Research into the hi-tech camouflage is being carried out at Northwestern Polytechnical University in China, with details about the project recently being published in in the peer-reviewed Chinese Journal of Radio Science.聽

According to the , the 鈥榞olden veil鈥� technology will convince radars that a missile is a large civilian plane such as an Airbus A320.聽

The United States has already developed similar technology that can confuse defenses about the nature of an attack. 

However, the researchers claim that their 鈥榞olden veil鈥� is different to existing tech, as it can help missiles continuously switch between visible and stealth modes while in flight.  

The 鈥榞olden veil鈥� itself is made from carbon fiber materials which can change shape and size to confuse air defenses.聽聽

Chinese-developed 鈥榞olden veil鈥� can make missiles look like passenger planes

— Harold Gardner (@haroldlgardner)

While computer technology already exists that can trick radar, the 鈥榞olden veil鈥� is believed to be a cheaper option, as the instrument can simply be mounted on ships or vehicles. 

鈥淓lectronic warfare has become more complex than ever. New electronic countermeasure equipment and tools are entering service at an unprecedented speed [鈥 They are changing the face of war,鈥� Zong Yali, Associate Professor of Radar Science with the Northwestern Polytechnical University, said.  

The university team is now working on how the veil might be mass-produced.聽

Royal Air Force Typhoon T1 fighters to be cannibalized for parts

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2023-12-22

According to the information appeared in a , the Marines would be looking to get three batteries, comprising 44 expeditionary launchers together with 1,840 Tamir missiles and 11 US-developed control centers. Another 80 missiles would be acquired for the prototype system. 

The US military has already been looking to acquire the combat-proven Iron Dome system for quite some time. Two launchers were sent from Israel and have been conducting tests in the US since 2021, although the US hasn鈥檛 fully integrated it yet with its own aerial defense systems. 

Rather than buying off-the-shelf from Israel精东影业 Rafael, though, the Marines aim to integrate the missile launchers with US-made control centers, the so-called 鈥渕ini-Battle Management and Control systems鈥� (mBMC). The whole system has been designated by the US military as Medium-Range Intercept Capability (MRIC). 

The deal, whose exact amount is not disclosed but runs likely in the hundreds of millions of dollars, will be channeled through US defense firm Raytheon, which is a partner of Rafael. 

The Iron Dome, which provides the short range component of Israel精东影业 multi-layered anti-missile defense umbrella, has demonstrated its capabilities on numerous occasions, shielding Israel精东影业 population centers from rockets launched from the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.聽Its manufacturer, Rafael, claims a 90% interception success rate for the Iron Dome.聽

The deal was announced by the Estonian and Latvian defense ministries on May 21, 2023, and described by Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur as 鈥渁 project of historical proportions for our defense cooperation, the largest one to date”聽

In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Estonia and Latvia have considerably increased their defense budgets.  

鈥淧resuming that negotiations are successful, we hope to reach a contract and, subsequently, announce the official winning bidder this summer,鈥� Pevkur stated. 

Countries are expecting that the first of the weapons systems, manufactured by Germany精东影业 Diehl Defence, could be in service by 2025. Other details about the deal’s value and the quantity of the system were not disclosed, as negotiations with the supplier are still in progress. However, Latvian Defence Minister Inara Murniece hinted that it would be the largest investment in Latvia’s defense sector since the country gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.聽

The IRIS-T SLM defense system is designed to provide medium-range, high-altitude defense for small cities and military forces. Each system comprises a missile launcher, a radar, and a fire-control radar, complete with integrated logistics and support. The system has an operational range of 40 kilometers, can reach altitudes of up to 20 kilometers, and a radar with a reach of 250 kilometers. Furthermore, the missiles are deployable 360 degrees around the launcher.  

The system’s capabilities have already been demonstrated in Ukraine, where the Ukrainian army has successfully employed several such systems, provided by Germany, against invading Russian forces. 

Germany delivers Patriot, IRIS-T air defense systems to Ukraine

• Defense
• War in Ukraine

byClement Charpentreau

2023-04-20

On October 12, 2022, French President Emmanual Macron announced a new batch of military aid to be sent to Ukraine.  

鈥淲e have delivered a lot of missiles and those so-called Caesar cannons since the start of the war, and we will continue,鈥� Macron said in an interview with the public TV channel France 2. 鈥淲e are also going to deliver radars and missiles to protect [the Ukrainians] from these attacks.鈥� 

The nature of the missile systems to be provided was not specified. France only operates two systems: the middle-range SAMP/T MAMBA system and the short-range Crotale NG system.  

Developed as part of a collaboration between France and Italy, the MAMBA system can track 100 trajectories and engage 10 of them simultaneously. The Aster 30 missile it employs, developed by MBDA, can hit aircraft up to 120 kilometers away, and ballistic missiles at 30 kilometers. However, the French Air Force only has eight systems, one of which is currently deployed in Romania to defend the 500 soldiers of the Aigle [Eagle] mission. More should be ordered by the end of 2022. 

France deploys MAMBA air defense system to Romania

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2022-05-20

Older and more modest, the Crotale NG can simultaneously track up to 12 targets at a distance of 18 kilometers and engage them within 11 kilometers with one of its eight VT1 missiles. As of 2022, the French Air Force reported an of 12 Crotale systems. 

France is not the only European nation to assist in reinforcing the air defense of Ukraine.  

In June 2022, the German government promised to send the modern IRIS-T SL air defense system. This modern platform can target and shoot down small air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles, such as the Russian 3M-54 Kalibr, with an operational range of 40 kilometers. Germany did deliver the first out of the four systems promised on October 12, 2022. 

On October 7, 2022, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Roble visited Zaragoza Air Base in northern Spain, where 19 Ukrainian soldiers are being trained to operate the Spada Aspide air defense system. The system can take down low-altitude targets at a range of up to 20 kilometers. 

Roble confirmed that an unspecified number of platforms would be delivered to Ukraine. The formation of the Ukrainian servants should end on October 14, 2022, with more servicemembers to undergo training from November 1, 2022. 

Countering Russia精东影业 terror-bombing 

The effort to provide Ukraine with sufficient means to defend its airspace accelerated after October 10, 2022, when Russia launched its largest strike on Ukrainian cities in recent months, targeting civilian infrastructure. 75 cruise missiles, mostly Kalibr missiles, were launched by the Russian military on the first day, in addition to Iranian-made Shahed-136 suicide drones. 

Following the attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on his allies to provide more anti-air systems. 

鈥淲hen Ukraine receives a sufficient number of modern and effective air defense systems, the key element of Russian terror – missile strikes – will cease to function,鈥� Zelenskyy said. 

Russian missiles strike cities across Ukraine in largest attack in recent months

• War in Ukraine

byValius Venckunas

2022-10-10

The remains of a missile launched by an IRIS-T air defense system provided by Germany have been photographed near Kyiv, suggesting that Ukraine has already put the brand-new system to use. 

The remains of a surface-to-air missile employed with the IRIS-T SLM air defense system that was recently delivered to Ukraine by Germany were spotted lying on the grass in Kyiv following today’s activity of Ukrainian air defenses over the capital.

鈥� Status-6 (@Archer83Able)

Ukrainian surface-to-air defense is active over Kyiv. Several explosions seen and heard minutes ago. Here精东影业 the sky over Kyiv. I just snapped this pic.

鈥� Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM)

European nations scramble to provide air defense to Ukraine

• War in Ukraine

byClement Charpentreau

2022-11-24

 

The American aircraft manufacturer has supported the GMD since its establishment in 1998, through development, sustainment and test operations.

We鈥檙e honored to continue our support of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency as the prime contractor for Ground-based Midcourse Defense System Integration, Test and Readiness to protect the U.S. against future threats 24/7/365.

Release:

鈥� Boeing Defense (@BoeingDefense)

According to Boeing, the GMD system has now been on alert for nearly 18 years, and remains the United States鈥� only protection against intercontinental ballistic missile threats.

鈥淏oeing精东影业 proposal offered decades of experience in weapon systems integration, anchored by the unique expertise of our people,鈥� Cindy Gruensfelder, vice president and general manager of Boeing Missile and Weapon Systems and Huntsville site senior executive said in a .

鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to continue to support the mission-readiness of this critical missile defense capability for the nation,鈥� Gruensfelder added.

Boeing said that work on the SITR will largely take place at the Boeing Huntsville site in Alabama.

US authorized to seize $45M Boeing 737 BBJ owned by Russian oil giant

• Civil Aviation

byGabriele Petrauskaite

2022-09-01

 

In its annual budget request published on August 31, 2022, the Japanese Ministry of Defense drew a parallel between Russia精东影业 invasion of Ukraine and the tensions in the Pacific region. 

Specifically, the report referred to China精东影业 recent increase in pressure on Taiwan, with the organization of the largest-ever military drills around the island between August 4 and 7, 2022. On this occasion, Japan精东影业 Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi reported that five Chinese ballistic missiles splashed down in Japan精东影业 exclusive economic zone (EEZ). 

Chinese missiles splash down in Japan精东影业 EEZ: Japanese Ministry of Defense

• Defense

byValius Venckunas

2022-08-05

The report also mentions North Korea’s recurring ballistic missile tests. The latest to date took place on August 17, 2022, when Kim Jong-un launched two cruise missiles toward the Yellow Sea ahead of a US-South Korea joint exercise.  

鈥淲hat is happening in Europe may also occur in the Indo-Pacific region,鈥� the ministry said. 鈥淚rrespective of whether an armed attack has occurred or not, security challenges faced by Japan are becoming more serious.鈥� 

In order to face these challenges, the budget request called for an increase in Japan精东影业 stand-off defense capability through the funding of several long-range missile development programs and procurements.  

The ambitious plan includes: 

• Developing new high-velocity glide missiles 

• Developing new hypersonic guided missiles 

• Developing new anti-ship missiles  

• Increasing the range of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Type 12 anti-ship missiles 

• Procuring the Kongsberg Joint Strike Missile for the F-35A 

• Procuring the Lockheed Martin Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-Off Missile for the F-15J 

In 2021, the Japanese government included the modernization of Japan精东影业 F-15J fleet into the so-called F-15JSI (Japan Super Interceptor) variant in the fiscal year budget. The Mitsubishi F-15J, a homegrown version of the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, is the main interceptor of Japan精东影业 Air Self-Defense Force. 

Japan moves forward with F-15J 鈥楽uper Interceptor鈥� upgrade

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2021-12-13

鈥淭his will mean Ukraine can defend an entire city against Russian air attacks,鈥� chancellor Olaf Scholz told parliament on June 1, 2022.  In addition to the IRIS-T SL launcher, Germany will also provide a tracking radar that can help identify artillery.

The German government has come under fire for being slow to help Ukraine with heavy weaponry after Russia精东影业 invasion.  

The development of the IRIS-T air defense system missile was led by Germany, with other NATO countries. Its radar-guided, ground-launched version called IRIS-T SL can target and shoot down air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles.  

The promises come as Germany is due to unveil details of a new 鈧�100 billion ($107 billion) euro military fund. According to a , 鈧�40.9 billion ($43.9 billion) will go to the air force, including for new Eurofighter and F-35 jets, plus construction of a space-based early warning system.  

鈥淭he 鈧�100 million special fund for the armed forces is a big step, but it is also urgently needed,鈥� defense minister Christine Lambrecht commented on May 29, 2022, after the coalition agreed the details. 鈥淔inally we can equip our troops as they deserve and require, in order to defend the nation and alliances.鈥�   

Zur St盲rkung der B眉ndnis- und Verteidigungsf盲higkeit: Koalition und Union haben sich auf das f眉r die geeinigt. Ministerin Lambrecht dankt allen Beteiligten f眉r den konstruktiven Geist und die staatspolitische Verantwortung.

鈥� Verteidigungsministerium (@BMVg_Bundeswehr)

Germany to replace Tornado with F-35

• Defense

byValius Venckunas

2022-03-15

The prospect is motivated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, whose threat revived the defense strategy of several European nations, starting with Germany. 

鈥淲e need to protect ourselves better against the Russian threat,鈥� said Andreas Schwarz, rapporteur for Germany’s Defense Budget Committee, to the German daily publication Bild. 鈥淔or that, we need a Germany-wide missile shield quickly.鈥� 

According to Bild, the authorities are considering three radar installations capable of monitoring any incoming missile, and Arrow-3 long-range hypersonic anti-ballistic missiles, conjointly developed by Israel Aerospace Industries and Boeing to act as interceptors. The system could potentially extend to other European countries such as Poland or the Baltic states. 

The system, valued at 鈧�2 billion ($2.2 billion), could be acquired using the 鈧�100 billion financial package that was earmarked for its military budget in the aftermath of the war in Ukraine. It could be deployed as early as 2025. 

A month of defense: how the invasion of Ukraine has shaped European air forces

• Defense

byValius Venckunas

2022-03-25

During the invasion of Ukraine that started on February 24, 2022, Russia extensively relied on ballistic and cruise missiles to destroy military installations. On March 19 and 20, 2022, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported having used for the first time several Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles to target military facilities in Ukraine. These weapons can fly at a speed of Mach 10 or 12,000 kilometers per hour. 

Russia reports multiple strikes of hypersonic missiles in Ukraine

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2022-03-21

The new generation of man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) became a salvation for world精东影业 armies and the nightmare of the world精东影业 air forces in the 70s. Those systems were relatively cheap, highly transportable, and required next to no training to operate. After firing, a missile would home in on a heat source, such as an exhaust of an aircraft engine, and track it until the impact. 

These systems have short range, as they are designed to protect soldiers from attacking helicopters and airplanes. The target has to be flying low and relatively slow. Exactly the way any civilian airliner behaves while taking off and landing. 

Air Vietnam Douglas C-54D-5-DC most likely became the first passenger aircraft to be shot down by MANPADS in 1975, killing all 20 passengers and crew. Although several similar attacks happened in the following decade, they were not common. The situation changed radically in the early 90s, as after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, ex-Red Army MANPADS flooded the black market, and became available to all kinds of insurgents, guerrillas and terrorist groups across the world.

In 1993, MANPADS were used to shoot down a jet carrying presidents of Rwanda and Burundi. In 1998, Lionair Antonov An-24 was brought down over Sri Lanka killing 55 people. In 2003, DHL Airbus A300 was hit over Baghdad, but pilots miraculously managed to land the burning airplane. These are just some of the dozens attempted and successful examples, as, according to an estimate of the U.S. Department of State, more than 800 deaths were caused by MANPADS attacks on civilian aircraft between 1975 and 2006.