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[rtomedic]

Armenia's Pashinian Calls For Karabakh Leaders' Involvement In Peace Talks
A day after being chosen Armenia's new prime minister, Nikol Pashinian has called for the de facto authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh, a region in Azerbaijan under the control of ethnic Armenian forces, to become a party in the internationally mediated talks to resolve the long-standing conflict between Yerevan and Baku.

Pashinian, who was elected premier by the Armenian parliament on May 8 after leading street protests for weeks, made the call on May 9 in Nagorno-Karabakh's capital, Stepanakert.

The region, populated mainly by ethnic Armenians, declared independence from Azerbaijan during a 1988-94 conflict that claimed an estimated 30,000 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of people. ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/mili...9-rferl04.htm?_m=3n.002a.2287.ph0ao0037n.23td

 

[BravoZulu]

Armenian Army to receive Tor-M2 short-range air defence system

According to REGNUM citing the TV program of the Ministry of Defenсe “Zinuzh”, Armenian Army is expected to receive Tor-M2 short-range air defence system within a few months.

It is known that after the realization of deliveries on the first Russian preferential military loan for $ 200 million Yerevan was offered a second loan – $ 100 million.

According to Deputy Defenсe Minister Artak Zakaryan (to date, already an ex-deputy minister), as of December 2017, three contracts were signed, the total amount of which exceeded $ 100 million (part of the purchases were financed by the Armenian budget). According to the deputy minister, these supplies will have to strengthen the air defenсe system.

Now it is quite clear that one of the three contracts implies the delivery of short-range missiles Tor-M2, noted military expert Leonid Nersisyan.

Tor-M2 is a Russia-made fully-automated surface-to-air missile (SAM) system manufactured by Almaz-Antey’s Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant Kupol, to deliver effective air defence in jamming environments.

The Tor-M2 (NATO reporting name SA-15 Gauntlet) was presented for the first time to the public during the Moscow Air Show, MAKS in 2007 and was placed on active duty with the Russian armed forces in March 2017.

The Tor-M2 is a low- to medium-altitude, short-range surface-to-air missile system designed for intercepting aircraft, cruise missiles, precision-guided munitions, unmanned aerial vehicles and ballistic targets.

http://defence-blog.com/army/armenian-army-receive-tor-m2-short-range-air-defence-system.html

 

[rtomedic]

Georgia Severs Relations With Syria For Recognizing Abkhazia, South Ossetia
Georgia says it will sever diplomatic relations with Syria over its decision to recognize the breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent countries.

Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze said in a tweet on May 29 that "recognition of [the] independence of [the] historic regions of Georgia, Abkhazia and Tskhinvali [South Ossetia], by [the] Russian-manipulated [Bashar al-]Assad regime in Syria is another blatant violation of [international] law by Assad and should be condemned by the [international] community."

The Georgian Foreign Ministry said in a statement the same day that it had begun procedures to cut relations with Damascus.

The Georgian response came shortly after a separatist official in Abkhazia and an entity in South Ossetia announced Syria's recognition of independence.

A document on the website of de facto Abkhaz President Raul Khajimba said Abkhazia and Syria "agreed on the mutual recognition and establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries through embassies, which reflects their common [desire] to develop relations in all areas."

The same day, a statement on the website of the self-declared South Ossetian Foreign Ministry said the northern Georgian region and Syria had "established diplomatic relations." ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/mili...9-rferl01.htm?_m=3n.002a.2304.ph0ao0037n.24dt

 

[BravoZulu]

Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is to boost its fleet of Sukhoi Su-30SM fighters, with the nation's air force to field a further batch of the Irkut-built type.

Announced during the KADEX exhibition in Astana on 24 May, the new deal is for an undisclosed number of aircraft. "The contract will be completed in 2020," says Irkut.

Flight Fleets Analyzer shows that the Kazakhstan air force has eight Su-30SMs in active use, with these aged at up to three years. A further 17 examples were already on order prior to the new deal being announced. Astana had previously expressed interest in acquiring up to another 11 of the two-seat type, Fleets Analyzer shows.

The Kazakhstan air force also operates 12 single-seat Su-27s.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/kazakhstan-to-boost-su-30sm-fleet-448985/

 

[BravoZulu]

Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan has ordered four more Mil Mi-35M (‘Hind-E’) combat helicopters from Russia, according to a 29 May statement by the TASS news agency.

“A new contract for four Mi-35 helicopters has been signed this year,” Vladimir Drozhzhov, the deputy head of Russia’s Federal Service for Military and Technical Co-operation, was quoted by the media outlet as saying, without giving any details about the value of the contract or the expected delivery date of the platforms.

As all Mi-24s are understood to have been withdrawn from service, the Kazakhstan Air Defence Forces are quickly moving to address the gap in rotary-wing combat capability by obtaining Mil Mi-35M platforms. According to Jane's World Air Forces , the first four Mi-35s were delivered to Kazakhstan in late 2016, with another four scheduled for arrival by the end of 2018 as part of a contract signed with Russian Helicopters in 2017.

The recent announcement comes after Kazakhstan ordered another batch of Sukhoi Su-30SM multirole fighters from Russia during the KADEX 2018 defence exhibition in Astana, with the TASS news agency quoting Yuri Slyusar, the president of Irkut Corporation’s parent company, United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), as saying that the deal is for the delivery of eight Su-30SM platforms.

According to TASS, the Central Asian country also ordered a battalion of Buk-M2E self-propelled surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems during the exhibition.

http://www.janes.com/article/80378/kazakhstan-orders-four-more-mi-35-helicopters-from-russia

 

[rtomedic]

Slovakia Delays Decision On Replacing Russian MiG-29 Jets
Slovakia says it is postponing a decision on whether to buy U.S.-made F-16s or Swedish Gripen fighters to replace its aging fleet of Russian-made MiG-29s.

Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini on June 20 said he wanted to delay an expected decision to "see comparable offers to eliminate any doubts. This is a serious decision worth billions of euros."
The Defense Ministry had been expected to submit an analysis of the two options by June 29 for government approval.

NATO member Slovakia has a maintenance contract with Russia for its 12 MiG-29s until at least mid-2019, in a deal worth $25 million to $80 million a year.

Russian technicians are based at a Slovak military air base as part of the deal. They would remain in place even after a deal is signed for the new jets until delivery takes place. ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/mili...0-rferl02.htm?_m=3n.002a.2321.ph0ao0037n.24y4

 

[Gordus]

Upcoming NATO-Georgia exercise Noble Partner 2018 to feature 3000 soldiers from 13 countries
( Georgia, United States, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Lithuania, Estonia, Germany, France, Poland, Norway, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia )

The annual exercise aims to improve the skills, readiness and interoperability of participating nations.
This year's motto is "strenght in partnership" and will for the first time include maritime components as part of the Black Sea security concept.
Further additions are an increased number of US air support assets and German armored fighting vehicles.
The manouvers will take place from August 1 to 15 on the Vaziani and Camp Norio training areas and be of high complexity encompassing staff / command and live fire exercises, coordination between manouveur and combat support elements in defensive as well as offensive operations.

https://www.facebook.com/mod.gov.ge...079819324769/2067069163325815/?type=3&theater

 

[BravoZulu]

Ukraine:
State tests of the unguided 80mm aircraft missile Oskol were conducted at the Chernihiv firing ground on Monday, August 20, Ukrainian Military TV operator Oleksandr Shtupun has said on Facebook.

"The tests were held at the firing ground of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Chernihiv. Almost 300 RS-80 Oskol missiles were fired from a Mi-8 helicopter," reads the statement.

According to Acting Head of the State Research Institute for Testing and Certification of Arms and Military Equipment Volodymyr Bashynsky, who was quoted by Shtupun, the RS-80 Oskol is a fully domestic development, and all of its components were made in Ukraine.

Shtupun noted that the tactical and technical characteristics of these aircraft missiles and the possibility of using this type of weapons from Mi-8 helicopters had been confirmed during three-day trials.

https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-defense/2522067-ukraine-tests-new-missile-oskol.html

 

[BravoZulu]

Ukraine:
The leader of the Russian-backed Donetsk People's Republic in eastern Ukraine was killed on Friday in a cafe bombing, according to several reports.

The explosion also wounded Alexander Timofeyev, the DPR's finance minister, Meduza reported.

Multiple people were arrested near the cafe in connection with the bombing, including "Ukrainian saboteurs," Interfax reported.

Russian President Vladimir Putin himself commented on the incident on Friday.

Assassinations on both sides of the conflict in Ukraine between Kyiv and the two Russian-backed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, which has been raging for more than four years, are rather common.
https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/leader-russian-backed-republic-ukraine-065819154.html

 

[berkut76]

Ukraine wins $40 million tender for repair of Turkish Mi-17 helicopters

Ukrainian companies have won the $40 million tender for the repair and upgrade of Turkish Mi-17 helicopters, said in the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.

According to the statement of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, the Ukrainian SE “Konotop Aircraft Repair Plant “Aviakon” and aero-engine manufacturer ”Motor Sich” won a tender for the repair and modernization of 17 helicopters MI-17 of the Turkish Gendarmerie.

“We have the agreements on the cooperation of the border guards, guards, police and rescuers. Also, I thank for cooperation in the military sphere. Now we implement the big project on the modernization of Mi-17 helicopters,” said Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov during his visit to Turkey.

According to Arsen Avakov, this contract is the result of a 6-month work with the Turkish Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Mi-17 military transport helicopters are among the most popular helicopters in their class. Mi-17V helicopters are designed for personnel transportation, and for carrying cargo internally or on the external sling. They can be used in search and rescue operations, and can also be equipped with weapons.

https://defence-blog.com/news/ukrai...-for-repair-of-turkish-mi-17-helicopters.html

 

[berkut76]

Ukraine has started deploying modern armoured artillery boats at the Azov region to counter Russian aggression in the south of Ukraine, the organization of coastal defense and protection of the Azov Sea coast.

A Ukrainian popular military website, the Ukrainian Military Portal, has confirmed the deployment of first small armoured artillery boat of Gurza-M-class in the Azov region on 8 September.

According to the website, it is expected that three small armoured artillery boats will be deployed to the Azov Sea, which today will be the most powerful units in this region.

Ukraine’s Navy is in a state of heightened alert in the Sea of Azov, a body of water shared by the Eastern European nation and Russia.

“The security service said: ‘Watch closely, the Russians are preparing countermeasures. They are planning seizures and hijackings of Ukrainian ships,’” a Ukrainian shipowner told Radio Free Europe in a video published on Wednesday.

While such an incident has yet to occur, Ukraine ’s military has noticed an increasing number of Russian ships building up in the sea since late May.

According to Secretary of the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov, Russia’s buildup of the military presence is combined with “a brutal violation of international maritime law in the Azov Sea, which manifests itself, in particular, in the illegal construction of the Kerch Bridge and the growing number of incidents involving the detention of Russian military domestic and foreign vessels”. “We see Russia’s efforts to actually unleash a military-economic blockade of the Azov coast of Ukraine”, – he said.

The Sea of Azov is a small, shallow sea connected to the Black Sea. Kerch Strait, which is the only connection between the Azov Sea and the Black Sea, is located between Kerch peninsula in the West and Taman peninsula in the East. While the former peninsula is part of Crimea, the latter is located in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai.

According to Oleksandr Turchynov, an adequate counteraction to Russian expansion requires strengthening the naval presence of Ukraine in the region by means of “relocating a part of the ship-boat Navy force, deploying additional watch posts along the coastline and the sea, as well as rapid deployment forces to counter Russian provocations in the Azov region”.

“The Ukrainian military servicemen duly fulfill the tasks set before them, reliably protecting the south of Ukraine, and are capable of adequately counteracting the military provocations of the Russian Federation”, – Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine summarized.

https://defence-blog.com/news/ukrai...o-azov-sea-to-counter-russian-aggression.html

 

[BravoZulu]

Latvia:

The Latvian National Armed Forces have received the Stinger air-defense systems it purchased from Denmark, the Latvian Defense Ministry reported.

"At present we are at a historic stage when Latvia is receiving significant armament from the allies for strengthening its military capabilities. Stinger missile systems from Denmark will considerably improve the air-defense capabilities of the Latvian Armed Forces," said Defense Minister Raimonds Bergmanis.

In August this year Latvian troops participated in trainings of Stinger operators in Finland.

As reported, last summer Latvia signed an agreement with the Danish armed forces on purchase of Stinger air-defense systems.

The Stingers are among the most effective and most widely combat-tested portable air-defense systems and are used by many of Latvia's allies such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Finland, Norway and Lithuania, the Latvian Defense Ministry said.
http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/markets_and_companies/?doc=144639

 

[Gordus]

Georgia / Latvia

Latvian MOD LTG Leonīds Kalniņš visits Georgia to discuss further cooperation and ongoing and future bilateral exercises between Latvian and Georgian special forces. Latvia is a strong supporter of the 'Substantial NATO-Georgia Package' (SNGP) and also one of the first contributors of JTEC.

https://mod.gov.ge/ge/news/read/695...cialuri-operaciebis-dzalebs-da-jtec-s-estumra

 

[BravoZulu]

Ukraine:
Tests of the new 120mm mobile mortar complex Bars-8MKK have been held during exercises at the military range of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which were attended by Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Oleksandr Turchynov, according to a report posted on the NSDC website.

"The complex can move quickly to the required point of fire, its computer system allows positioning on the ground, and it takes just a minute to prepare for firing from the original position," Turchynov said.

He added that the mobile complex can leave the firing position in about 20 seconds, avoiding the enemy's return fire. The combat ammunition load of the vehicle is 60 mines while the crew consists of only three people.

According to Turchynov, the mobile mortar complex was created by Ukrainian manufacturers based on the Bars-8 armored vehicle. He also said that the combat vehicle is equipped with an automated deployment and fire control system.

"Manufacturers have solved several tasks during the development of this mobile mortar complex. In particular, they have reached the maximum deployment and folding speed, the ability to move off-road, the ability to hit the target with high accuracy, and, most importantly, the safety of its use," he said.

Turchynov expressed confidence that once the state trials are completed and the mobile mortar complex is in service with the army it "will occupy a worthy place in the arsenal of the Ground Forces, Air Assault Forces and Special Operations Forces."

https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-defense/2570207-ukraine-tests-new-mobile-mortar.html

 

[Gordus]

Georgia

"Georgia and France move to the second stage of cooperation in the air defense component. The Ministry of Defense of Georgia has signed an important contract with the French side regarding the procurement of air defense management and control system, with the continuation of anti-aircraft systems. The agreement was signed during the visit of the Minister of Defense of France to France. According to Levan Izoria, it will be possible to integrate NATO into the unified management and control system in future directions in the contract. "This will greatly enhance our country's defense capabilities in the air defense component, which is an important guarantee for the protection of our airspace and thus protecting every citizen of Georgia", - stated the Minister of Defense of Georgia.

During the visit, the French Armed Forces Minister's residence "Hotel de Brianne" Minister of Defense official welcoming ceremony was held, after which colleagues - Levan Izoria and Florence parlim France and the Defense Ministries of the Central African Republic to the European Union training mission, deployed in three edro logistical support contingent on the technical agreement. According to Levan Izoria, Georgia remains committed to the contribution that he puts together with the EU in order to maintain peace and security in the Central African Republic."

December 8, 2018

 

[BravoZulu]

Ukraine:
Ukraine has completed one of the final trials of its Neptune land-based cruise missile, designed for coastal defence, and plans to soon field it to Ukraine's naval and land forces, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced in April.

According to Poroshenko's statement, the test was conducted at a state testing ground and supervised by 11 Ukrainian ships positioned in the Black Sea.

In a speech at the test, recounted by the state press service, Poroshenko said, "Today we are ready to complete the test and equip the navy and the land forces on my command, in an extremely short period of time." He said students of the Odessa Maritime Academy had started training on the Neptune system so as "to drastically shorten the period that will allow combat use in the event of aggression against our state by the enemy".

Neptune is an anti-ship missile designed to protect Ukraine's coastal areas and to deter Russian naval actions in the area.

Four Neptune missiles are carried ready to fire on a KrAZ-7634HE 8×8 chassis. The entire complex consists of four launch vehicles, crewed by three personnel each, a 6×6 command-and-control vehicle, and two loading vehicles.

The Neptune missile is armed with a 145 kg high explosive fragmentation warhead and has a total weight of 670 kg.

Ukraine's state-owned Spets Techno Export said the missile was designed to sink naval vessels with a maximum displacement of 5,000 tonnes. It has a range of 280 km, which the company said is so the export model complies with the Missile Technology Control Regime. The missile could therefore have a longer range for Ukraine's own use and improve.

https://www.janes.com/article/88065/ukraine-s-neptune-anti-ship-cruise-missile-ready-for-service

 

[BravoZulu]

Belarus:
The new air defense missile system Buk-MB3K will be showcased as part of the Belarusian exposition during the international defense technology expo MILEX 2019, Polygon reports the State Military Industrial Committee of Belarus.
Buk-MB3K system was created by the Belarusian enterprise NPOOO OKB TSP.
The Belarusian system’s reconnaissance, firepower, and maneuvering parameters are on par with modern competing medium-range air defense missile systems while the value for money ratio is rather attractive for a number of countries, which do not produce such weapon systems. High reliability and improved performance are the main traits of the new air defense missile system.
The Buk-MB3K system can detect and intercept all types of maneuvering aerodynamic targets ranging from unmanned aerial vehicles to cruise missiles.

http://polygonjournal.com/2019/04/2...um-range-air-defense-missile-system-buk-mb3k/

 

[BravoZulu]

Belarus:
Belarus-based defence industrial group KB Radar has announced the development of the Groza-P2 mobile counter unmanned aerial vehicles (C-UAVs) jammer.
The system, which will be showcased at the defence technology expo MILEX 2019 in Minsk in May, is a portable rifle-style jammer designed to prevent the unauthorised access of small UAVs into the territory by locating and neutralising potential aerial threats.
The jammer is intended to counter commercial multirotor and small fixed-wing UAVs by blasting electromagnetic noise at aerial targets. The jammer can disrupt satellite navigation signals - GLONASS and GPS systems - as well as radio frequencies (RF) communications in the 1,570-1610 MHz, 2.4-2.483 GHz, and 5.725-5.85 GHz wavelengths.
The jammer is designed to target non-assigned public frequencies, meaning that the system will not interfere with manned aircraft or other dedicated radio bands.
According to the company, the jammer does not require a precise guidance system to acquire a target and the signal to be radiated over the user's head for a continuous time of 30 minutes.
Upon detection of an aerial target within the operational range, the operator aims the jammer at the UAV using the collimator and radiates the target with electromagnetic noise. The UAV is then forced into an emergency landing because of the effect of the jamming.
The new anti-drone system is a variant of the Groza-R system, which operates at a distance of up to 3 km and is equipped with a separate backpack that carries a battery and an amplifier system, which brings the total weight of the C-UAV up to 18 kg.

https://www.janes.com/article/88133/belarus-unveils-groza-p2-mobile-counter-uav-system

 

[BravoZulu]

Ukraine:
The president of a top Ukrainian aerospace company says its new Chinese investors often ask the staff for “little conversations.”
They want to know about record-keeping and planning, the setup of production lines and the interplay between workshops.
“They’ll talk for three hours, and the next day, a totally different group of people will come,” said Vyacheslav Boguslayev, whose sprawling Soviet-era company, Motor Sich, is one of the most advanced military aircraft engine manufacturers in the world.
“They’ll ask all the same questions as yesterday, and this continues for a week,” he said.
Racing to upgrade its military, China has been turning to Ukraine. And Ukraine — with its economy scrambled by hostilities with Russia — has been willing to accept China’s embrace.
“If they ban us from working with China,” Boguslayev said, “then the first thing I’ll do is fire 10,000 people.”
Motor Sich, dubbed the “Czar of Engines” in the Chinese media, has what Beijing wants: It can supply warplane engines and the know-how to one day possibly make a Chinese-built version.
The Chinese, in turn, have what Motor Sich wants: reliable buyers.
The company lost its biggest market — supplying engines for military helicopters and other aircraft in Russia — after war broke out in eastern Ukraine in 2014. Now it sells mainly to China.
China’s under-the-radar push into Ukraine illustrates Beijing’s hunger for technology imports and its ability to access them even though Western countries have limited military-related exports to China.
It comes as Ukraine struggles to reorient its economy away from Russia. And it puts Washington in a quandary as U.S. rhetoric supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia collides with the Trump administration’s widening competition with Beijing.

More:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...ory.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.d940520b6a82

 

[TIZER]

The latest from Ukraine not content with acts of terrorism and acts of assassination the latest of the litany of crimes by the SBU is now kidnapping in the past 2 weeks 5 citizens of Donbass have been kidnapped by the SBU in Donbass

real brave heroic men ..... or the reality a bunch of cowards and thugs

Kiev 'kidnaps' separatist anti-aircraft commander near MH17 crash site

Speculation rife that Vladimir Tsemakh, whisked from deep in enemy territory, may now be put on trial and asked to give evidence against Moscow

www.independent.co.uk

had minsk 2 not kicked in the Ukraine army was on the verge of collapse ... the reality is you cannot keep a country together by force in Kharkov the Ukrainian armed forces complain that they are seen as a occupying force by the locals