Click to see full-size image. (U.S. Navy)
The United States unveiled plans to build a new class of massive, heavily-armed battleships named after President Donald Trump. China is testing a containerized missile system designed to arm cargo ships. Libya reached a multi-billion dollar deal with Pakistan to acquire advanced fighter jets. The United Kingdom’s Challenger 3 main battle tank program faces another setback.
Libyan JF-17 Fighter Jets Deal
On December 22, Reuters reported, citing four Pakistani officials, that Pakistan has reached a deal worth over $4 billion to sell military equipment to the Libyan National Army (LNA), which is led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.
The officials told the news agency that the deal was finalized after a meeting last week between Pakistan military chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Saddam Khalifa Haftar, deputy commander-in-chief of the LNA, in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi.
A copy of the deal before it was finalized that was seen by Reuters listed the purchase of 16 JF-17 fighter jets, and 12 Super Mushak trainer aircraft, used for basic pilot training.
It’s worth noting that Libya has been subject to a United Nations arms embargo since 2011. Approval from the U.N. is needed for transfers of weapons and related material to any side in the country.
The report didn’t specify which version of the JF-17 the LNA will be getting. The latest version, the JF-17C Block 3, is widely considered among the most cost-effective fighter jets on the market today, with the ability to deliver a wide variety of weapons, including the Chinese-made PL-15 beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile.
The fighter jet and missile proved their worth during a brief confrontation between Pakistan and India earlier this year. The Indian Air Force lost multiple fighter jets, including at least one French-made Rafale.
The LNA’s air force already dominates the Libyan airspace with Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets and Su-24 fighter bombers, in addition to multiple types of Chinese combat drones. The addition of the JF-17 could further solidify its superiority in the face of the air force under the command of the Tripoli-based UN-recognized Government of National Unity.
Trump-Class Battleship
On December 23, Trump announced a very ambitious plan for the U.S. Navy to build a new class of massive “battleships” as part of a larger vision to create a “Golden Fleet.”
“They’ll be the fastest, the biggest, and by far 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built,” Trump claimed during the announcement.
According to Trump, the battleships, the first of which will be named the USS Defiant, will be armed with hypersonic missiles, nuclear cruise missiles, rail guns, and high-powered lasers. The class, named after Trump himself, will have a displacement of 30,000 to 40,000 displacement.
He said that two battleships would initially be constructed, with a total of ten then planned, and eventual plans for “between 20 and 25”.
Click to see full-size image. (U.S. Navy)
The plan was met with much skepticism. In 2008, the U.S. Navy canceled the Zumwalt-class destroyer program after building only three and the warships were at least half the size of the proposed Trump-class. More recently this year, the navy cancelled the Constellation-class frigate program after building only two.
In addition, the Navy has struggled to field some of the technologies Trump says will be aboard the new battleships.
UK Delays Challenger 3 Production
Also on December 23, the UK Ministry of Defense confirmed that manufacturing of the Challenger 3 main battle tank will not begin on a fixed timetable and will proceed only after performance trials are successfully completed.
The Challenger 3 program is the British Army’s initiative to modernize its main battle tank fleet by upgrading 148 existing Challenger 2 tanks to a fourth-generation standard.
UK Defense Journal reported that, in written answers to Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, defense minister Luke Pollard said the program is “currently undergoing demonstration phase trials to prove the performance of the tanks.”
Pollard added that manufacturing will start once performance is validated, “rather than being tied to a specific deadline.”
This indicates that the program could face major delays. This is not surprising considering that the UK’s Ajax armored fighting vehicle program faced many problems. Trails of the vehicle were even halted earlier this year over recurring Core Issues. This goes to show that the capabilities of the British military-industrial complex are deteriorating in some areas.
India Complete Trails Of Air Defense System
On December 24, the Indian Ministry of Defense announced on Wednesday that the Defense Research and Development Organization has successfully completed user evaluation trials of the Akash-Next Generation air defense system.
In a statement, the ministry said that the Akash-NG missile system demonstrated high accuracy against a range of aerial threats during the trials. These included high-speed targets, low-altitude threats, and long-range targets operating at high altitude.
The Akash-NG missile is equipped with a locally-made active radar seeker and has a range of up to 80 kilometers with an engagement altitude of up to 18 kilometers.
India is not developing the new missile to enhance its air defense capabilities only, but also for exports. The system was pitched last year to Brazil, but no deal was reached.
China’s Mysterious Containerized Missile System
On December 25, photos of a Chinese civilian cargo vessel carrying containerized missile systems, completed with radars, air defenses and counter-measures, appeared online.
The ships appeared to be equipped with 48 vertical launch cells in three rows, with each container housing four cells and rows potentially four containers wide.
Click to see full-size image. (Chinese internet)
Near the bow, the ship mounts a Type 1130 close-in weapon system for point defense, along with at least three decoy launchers – likely a total of six, accounting for paired installations facing opposite directions.
Sensors are also integrated into shipping containers, positioned toward the bridge and stern. Prominently visible is a Type-344 fire control radar, typically used on destroyers to direct main guns against surface targets.
Slightly offset to port and elevated one container higher than the Type-344 is an unidentified flat-faced array, likely an active electronically scanned array radar, potentially providing enhanced air search or even a missile guidance function.
Click to see full-size image. (Chinese internet)
These containerized systems appear to be a part of a Chinese project meant to quickly convert civilian cargo ships into warships, with the ability to launch dozens of missiles, possibly including land-attack and anti-ships missiles, or anti-aircraft missiles. Such a system could allow Beijing to quickly and covertly boost its naval capabilities in case of a war with Taiwan.
Some experts, however, speculated the ships and the systems may be just very realistic props for a high budget Chinese film.
Belarus Gets Su-30 Fighter Jets
On December 26, the Belarusian Ministry of Defense announced that it has received another batch of Su-30SM2 fighter jets from Russia.
“The arrival of new aircraft has already become a good tradition: the fleet is being steadily renewed,” Deputy Commander of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defense Forces, Chief of Aviation, Colonel Alexander Belyaev, said in the statement.
“These aircraft will soon undergo technical inspection at the air base and, in two weeks at most, will enter on duty to defend our beloved homeland in the airspace,” the commander continued.
“This is not the last batch: new equipment will continue to arrive,” he added, noting that the Su-30SM2 as “a fighter aircraft that meets all the requirements for aircraft of this class.”
The Su-30SM comes equipped with the Irbis-E passive electronically scanned array radar, which is used in the Su-35, and has the ability to carry the R-37M long-range air-to-air missile. During the special military operation in Ukraine, the missile proved to be lethal.
Click to see full-size image. (Belarusian Ministry of Defense)
Click to see full-size image. (Belarusian Ministry of Defense)
Currently, at least 14 Su-30, including six SM2s, are in service with the Belarusian Air Force. The latest delivery will further strengthen the country’s aerial capabilities.
Iraq To Get More French Helicopters
On December 27, the Iraqi Ministry of Defense announced that the military will get six H225M Caracal helicopters from France before the end of the year.
In a statement, Tahseen al-Khafaji, director of the Ministry’s Media Office, said that the military is currently focused “on air defense and critical air force weapons,” noting that the sector has recently acquired advanced French radar systems capable of detecting and responding to a wide range of threats.
“The ministry is also working to equip aircraft with high-capability weapons to support joint air operations,” al-Khafaji added, describing these steps as part of the Defense Ministry’s effort to acquire advanced weaponry within its means.
Iraq has already received two of 12 Caracal helicopters it ordered last year. Each helicopter cost from $30–70 million depending on configuration, which is considered relatively high.
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once america china russia india and japan sign up for the creation of their united economic development as a foil for the g 7 oligopoly then a new world order unexpected from the romam forums swiss union will emerge .
life should be about more things then just oligarchs getting rich.
nothing wrong with free enterprise and market economics, but the government itself shouldn’t be entirely geared to servicing and promoting the interests of a small oligarchy.
active combat is reported on several fronts. south of vilcha, russian units are advancing; west of liman, they captured five strong points…………………… https://ln.run/yphg1