight that what the Afghans have done with their A-29 and their ability to quickly get themselves into the fight and support their teams on the ground has also been an important part that we're gonna leverage going forward as part of this plan,” said Harrigian. 

Read the full story at TOLOnews

News Story: Troops clash with NPAs in Batangas

New People’s Army (NPA)

By Ed Amoroso

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — Hundreds of residents left their houses on Sunday to avoid being caught in the crossfire after government troops clashed with communist guerrillas in Barangay Talumpok Silangan in Batangas City.

The encounter lasted for about 40 minutes, resulting in the killing of one suspected member of the New People’s Army (NPA) while several rebels were wounded, police officials said.

Senior Supt. Randy Peralta, Batangas police director, said government forces reportedly overran yesterday morning a rebel camp on Mt. Banoy in Batangas City.

The evacuees included 365 residents of Sitio Tibig in Barangay Talahib Pandayan near Mt. Banoy and more than 500 residents from Barangay Masagitsit and Banalo of Lobo town. Around 70 others fled to villages in Batangas City.

“The evacuees still remained at the evacuation centers despite the firefight having ended yesterday morning after government troops invaded the encampment of the rebels while clearing operations are ongoing,” Peralta told The STAR.

Classes in 12 public schools in Batangas City were suspended yesterday due to clashes between troopers and NPA rebels.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Report: Pakistan, Russia Begin 'Friendship 2017' Joint Anti-terror Drill

Ayaz Gul

ISLAMABAD — Pakistani and Russian military commandos have launched joint counterterrorism drills in the mountains and forests of Russia's North Caucasus republic of Karachaevo-Cherkessia.

The two-week-long exercise dubbed as "Friendship 2017" involves more than 200 mostly special forces from both countries who will conduct joint "hostage rescue" and "cordon-and-search" operations, according to the Pakistani military.

"The joint exercise will enhance and further strengthen military ties between the countries and share Pakistan army's experience in war against terrorism," it added.

Meanwhile, a nearly three-week-long joint air force exercises China is hosting with Pakistan are due to conclude this week. A spokesman for the Chinese air force described them as "routine" exercises.

Pakistan's deepening political, economic and defense ties with traditional ally China and its emerging new alliance with Russia come amid Islamabad's increasingly uneasy and strained relations with the United States.

News Story: White House says U.S. has not declared war on DPRK

NEW YORK, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The United States has not declared war on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the White House said on Monday, in response to remarks of the DPRK's top diplomat.

"Last weekend, Trump claimed that our leadership wouldn't be around much longer. He declared a war on our country," Ri Yong-ho, the DPRK foreign minister, told reporters earlier in New York.

"The whole world should clearly remember it was the U.S. who first declared war on our country," Ri said, referring to Trump's tweet message on Saturday.

In response, the White House denied that the United States had declared war on Pyongyang.

"We have not declared war on North Korea and frankly the suggestion of that is absurd," White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders told a regular briefing in Washington.

"Our goal is still the same. We continue to seek the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," she said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Military Ops Total 20,000 In First Six Months Of This Year

By Gulabudin Ghubar

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) on Sunday said over 20,000 land and air operations were launched by the Afghan National Army (ANA) and Afghan Air Force (AAF) in the first six months of this year. 

Defense ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said 440 key insurgent strongholds were destroyed in these operations in various parts of the country and hundreds of insurgents were killed or wounded. 

According to Waziri, among those killed were 1,022 Daesh fighters who were mostly killed in Nangarhar province.

Waziri said the operations were as follows:

• 3,122 pre-planned land operations
• 3,090 operations by Special Forces
• 271 night operations by Special Forces
• 2,460 air strikes by Afghan Air Force

Waziri said the number of flights made by the Afghan Air Force totaled 17,356 of which 2,460 were airstrikes.

Read the full story at TOLOnews

News Story: Key militant leaders among 10 dead in airstrikes in northern Afghan province

Afghan Air Force A-29 Super Tucano Ground Attack Aircraft

MAIMANA, Afghanistan, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Afghan security forces launched airstrikes leaving at least 10 militants dead and 25 others wounded in northern province of Faryab, an official said Sunday.

The strikes took place Saturday evening in the restive Khawja Sabz Posh and Daulat Abad districts of the province, where a military operation codenamed "Naweed 3 Operation" is ongoing, said Nasratullah Jamshidi, spokesman of army 209 Shaheen Corps based in the area.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: US B-1B bombers fly off N. Korea's eastern coast in show of force

B-1B Lancer (Image: Wiki Commons)

SEOUL, Sept 24 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers flew in international airspace off North Korea's eastern coast in the latest show of force against the isolated country, officials said, amid an escalating war of words between Pyongyang and Washington.

The strategic bombers deployed from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam flew with F-15C air superiority fighters from Kadena Air Base on Okinawa on a mission meant to send a clear message that the United States has many military options to defeat any threat from North Korea.

"This is the farthest north of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) any U.S. fighter or bomber aircraft has flown off North Korea's coast in the 21st century, underscoring the seriousness with which we take (North Korea's) reckless behavior," Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said in a statement.

"We are prepared to use the full range of military capabilities to defend the U.S. homeland and our allies."

The U.S. has warned that all options, including a military strike, are on the table over North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

Read the full story at YonhapNews

India: Visit of Chief of the Air Staff to Australia

Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, Chief of the Air Staff is on an official visit to Australia from 19-22 Sep 17. The visit is intended to further strengthen the existing defence cooperation between the Air Forces of the two countries. 

During his stay, he is scheduled to hold talks with top brass of the Royal Australian Air Force on security challenges being faced by the two forces in the current geopolitical scenario and explore ways to deepen defence cooperation. The main focus of the visit is on improving bilateral relations, promoting defence ties and exploring further area of defence cooperation between the two Air Forces. 

During the visit, the CAS would visit the Headquarters of Royal Australian Air Force and operational air bases. 

Indian Press Information Bureau

News Report: India to Construct 108 Missile-Proof Hangars Along China Border

A proposal awaiting government approval since 2015 was strongly backed by the prime minister’s office in the aftermath of the recent border tensions with China.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — The Indian government has cleared a proposal for constructing next-generation hardened shelters for aircraft of the Indian Air Force deployed at the eastern and northeastern airfields that border China. The hangars are designed by the state-owned Defense Research and Development Organization.

The Indian Defense Ministry will initially release $150 million of the total estimated cost of $750 million for the proposed shelters, which can withstand missiles and bombs of up to 2,000 pounds.

The proposed shelters would dot forward areas including Leh, Ladakh and the northeastern states and would also cover the newly built advanced landing grounds — Tuting, Mechuka, Along, Passighat, Vijaynagar, and Ziro — along with the India-China border.

News Story: ASDF reveals air-to-air missiles damaged at Komatsu base

Air Self-Defense Force F-15DJ (Image: Wiki Commons)

KOMATSU, Ishikawa -- An unspecified number of air-to-air missiles were found damaged at the Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) base here in March this year, with repairs expected to shoot up to 29.5 million yen, it was revealed on Sept. 21.

"We did not publicly report the incident because it was judged that the damage had not put the missiles in danger of exploding, and therefore it had no impact outside the base," a Komatsu Air Base spokesperson stated.

Read the full story at The Mainichi

News Story: China says air force drills with Pakistan "routine"

URUMQI, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese air force on Thursday dismissed concerns over its ongoing training exercises with the Pakistani air force, saying they were routine drills.

"There's no need for some countries to overact and make a great fuss about it. They need to learn to get used to such drills," said Shen Jinke, spokesperson for the People's Liberation Army Air Force.

It is international practice to hold military exercises, and simulated combat training with foreign armies are necessary for troops of every country to improve their capabilities to safeguard state security and national interests, he said.

The ongoing joint drills named "Shaheen VI" were launched in China on Sept. 7 and will run until Sept. 27.

Read the full story at Xinhua

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PacificSentinel: Maybe China should remember that when their bitching at the US and South Korea about their Military Exercises.

News Story: Philippine navy, air force conduct joint maritime drill to improve interoperability

MANILA, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine Navy and Air Force have began a pilot maritime exercise to improve interoperability in monitoring internal security and territorial defense in western Mindanao, a military statement said on Thursday.

Rear Admiral Rene Medina, commander of the military's Naval Forces Western Mindanao, said the drill, dubbed Exercise Ayudahan 2017 which opened last Monday, is aimed at developing the soldiers' capability to conduct maritime patrols, surveillance and search and rescue operations in the Western Mindanao region.

"The interoperability exercise aims to develop interoperability and operational capabilities of the units in Western Mindanao area of operations and enhance the overall coordination and responsiveness in the conduct of joint maritime operations in support to internal security operations and territorial defense operations," Medina said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: US Increases Number of F-16s To 18 In Afghanistan

The United States Air Force has increased the number of F-16 multi task Fighting Falcons to 18 from 12, two generals, quoted by Military.com said Tuesday at the Air Force Association's Air, Space and Cyber Conference.

In addition air refueling tankers are in Afghanistan for the first time in about five years, they said.

The Air Force now has 18 multi-role F-16 fighters in country, Lt. Gen. Jeffrey L. Harrigian, commander of US Air Forces Central Command, told reporters at the conference.

"We just plussed up our number of fighters. We had 12 F-16s; we now have 18," said Harrigian, who oversees missions at the Combined Air Operations Center at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.

According to Military.com, Harrigian said: "Our close-air support role continues and, as you look at the strategy coming forward, we're actually right now working with [Commander of US forces in Afghanistan] Gen. John Nicholson's staff on how to best synchronize his advice-and-assist strategy going forward to optimize the placement of the air assets."

Read the full story at TOLOnews

News Story: 4 militants killed in eastern Afghan airstrikes

Afghan Air Force A-29 Super Tucano Ground Attack Aircraft

JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- At least four Taliban militants were killed and another was wounded when Afghan air force struck their positions in eastern province of Nangarhar, authorities said Tuesday.

Afghan air force bombed militants' hideouts in Bati Kot and Achin districts on Monday, leaving four Taliban insurgents dead and one other wounded, the army Corps 201 Selab said in a statement.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: First Black Hawks Arrive In Kandahar For AAF

BlackHawk Helicopters (File Photo)

By Rajab Taieb

The first UH-60s Black Hawks for the Afghan Air Force (AAF) arrived in Kandahar airport on Monday, Resolute Support confirmed in a tweet Monday evening. 

Resolute Support said the new Black Hawks will increase the Afghan Air Force capability and sustainability.

“The first Afghan Air Force UH-60s arrived today in Kandahar,” read the tweet.

On Saturday the Afghan defense ministry said they expected to receive six Black Hawks this week.

Read the full story at TOLOnews