A new airfield is rapidly taking shape on the Yemeni island of Abd al-Kuri, a strategically positioned landmass near vital shipping lanes at the mouth of the Gulf of Aden, according to analysis of satellite imagery by both the Associated Press (AP) and The Maritime Executive. This development comes amid escalating conflict in the region, with Houthi rebels continuing their attacks on ships in the crucial Mideast waterways. The construction, which has not been publicly claimed by any nation, raises significant questions about its purpose and potential impact on regional power dynamics.
Source: Sentinel-2
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Category: Navy
South Korean military inspects Boeing 737s after fatal crash
In the aftermath of the catastrophic Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crash at Muan International Airport on Dec. 29, 2024, which claimed the lives of 179 people, the South Korean military has taken swift action to ensure the safety of its own fleet of Boeing 737-based aircraft. The cause of the devastating accident remains under scrutiny, with investigators focusing on a potential issue with the landing gear.
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Northrop Grumman begins construction of first E-2D for French Navy
Northrop Grumman has commenced production of the first E-2D Advanced Hawkeye for the French Navy, ushering in a new era of airborne command and control capabilities for the European naval air arm. The symbolic event took place at Northrop Grumman’s St. Augustine manufacturing facility and saw key representatives from the French Navy, Northrop Grumman, and US Naval agencies in attendance.
Graphic: Northrop Grumman
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Osprey grounded again
The Pentagon has once again grounded its entire fleet of V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. This comes after a worrying incident at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico on Nov. 20, where a CV-22 Osprey experienced a near-crash shortly after takeoff. Initial investigations suggest that weakened metal components in a critical part may have been a contributing factor.
U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey, assigned to 352d Special Operations Wing, during Fast Rope Insertion and Extraction System training near Amari, Estonia, Sep. 3, 2019. During the week-long training, U.S. and Estonian special operation forces partnered on FRIES familiarization, casualty evacuation and rapidly loading and off-loading a tactical vehicle onto the aircraft. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Pena)
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JMSDF, U.S. Navy sign new electronic attack pact as EP-3 era ends
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the U.S. Navy signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Dec. 6 aimed at bolstering cooperation between their electronic attack squadrons. The agreement, inked at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, marks a new chapter for the JMSDF’s VQ-81, which for decades has trained closely with the U.S. Navy’s VQ-1, a squadron now in the midst of retiring its venerable EP-3E Aries II aircraft.
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