News of the World

[kyonides]

US Approves Turkish F-16 Fleet Upgrades for $259 Million

The US State Department has approved upgrades worth $259 million for the Turkish F-16 fleet.

The proposed upgrades include “software upgrades of the Operational Flight Program avionics with the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System,” the Defense Security Cooperation Agency explained.

They also include “hardware modifications to enable integration of the Multifunctional Information Distribution System Block Upgrade II.”

The upgrades will help improve the aircraft’s safety and interoperability with NATO, the Pentagon agency stated.

The approval follows Ankara approving Finland’s accession to NATO.

However, Ankara’s larger request for 40 F-16 aircraft from the US has been in limbo since 2021, when Washington expelled the country from the F-35 program over its purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system.
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The country has been upgrading 35 Block 30 aircraft under the OZGUR project, retrofitting the aircraft with a suite of locally-developed avionics and systems, according to Aviation Online.

Brazilian Navy, EDGE to Jointly Develop Anti-Ship, Supersonic Missiles

The Brazilian Navy and EDGE have signed an agreement to jointly explore long-range anti-ship and supersonic missile development.

The collaboration will leverage their collective expertise in missiles and related military technologies to support their mutual goals.

“Signing a joint development agreement with EDGE… will expand the range of capabilities for Brazilian and allied forces to achieve their missions,” Brazilian Navy Vice Adm. Marco Antonio Ismael Trovão de Oliveira stated.
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Under the initiative, the navy will provide its missile portfolio and fleet for testing, while the UAE-based technological group will deliver electronic warfare and smart weapons solutions to develop cost-effective, high-performance missiles to meet global demand.

The teaming is expected to produce advanced national defense capabilities, build relationships with other partners, and expand global exports.
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EDGE Group showcased its tactical products for Latin American customers earlier this month during a 4-day defense and security expo in Rio de Janeiro.

Throughout the event, the company signed cooperation agreements with industry partners to expand its market in the region.

Turkish Unmanned Surface Vessels Fire Torpedoes for First Time

Two Turkish unmanned surface vessels (USVs) fired lightweight torpedoes for the first time during a recent sea trial, the country’s defense agency has announced.

In a video uploaded on social media, the armed USVs Marlin and MIR were seen sailing at high speed before stopping to launch what appeared to be recoverable exercise torpedoes (REXTORP).

The event demonstrated the two state-of-the-art ships’ anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

It also allowed the Turkish Defence Agency to test the fixed-mount torpedo launcher developed by local firm Aselsan.

Apart from REXTORP, the USVs can launch NATO-standard torpedoes such as the Mk44, Mk46, Mk54, and soon the ORKA lightweight torpedo from Roketsan.

Iran Army Gets 200 New ‘Strategic’ Drones

Iran’s defense ministry has delivered the army with more than 200 new drones equipped with missile capabilities and electronic warfare systems, state media reported on Thursday.

In a ceremony broadcast on television, Defense Minister Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani handed over “more than 200 long-range strategic drones” to army chief Abdolrahim Mousavi, the official news agency IRNA said.

Produced by the Iranian defense ministry, the drones are designed for reconnaissance and strike missions, and can carry air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, IRNA said.

Foreign ministers of Iran, Jordan agree to 'meet as soon as possible'

The foreign ministers of Iran and Jordan spoke on Thursday and agreed to meet "as soon as possible" in order to discuss relations between the two countries.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that "Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian confirmed during a phone conversation with his Jordanian counterpart of Tehran's willingness to develop the relationship and cooperation between the two."

It was stated that they will "continue meetings in order to reach understandings based on future relations to establish cooperation, and to contribute to strengthening security."

Bizarre Plot To Steal Russian Jets Ends In Ukrainians Charged With Treason

An undisclosed number of Ukrainian service members have been charged with treason, the Ukrainian State Security Service (SBU) announced Thursday, after a bizarre plot to convince Russian pilots to steal their aircraft apparently backfired. As a result of the ensuing Russian investigation, its forces launched a "massive missile attack" on Ukraine's "Kanatove airfield on July 23, 2022.” It killed a commander, wounded 17 airmen, destroyed two fighter jets and caused “significant damage” to the airstrip and several buildings, SBU stated in a release.

Just two days after the deadly attack, Bellingcat Russia investigator Christo Grosev described the plot in a Twitter thread as a “crazier-than-fiction story of triple-agents, fake passports and faux girlfriends.” Bellingcat, he said, was chronicling this plot as it unfolded, via a documentary about “one of the wackiest counter-counter-intel operations of all time.”

It was a tale, he said, that Russia's FSB security agency falsely accused him of being involved in.

The genesis of this operation was based on a new Ukrainian law offering money to Russians who provide Kyiv with military hardware, Grosev said.
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He was quick to point out that the operation “was not a project of either SBU or GUR [Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Directorate]. (If it were, there'd be no way we would - or want to - get access to it). It was organized by maverick ex operatives whom we got to know” via a previous Bellingcat investigation.

“Several Russian military pilots were approached and even sent ‘proof-of-access’ videos from inside their planes, in each case bearing a separate number hand-written on pieces of paper. Some of the footage from the inside of the planes was quite detailed and enlightening.”
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“This bizarre mutual-deceit game came to an end when the FSB realized no one will show up at any of the suggested meet-ups (FSB were keen to identify Ukrainian agents), realizing they've been burned,” Grosev wrote. “And the Ukrainians realized they're likely not getting a real pilot either.”

Still, it was a win for Ukraine, Grosev wrote.

“While Russia is presenting today this as a coup for its counter intelligence, in fact the operation was a serious blunder for the FSB, disclosing unintentionally identities of dozens of counter intel officers, their methods of operation, and their undercover assets.”

 Seriously, I wouldn't ever come up with such a crazy plan that could have ended way worse than it actually did. Couldn't they go ask some superior officer to get some help from their intelligence group or some military expert?
I guess it's fair to judge those idiots for being just a bunch of traitors.