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26 Desember 2018 The Lao Army's D30 howitzer after upgrading (photo : Soha) With the small artillery force, the equipment was not really good, but the Lao Army overcame by mechanizing one of the most powerful firepower in the service, the D30. A number of recently released images have surprised Asian Military Forums when the Lao People's Army successfully mechanized the 122mm D30 howitzer model developed by the former Soviet Union. It is worth mentioning that there are only about 10 cannons of this type in Laos artillery. In such a modest amount, it seems that the Lao Army decided to mechanize the entire number of D30 artillery they had on the active Ural-4320 3-wheel military transport chassis (6x6), Similar to what Vietnam has been doing with the 105mm M101 model of American artillery. It is possible that Laos has referred to the mechanized and self-propelled artillery M101 solution that Vietnam has implemented to upgrade the D30 by placing it behind the Ural-4320 body on a f...

26 Desember 2018 HMPNGS Ted Diro P401 (all photos : Brian Wayne Scott) One week after being handed over from Australia to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, NUSHIP Ted Diro has passed its initial sea-readiness evaluation with support from Navy’s Sea Training Unit - Defence Cooperation Program. Commander Sea Training Defence Cooperation Program, Captain John Cowan, said Ted Diro’s ship’s company had been put through a comprehensive training program that culminated in a whole ship evaluation before sailing for Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea via Darwin. “The training has specifically focussed on mariner skills to ensure that the ship’s company can navigate their ship, operate the ship’s systems correctly, and can conduct all of the activities that the ship needs to safely complete the long voyage back to Papua New Guinea,” he said. “We’ve been conducting training with the ship’s company for the past week and today is the evaluation day where the assessment of the crew is being conducted ...

26 Desember 2018 MPAC Mk III with Spike-ER missile (photo : PN) MANILA -- 2018, which will end in a few days time, can be considered as a banner year for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, especially the Philippine Navy (PN), as it formally entered the missile age and demonstrated its capability to sail beyond its territorial waters during deployments to the US, South Korea and Russia. The PN's formal entry to the missile age took place off Lamao Point, Limay, Bataan last Nov. 21, when three of its multi-purpose assault craft (MPACs) fired the newly-acquired and installed Rafael Advanced Defense Ltd. Spike-ER (extended range) surface-to-surface missile during a capability demonstration witnessed by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Navy flag-officer-in-command Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad. During the exercise, the MPACs fired two Spike-ER missile rounds, which hit two surface targets. The said craft also utilized remote-controlled .50 caliber machine guns to neutralize anoth...

25 Desember 2018 JASDF F-15 (photo : hyakuri ) Japan wants to sell old F-15s to US to fund F-35 purchases TOKYO -- The Japanese government is considering selling some F-15 jets to the U.S. to raise funds for purchases of cutting-edge F-35 stealth fighters, Nikkei has learned, with Washington in turn weighing the sale of those outdated planes to Southeast Asian countries. Several Japanese officials have revealed that discussions are underway for what would be the nation's first sale of used defense equipment to the U.S. Tokyo sounded out Washington on the possibility of such a sale as part of negotiations to purchase 105 F-35 jets from the U.S. The two sides are trying to iron out such details as the number of F-15s to be sold and their prices. By arranging such a sale with Washington, Tokyo hopes to quell public criticism of expanding defense spending amid efforts for fiscal consolidation. Turning to Washington would also help Japan, as it lacks experience in selling defense equipm...

25 Desember 2018 The 120-tonne RAF A400M landing and taking off from Welsh beach (all photos : RAF) Members of 206 Squadron, supported by LXX Squadron Engineers based at RAF Brize Norton have been practicing their skills during beach landing trials in Southern Wales. Beaches are routinely used by the RAF for training operations with other tactical airlifters.  The A400M showcased its superb tactical capabilities on natural surfaces by performing take-off, landing and taxiing manoeuvres. Flight Lieutenant Cheng, 206 Squadron Pilot said : “The advanced flight deck of the A400M and cutting-edge fly by wire controls made this task easier to fly than other platforms. We are now looking forward to the challenge of conducting this operation using night vision goggles later in the trial.” The versatility of the A400M Atlas means it has the capability to land on a wide variety of surfaces including natural surfaces carrying a very large payload. This tactical capability was demonstrate...

24 Desember 2018 Presumably, the first combat training aircraft Yak-130, received by the Laotian Air Force (tail number "044"). Vientiane, December 2018 (photo : AeroLaos) A widespread shot from a video from a Lao resource, which allegedly demonstrates the first Yak-130 combat training aircraft received by the Lao Air Force. It is reported that this aircraft (tail number "044") was delivered to the capital of Laos, Vientiane on December 20, 2018 from Irkutsk on board the IL-76TD transport aircraft (registration number RA-78765) of the Russian airline Aviakon Tsitotrans. Previously, there was no information on the conclusion by the Russian side of the contract for the supply of Yak-130 aircraft to Laos, although in the beginning of 2016, Russian media spread information about the interest of the Laotian military to the Yak-130, and it was stated that Laos "can get 16-20" of these airplanes. Analysis of the Lao military media shows that since the end of 2017...

24 Desember 2018 RNZAF T-6C Texan II aircraft are flying around the South Island until December 21 and again in early January as part of an Air Force flying instructors’ course. (photo : NZDF) Keeping a stream of highly skilled pilots flowing through the veins of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) comes down to the high calibre of qualified flying instructors, some of which are honing their skills in the South Island skies this week as part of a flying instructor’s course. All the pilots on the course are converting from other RNZAF aircraft and have been captains on either C-130H (NZ) Hercules, P-3K2 Orion, Boeing 757–2K2 and NH90 MUH capability. They are getting to grips with the capability and power of the T-6C Texan II aircraft in navigation, formation and low-level flying in terrains they may not have encountered before. The flying instructors’ course can be considered in two parts. The first part is converting already skilled pilots onto the T-6C and the second part is train...