Posted on 02/09/2015 2:36:25 PM PST by alexmark1917
Putin is spending big on military modernization despite Russia's economic woes http://t.co/iW2gBntJ8o
— Huffington Post (@HuffingtonPost) February 4, 2015
Russian Air Force And Navy To Receive 200 New Aircraft In 2015, More Than Most World Air Forces Have Russia is proceeding with an ambitious plan to bolster its air force, at a time when its military aircraft are conducting more and more flights probing the air defenses of its neighbors and raising fears of a new Cold War. It will receive more than 200 new airplanes and helicopters this year, a staggeringly high number considering that most of the world’s air forces have fewer warplanes than that in total. Russia will also introduce in service this year the most advanced version of its highly capable Flanker fighter jet. The plans are an integral part of the Kremlin’s intention to moderize its entire armed forces. “Under the framework of Defense Procurement and Acquisition program, the air force and naval aviation will receive 126 new military aircraft and 88 helicopters,” said defense minister Sergei Shoigu during a conference call on Tuesday, as reported by Russian news site Sputnik. Shoygu also announced that the Russian air force will begin using the Su-35s Flanker multirole fighter jet in 2015. The twin-engine, single-seat fighter jet is undergoing tests, and “this year the new aircraft should enter service,” Shoygu said during the conference callThe defense minister made it clear that in 2015 the Russian air force’s modernization is a priority for the government. The minister said “the serviceability status (will incease) up to 67 percent,” meaning that two out of three aircraft will be ready to fly at any one time. That is not an impressive number: for the U.S. Air Force, that rate was 78 percent in 2013. The aircraft, which will cost $85 million to buy at export price — far cheaper than Western counterparts — is considered to be a 4++ generation fighter, just short of the fifth-generation fighters, of which the United States’ F-22 Raptor is the only operational example. However, Lockheed Martin’s F-35 is in the final stages of becoming operational; the U.S. Marine Corps version should launch in December 2015. Russia’s Sukhoi T-50 and China’s Chengdu J-20 and Shenyang J-31, also fifth-generation fighters — defined by their use of stealth, or radar-evading features — are all still in testing. The modernization of the armed forces comes at a pivotal time for the Russian military, which is allegedly involved in assiting pro-Russian rebels in the East Ukraine war, claims NATO. Russia has denied the claim. Shoigu also said last month that Russia will increase its military capabilities in Crimea, Kaliningrad and the Arctic region. http://www.ibtimes.com/russian-air-force-navy-receive-200-new-aircraft-2015-more-most-world-air-forces-have-1805100 U.S. delivers $25m worth of military aid to Lebanon, says fighting 'same enemy' U.S. envoy to Beirut says weapons would be used to 'defeat the terrorist and extremist threat from Syria.' REUTERS - The United States delivered more than $25 million worth of military aid including heavy artillery to the Lebanese army on Sunday to help it fight jihadist groups which have repeatedly battled with security forces near the Syrian border. The U.S. ambassador to Beirut, David Hale, said in a statement the weapons would be used to "defeat the terrorist and extremist threat from Syria". "We are fighting the same enemy, so our support for you has been swift and continuous," Hale said at an event marking the delivery of the weapons in Beirut. The Lebanese army has fought regular battles with armed groups including militants linked to Islamic State and the al Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front in areas near the Syrian border, most recently late last month when six soldiers were killed. Hale said Lebanon was the fifth biggest recipient of U.S. military aid. It received more than $100 million last year. Lebanese officials have warned of plans by radical Islamist groups fighting in the Syria war to seize territory in Lebanon. While the U.S.-backed Lebanese army has been battling hard-line Islamists on the Lebanese side of the frontier, the Iranian-backed Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah has been battling the same groups on the Syrian side of the border -- part of its role fighting alongside Damascus in the Syrian war. The Lebanese army, rebuilt after the country's 1975-90 civil war, is one of the strongest institutions in the country, but it has been hamstrung by outdated weapons. http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/1.641458 US military moving more military assets into Iraq to fight ISIS The U.S. military is moving more military assets into Iraq to fight the Islamic State terror group and repositioning search-and-rescue assets to help in the event of downed planes, U.S. officials told Fox News Wednesday.
The moves come after reported criticism from the United Arab Emirates over the United States’ handling of the downing of a Jordanian plane in Iraq by ISIS in December. A video this week showed the pilot, Lt. Muath Al-Kaseasbeh, being burned to death by his ISIS captors.
The United Arab Emirates stopped flying airstrikes over Iraq shortly after the pilot was shot down by ISIS, with reports suggesting the UAE made the decision because the U.S. did not have enough search-and-rescue assets positioned close enough, and the UAE was concerned about the ability to assist with downed planes.
However, long-time Middle East watchers say the reason might have more to do with domestic public opinion in the UAE.
I'm not going to risk my eyesight on that wall-of-text.
/johnny
Come on Johnny it couldn’t be worse than when you look into a mirror. ;-)
Paragraphs are cheap.
You should get some.
And.. does anything else interest you other than stuff you “wrote” yourself?
That is ugly and lacks paragraphs.
You would think a blog could/would do better.
/johnny
PARAGRAPHS!!!!
....GOD!!!
(I didn’t read a word of it)
I’m wondering if alexmark1917 isn’t just blog pimping.
Between his born on date and I don’t think he has ever replied to any of his own posts, he seems like he’s pimping his blog.
Personally, I don’t mind, but would like to see him stay in the conversation.
Shows only disrespect for possible readers, which almost guarantees there won’t be many.
Why do you flame people for posting their blog material in the “Bloggers and Personal” area on FR? Is that not what it’s for, or am I missing something?
As a matter of fact, that’s the only time I ever see you post anything. Is that the ONLY reason why you’re here? lol
I really don’t care, because I don’t have a blog or anything. Just curious....
Imagine the sparkling conversations at that dinner table.
Humblegunner stays focused.
Freepmail me your address and I will ship you a complimentary bag of paragraph breaks.
Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays Humblegunner from the swift completion of his appointed rounds. (smacking down blogpimps)
I don't know about "flaming", but we've got some folks here that only
post their own material as an effort to gain hits and exposure.
I point such deception out sometimes.
As a matter of fact, that’s the only time I ever see you post anything.
What would you prefer to see me post?
Is that the ONLY reason why you’re here? lol
You seem to be pointing out your objection to my posts.
Is that the only reason you're here?
Actually it is! You caught me....
That's why I signed up here going on 11 years ago. All of my other nearly 25,000 posts have just been a distraction from my true objective, which was to harass YOU! ;^p
(I really don't give a damn.... just giving you a hard time. lol)
Have a good one! :)
My eyes! My eyes!
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