Alert 5

Australian Army to choose between HIMARS or StrikeMaster

Posted on December 5, 2024December 5, 2024 by alert5

In a move reflecting the evolving strategic environment, the Australian Army is embarking on a crucial procurement process to strengthen its long-range strike capabilities, ABC news reports. Project LAND 8113 phase two will see the army evaluate two prominent contenders: the indigenously developed StrikeMaster, offering a cost-effective and sovereign solution, and the American HIMARS, boasting proven combat effectiveness but carrying a higher price tag and reliance on U.S. technology. This decision will shape the future of the Australian Army’s long-range firepower and influence the nation’s broader defence industry.

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U.S. Army doubles down on Chinook Block II orders

Posted on December 5, 2024 by alert5

The U.S. Army is pressing ahead with modernising its fleet of CH-47F Chinook helicopters, with recent contract awards to Boeing for the production of new Block II Chinooks. This latest order underscores the Army’s commitment to upgrading its heavy-lift capabilities for future multi-domain operations.

A Double-rotor CH-47 Chinook from B Co “Big Windy,” 1-214th General Support Aviation Battalion spins up for an evening training flight under a double rainbow just after the storm clears on Oct. 6 at Katterbach Army Airfield. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Robert Fellingham)

Russian submarine spotted in Philippine waters prompts calls for enhanced anti-submarine capabilities

Posted on December 4, 2024 by alert5

On Nov. 28, a shadow emerged from the depths of the South China Sea, not far from the shores of the Philippines. It was the Russian Kilo-class submarine RS Ufa, an underwater vessel nicknamed the “Black Hole” by the US Navy for its stealth capabilities, surfacing within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around 80 nautical miles west of Cape Calavite in Occidental Mindoro. The Philippine Navy, alerted to the submarine’s presence by their own intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, quickly scrambled the warship BRP Jose Rizal (FF150) and four aircraft to monitor the situation.

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JMSDF Selects SeaGuardian for Maritime Surveillance

Posted on December 4, 2024December 4, 2024 by alert5

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has taken a decisive step into the future of maritime defence, selecting General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.’s (GA-ASI) SeaGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems for its Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle program. The selection, announced in December 2024, follows over 1.5 years of rigorous testing and evaluation by the JMSDF. The service began its trial operation project with the SeaGuardian in April 2023, putting the system through its paces to assess its suitability for Japan’s challenging maritime environment. This move mirrors a similar decision by the Japan Coast Guard (JCG). On Aug. 15, the JCG signed a contract for the purchase of two SeaGuardian RPAs from GA-ASI, with delivery expected in 2025. This follows the JCG’s ongoing Company-Owned, Contractor-Operated agreement with GA-ASI, which began in April 2022 and has seen SeaGuardians actively supporting a range of JCG missions.

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The GE F110: A Forty-Year Legacy of Power and Innovation

Posted on December 4, 2024December 4, 2024 by alert5

GE Aerospace’s F110 engine is celebrating 40 years of continuous production, a remarkable achievement for a powerplant born from what some call the “Great Engine War” of the 1980s. This war saw GE challenge Pratt & Whitney’s dominance in supplying engines for the US Air Force’s F-15 and F-16 fighter jets. The F110 ultimately emerged as a champion, powering these aircraft for the US military and 16 other nations.