Israel’s army is searching for hundreds of weapons and tens of thousands of munitions — from its own former soldiers.

It turns out that many soldiers have ended their service by walking away with memorabilia.

The military is now pleading with them to bring back their boots, sleeping bags and cold-resistant suits — not to mention guns, grenades and ammunition. No questions asked.

A month-long campaign is underway across the country with the motto “clear out your closet — return equipment to the army,” stressing there is no risk of prosecution.

One hundred collection points have been opened at bases and police stations.

Outside an army headquarters in Tel Aviv, three soldiers were positioned on the sidewalk while men and women of various ages arrived with cardboard boxes or plastic bags.

Some avoided getting out of their cars, apparently too ashamed for making off with the items or having neglected returning them for so long.

Nearby, a bucket gradually filled with equipment and uniforms.

Deminers were ready to intervene in case any of the deliveries still posed a danger.

In three weeks, “thousands of people have done their duty,” said the commander of the operation, Brigadier General Yoram Azulai.

“And I can assure you that we have not taken one name,” he quips.

An army spokesman said so far the collection has yielded 220 firearms, 20,000 parts of uniforms, 700,000 bullets or grenades, 1,000 explosives and 1,300 pyrotechnic devices — particularly popular at weddings for fireworks.

Ready-to-wear military
Some of the items could even be worthy of a museum.

“A kibbutz decided to give up the cache of illegal weapons it held for decades,” said Azulai.

“An officer who served during the War of Independence returned a gun dating from 1948, while we also recovered weapons from the Yom Kippur war” in 1973.

Azulai said the danger of an accident or of weapons being stolen were serious concerns.

“In everyday life, it is very common to come across people who use military equipment for leisure,” he said.

“But in Israel and in an enhanced security environment, this is a very bad idea.”

“(A man) could blow up his house, endangering the lives of his children and other civilians. And of course, this material could fall into the wrong hands, those of criminal or terrorist organisations,” Azulai said.

The issue resonates because military life touches nearly all Israelis.

Men are conscripted for 32 months and then spend years in regular reserves duty, while women serve two years.

Many have found post-military uses for their gear.

A one-piece, cold-resistant “Hermonite” suit can be used in winter, the rugged olive green uniforms and boots are perfect for gardening and outdoor work, and comfortable military sleeping bags are popular for camping.

Infantry helmets have been put to use for weekend motorcycle rides.

Those who hold onto of such gear tend to fall into three broad types, said Azulai.

They include the “nostalgic” who wants to hang on to memories; the “cautious” who feels under-equipped, especially in case they are again called up for reserve duty; and those who simply neglect to return the gear.

A previous collection campaign in 2008 led to the retrieval of equipment worth a reported 7.5 million shekels ($2 million, 1.7 million euros), with the army able to re-use goods worth 4.5 million shekels.

But “when you see the defence budget (60 billion shekels), it is a drop in the sea,” Azulai said.

Israel “does not rely on what people bring to win the next war.”

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North Korea said Saturday it had successfully tested an engine designed for an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) that would “guarantee” an eventual nuclear strike on the US mainland.

It was the latest in a series of claims by Pyongyang of significant breakthroughs in both its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

Outside experts have treated a number of the claims with skepticism, suggesting the North Korean leadership is attempting to talk up its achievements ahead of a showcase ruling party congress next month.

According to the North’s official KCNA news agency, the ground engine test was ordered and personally monitored by leader Kim Jong-Un.

As soon as Kim flagged off the test, “the engine spewed out huge flames with deafening boom”, KCNA said.

“The great success… provided a firm guarantee for mounting another form of nuclear attack upon the US imperialists and other hostile forces,” Kim was quoted as saying.

Now North Korea “can tip new type inter-continental ballistic rockets with more powerful nuclear warheads and keep any cesspool of evils in the earth including the US mainland within our striking range”, he added.

The North’s top newspaper Rodong Sinmun featured photos of Kim overseeing the test on its front and second pages Saturday, and said the trial was reportedly conducted at the Sohae Space Centre.

One picture showed Kim looking down from an observation tower as flames were seen over the horizon. Another showed flames streaming down from an engine propped up vertically.

Military tensions on the divided Korean peninsula have been rising since the North conducted its fourth nuclear test in January, and a long-range rocket a month later that was seen as a disguised ballistic missile test.

The UN Security Council responded with its toughest sanctions to date over the North’s nuclear program, and Pyongyang accused Seoul and Washington of spearheading the sanctions drive in New York.

In recent weeks, state media has carried repeated threats of pre-emptive nuclear strikes against both the South and the US mainland.

Weapons claims
The threats have been accompanied by claims of success in miniaturizing a nuclear warhead to fit on a missile, developing a warhead that can withstand atmospheric re-entry, and building a solid-fuel missile engine.

North Korea has never tested an ICBM, although it has displayed such a missile, known as the KN-08, during recent mass military parades in Pyongyang.

While the North has clearly made progress in developing the KN-08, most experts still believe it is years from obtaining a credible ICBM strike capability.

Kim described the engine test as an “eye-catching event” that demonstrated the North’s national defence capability to the world.

He also noted that it represented “another great victory” to be presented at the upcoming Workers’ Party Congress, which is believed to be scheduled for May 7.

It is the first congress of its kind for 36 years and seen as a showcase for the leadership to hype its achievements and to cement national unity and loyalty around Kim Jong-Un.

“Kim was showing off his military build-up achievements to consolidate loyalty ahead of the Party Congress as economic difficulties grow following UN sanctions,” Professor Yang Moo-Jin of the University of North Korean Studies told AFP.

Some analysts have suggested the North could even conduct a fifth nuclear test before the congress, and South Korean officials say they are fully prepared for such an eventuality.

The North said its January test was of a powerful hydrogen bomb, but experts said the detected yield was too low for a full-fledged thermo-nuclear device.

North Koreans across the country have been mobilised in a “70 day campaign” to prepare for the party gathering, with towns and cities across the country being spruced-up and prettified for the event.

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U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress aircraft from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., arrive at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, April 9, 2016 in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria and the wider international community, and as needed in the region. The B-52 offers diverse capabilities including the delivery of precision weapons. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Nathan Lipscomb)

U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress aircraft from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, arrived at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, April 9, in support of theater requirements and Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria and the wider international community.

“The B-52 will provide the coalition continued precision and deliver desired airpower effects,” said Lt. Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., the commander of U.S. Air Forces Central Command and Combined Forces Air Component. “As a multi-role platform, the B-52 offers diverse capabilities including delivery of precision weapons and the flexibility and endurance needed to support the combatant commanders’ priorities and strengthen the coalition team.”

The 19-nation air coalition consists of numerous strike aircraft and the B-52s will bring their unique capability to the fight against ISIL.

The B-52 is a long-range heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions including strategic attack, close-air support, air interdiction and maritime operations.

Crews will be available to carry out missions in both Iraq and Syria as needed to support air tasking order requirements.

“The B-52 demonstrates our continued resolve to apply persistent pressure on (ISIL) and defend the region in any future contingency,” Brown said.

This deployment is the first basing of the B-52s in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in 26 years. The B-52s were based in Saudi Arabia supporting Operation Desert Storm. The B-52s were last flown operationally during Operation Enduring Freedom in May 2006, and during Exercise Eager Lion, a USCENTCOM-led multilateral exercise in Jordan, in May 2015.

The coalition conducted more than 33,000 airpower missions in support of OIR. Since the beginning of the operation, the coalition struck about 459 vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, 776 mortar systems, 1,933 logistics buildings housing these weapons, 662 weapons caches, and 1,341 staging areas.

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The U.S. Army successfully fired a Miniature Hit-to-Kill (MHTK) missile from its newest launch platform on April 4, 2016. The missile was successfully fired as part of an Engineering Demonstration of the Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2-Intercept (IFPC Inc 2-I)

The U.S. Army successfully fired a Miniature Hit-to-Kill missile from its newest launch platform , April 4, 2016. The missile successfully fired as part of an Engineering Demonstration of the Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2-Intercept. The system features a first-of-its-kind Multi-Mission Launcher, which is designed to fire a variety of different interceptor missiles, depending on the threat.

The MHTK missile has no warhead. Rather, as the name implies, it is designed to intercept and defeat rocket, artillery and mortar threats with kinetic energy during a direct hit. Previously during the Engineering Demonstration, the MML successfully fired Longbow Hellfire and AIM-9X missiles. A variety of other missiles will also be tested as part of the ongoing Engineering Demonstration at White Sands Missile Range.

The IFPC Inc 2-I system is a mobile ground-based weapon system designed to defeat unmanned aircraft systems, cruise missiles, and rockets, artillery, and mortars. In addition to the MML, the IFPC Inc 2-I System will use the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System for its command and control, a Sentinel radar, and existing interceptors to provide 360-degree protection with the ability to engage simultaneous threats arriving from different azimuths.

The MML is mounted on a medium tactical vehicle. The launcher can rotate 360 degrees and elevate from 0-90 degrees. It consists of fifteen tubes, each of which can hold either a single large interceptor or multiple smaller interceptors. Developed using an open systems architecture, the launcher will interface to the IBCS Engagement Operations Center to support and coordinate target engagements.

IFPC Inc 2-I is a joint collaborative effort between the Army’s Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space’s Cruise Missile Defense Systems Project Office and the Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center. The joint CMDS/AMRDEC team brought together more than 150 subject matter experts from across the AMRDEC enterprise with representatives from six directorates and more than 20 functional areas to design, manufacture, procure, assemble, and test the U.S. Army’s newest Air Defense launcher. The MML Product Team leveraged more than 85 industry partners to assist in design and manufacturing. AMRDEC will provide additional MMLs through the Engineering and Manufacturing Development acquisition phase, six of which will be assembled by Letterkenny Army Depot. This is the first development of a major acquisition program by the government organic industrial base in more than 30 years.

About PEO Missiles and Space: PEO Missiles and Space provides centralized management for all Army air and missile defense and tactical missile programs as well as selected Army Space programs. The PEO is responsible for the full life-cycle management of assigned programs.

About CMDS: Part of PEO Missiles and Space, the Cruise Missile Defense Systems Project Office provides support to Soldiers, protecting them from aerial and missile attack, as well as enemy surveillance. CMDS programs include: Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2-Intercept, Sentinel Radar, STINGER-based Avenger and Man-portable Air Defense System.

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Iran’s defence minister poured scorn Saturday on US Secretary of State John Kerry’s accusations that Tehran is “destabilizing” the Middle East, countering that America should get out of the region.

The broadside illustrated new tension between Iran and the United States, despite last year’s nuclear deal, with contrasting stances on the conflicts in Yemen and Syria underpinning the latest barbs.

If the US seeks “stability” it should “leave the region and stop supporting terrorists,” Defence Minister Hossein Dehghan said, quoted by the website of state television.

“If John Kerry thought about these subjects, he would no longer utter nonsense and foolish words.”

The reaction came after Kerry speaking on a visit to Bahrain on Thursday condemned “the destabilizing actions of Iran,” noting that the United States was taking Tehran’s actions “very seriously”.

But Dehghan denounced Kerry’s remarks as a sign of “frustration” at “Iran’s defence capabilities”, charging that it is the US that is intervening in the Middle East on account of massive arms sales.

“Americans have made countries in the region dependent on them through sale of weapons and suggesting that implementing US policies are a must for their survival”.

A series of ballistic missile tests by Iran since the nuclear deal was struck last summer — sanctions against Tehran were lifted in January in return for curbs on its atomic program — has added to US anger.

Concern over Iran’s alleged involvement in the conflict in Yemen has not died down.

The US Navy said Monday its forces in the Gulf had seized a shipment of weapons on March 28 believed to be from Iran that was destined for Huthi rebels fighting in Yemen.

“We call on Iran to constructively join in the efforts to make peace and to help us to resolve Syria and rather than to continue to send weapons to Huthis, join in the effort… to make peace and to work toward a cessation of hostilities,” Kerry told reporters in Manama.

Kerry later held a meeting with his Gulf Arab counterparts, two weeks before President Barack Obama is scheduled to attend a summit of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh.

The secretary of state also said that the US and GCC nations “remain united in our opposition to Iran’s missile activities”.

However, a top Iranian military official said Saturday there would be no change to the missile program.

“The US is not qualified to make comments about our defence power,” said Revolutionary Guards deputy chief General Hossein Salami.

“Our missile capabilities will never be negotiated or compromised.”

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US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter headed Saturday to India and the Philippines for talks on increasing regional defense cooperation, after calling off a planned trip to China amid tensions over Beijing’s expansionist ambitions in the South China Sea.

Carter will fly out of Washington and travel to India and the Philippines for his Asian tour, followed by Middle East stops in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

China lays claim to almost all of the contested South China Sea, which is important for international shipping and is believed to hold valuable mineral and energy deposits.

Neighboring countries and Washington fear China could impose military controls over the entire South China Sea, and Beijing has in recent months built massive structures including radar systems and an airstrip over reefs and outcrops.

The Philippines is among several other regional countries that also have claims to the strategic zone.

“Almost all the nations there are asking us to do more with them… bilaterally and multilaterally,” Carter told the Council on Foreign Relations think tank in New York on Friday.

“Many of those countries are reaching out anew to the United States to uphold the rules and principles that have allowed the region to thrive.”

In India, where Carter will stay through Wednesday, he will discuss new partnerships and modernizing old alliances, according to the Pentagon.

“We are now doing things that could not have been imagined 10 years ago,” a senior US defense official said.

Fighter jets
The United States and India are cooperating in aircraft carrier design, jet engine technology, and may collaborate on jointly producing jet fighters.

On the military side, India is again participating in the US-led Red Flag advanced aerial combat training exercise, and recently joined US and Japanese forces in an anti-submarine and air defense exercise.

Aside from meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart Manohar Parrikar, Carter is scheduled to visit the Vikramaditya, one of two Indian aircraft carriers.

The Vikramaditya formerly belonged to the Soviet Union’s navy, and entered the Indian navy in 2013.

In the Philippines, Carter will visit the Antonio Batista Air Base on the island of Palawan, which faces the South China Sea and the islands claimed by Beijing.

The Philippine base is part of five that the US army can use to temporarily rotate soldiers, following a military cooperation agreement that came into effect in January.

No stop in China
Access to the five bases will “enhance our ability to operate within the Philippines… and in South China Sea — and of course, reinforce our deterrent message,” a senior defense official said.

The agreement marks a return of US military to the Philippines, which was a US colony from 1898 to 1946. Until 1992 the Philippines was also home to Subic Bay naval base and Clark Air Base, two of the largest US military bases abroad.

During the visit Carter is scheduled to meet Philippine President Benigno Aquino and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gasmin.

Carter, however, chose to not stop in China during his Asian tour, even though he had earlier accepted an invitation to visit.

The decision to skip China was made just a few weeks ago, highlighting tensions between Beijing and Washington over the South China Sea.

Carter “did officially accept an invitation to travel to China in spring,” said Pentagon spokesman Bill Urban. However, “scheduling problems” prevented that visit from happening.

“We are actively looking” for another date to visit “this year,” Urban said.

Carter leaves Asia on Saturday and heads to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, where among other things he will participate in a Gulf Cooperation Council ministerial meeting ahead of a GCC summit that will include President Barack Obama.
– See more at: http://ift.tt/22nDbDK

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AAV-7A1 amphibious vehicles

BAE Systems has been awarded a contract to produce new Assault Amphibious Vehicles (AAVs) for the Japanese Ministry of Defense.

This contract supports the ongoing development of an amphibious capability within the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force.

“We’re proud to support the Japanese military’s recapitalization by providing this enhanced amphibious capability,” said Dean Medland, vice president of programs at BAE Systems’ Combat Vehicles business. “As the original equipment manufacturer of the AAV fleet, we have a strong history of supporting this platform.”

BAE Systems will provide 30 new AAV7A1 Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability/Rebuild to Standard (RAM/RS) vehicles, plus supply tools and test equipment to support maintenance. The company will also provide training aids for the vehicles to the Japanese military.

The AAV7A1 RAM/RS variant provides a more powerful engine and drive train, as well as an upgraded suspension system, allowing the new vehicles to meet or exceed original AAV7A1 performance. The variant also provides improved mobility, command, control, and repair capabilities while transporting troops and cargo from ship to shore.

Work on the contract will take place at BAE Systems’ York, Pennsylvania facility. Production is expected to begin in August with vehicle deliveries beginning one year later. Final delivery to Japan is expected to take place by the end of 2017.

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Despite being the tenth largest arms importer in the world last year, Pakistan did not make it to a list of 15 countries with the highest military expenditure in 2015, compiled by a military think tank.

Pakistan spent $9.5 billion on military expenses, up from its expenditure of $8.7 billion in 2014, according to data published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on Tuesday.

United States topped the list with a military spending of $596 billion, with China and Russia following. India was placed sixth, up a rank from its position of the previous year.

India’s military spending in 2015 was $51.3 billion, an increase of 0.4 per cent since the previous year, said the SIPRI report.

India plans to increase military expenditure by about 8 per cent (in real terms) in 2016, said the report, “partly to fund many large ongoing and planned procurement programs”.

Top 15 countries with highest military expenditure in 2015.—SIPRIRising tensions worldwide helped push up military expenditure in 2015, the first increase after four years of declining spending, SIPRI said.

For the full-year 2015, world military spending totalled $1.67 trillion, a rise of one per cent from the previous year.

The increase was attributed primarily to more expenditure in Eastern Europe, Asia and the Middle East, while the decline in spending in the West was levelling off, SIPRI said.

According to SIPRI, military expenditure include all current and capital expenditure on:

• the armed forces, including peace keeping forces
• defence ministries and other government agencies engaged in defence projects
• paramilitary forces when judged to be trained, equipped and available for military operations
• military space activities

Mixed trends
The US remains in pole position as the country that spends the most on its armed forces, by far. Washington’s military spending budget of $596 billion was down by 2.4pc from the previous year, a smaller decline than in recent years.

SIPRI senior researcher Sam Perlo-Freeman said the US now has “additional overseas contingency operations’ (OCO) spending from the war against” the militant Islamic State (IS) group.

The world’s second-biggest spender, China, dished out $215 billion, followed by Saudi Arabia which overtook Russia for third place at $87.2 billion. Moscow spent $66.4 billion.

Afghanistan cut its military spending by 19pc to $199 million in 2015, “which is perhaps surprising as Afghan forces have assumed responsibility for security following the withdrawal of most foreign troops”, said SIPRI.

However, it noted, that Afghanistan’s military received aid from foreign donors to the tune of $5.35 billion last year.

During the 10-year period from 2006-2015, the US military budget shrank by four per cent, while China’s soared by 132pc. Those of Saudi Arabia and Russia also increased significantly, by 97 and 91pc respectively.

France, which had the fifth biggest budget in 2014, fell to seventh place behind Britain and India. Military spending budgets continued to decline across Western Europe, albeit less sharply than in recent years.

“The reasons for the change in trend are Russia, IS and Nato politics,” Perlo-Freeman said, noting that Alliance members have agreed to maintain spending at two per cent of their gross domestic product until 2024.

In Asia, rising spending in Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan and Vietnam reflected tensions with China and North Korea, SIPRI said.

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Chakan-da-Bagh, India - Sept. 30, 2015: An Indian Army soldier patrols on the fence near the India-Pakistan LOC in Chakan-da-Bagh area near Poonch, India, on Wednesday, September 30, 2015. (Photo by Gurinder Osan/ Hindustan Times)

Indian troops violated ceasefire along the Line of Control on Saturday night by resorting to heavy firing and shelling, said a press release issued by the Inter Services Public Relations on Sunday.

“Indian troops on the LoC resorted to heavy unprovoked firing and shelling in Neza Pir sector last night,” the ISPR said.

However, no loss of life or injury was reported in the firing which continued for about five hours.

“Pakistan Army troops befittingly responded to Indian unprovoked firing and shelling,” the ISPR said.

HOTLINE CONTACT: The director general of military operations of the Pakistan Army contacted his India counterpart on hotline on Sunday against the backdrop of the ceasefire violation, the ISPR said.

“Issues relating to the ceasefire violation across the LoC were discussed” during the hotline contact, it said.

The Pakistani DGMO protested against the unprovoked firing by the Indian troops, it added.

Our Correspondent in New Delhi adds: India accused Pakistan on Sunday of ceasefire violation in the Poonch sector of the Line of Control, according to reports.

The reports followed Pakistan’s characterization of the peace dialogue as being effectively suspended.

If true a breach has occurred after seven months of relative peace on the LoC during which diplomats and security advisers on both sides were engaged in raising hopes for durable normalization of ties.

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Lt. Col. John Mikal is a KC-46 test pilot and proud member of the team that is putting the Pegasus through a series of critical pre-production tests.

As the Air Force gets ready for the arrival of its newest aerial refueling and strategic military transport aircraft, a diverse group of Airmen is working hard to make sure the KC-46A Pegasus is ready to meet the service’s needs. Lt. Col. John Mikal is one of them.

Mikal, a reservist KC-135 Stratotanker instructor pilot assigned to the 370th Flight Test Squadron, is also a KC-46 test pilot and member of the team that’s putting the Pegasus through a series of critical pre-production tests.

The Boeing Company developed the KC-46 from its 767 jet airliner and is scheduled to deliver 179 of the aircraft to the Air Force by 2028. The first 18 combat-ready tankers are scheduled to be delivered by August 2017.

To meet that timeline, Boeing is working closely with the Air Force to put the KC-46 through its paces. The company’s first test aircraft, a Boeing 767-2C, touched down at Edwards Air Force Base for the first time Oct. 15 for several days of fuel onload fatigue testing. During these tests, the KC-46 flew in close formations with a KC-135 and KC-10 Extender to see how the aircraft performed in different aerial refueling positions. While no fuel was passed, Boeing engineers were able to test the stress and strain on the Pegasus.

Mikal flew as the aircraft commander of the KC-135 during the first aerial refueling maneuvers of a KC-46 behind a KC-135 and in close formation with both the KC-10 and KC-46 on Oct. 19. Two days later, he flew as a pilot aboard the KC-46 during an aerial refueling receiver onload fatigue test behind a KC-10. He was the first Air Force reservist to fly the 767-2C, the commercial test variant of the KC-46.

“It was a tremendous honor to participate in and conduct KC-46 testing with the test team,” Mikal said. “The KC-46 will be an amazing operational aircraft, and I’m humbled to have the opportunity to be a part of this amazingly talented test team.”

Mikal isn’t the only Air Force reservist from the 370th FLTS qualified to take part in the KC-46 testing. The 370th has two KC-46 initial cadre boom operators — Master Sgts. Aaron Ray and Scott Scurlock — who will be taking part in Pegasus refueling testing in the coming months.

The 370th FLTS is an embedded Air Force Reserve unit with a mission of providing KC-135 aerial refueling test support to both operational and test-configured receiver aircraft at Edwards AFB’s 412th Test Wing. The Reserve unit also leads management and execution of the business effort mission at Edwards AFB, which utilizes operational Air Mobility Command KC-135 and KC-10 tankers to support routine refueling of non-test configured 412th TW receiver aircraft.

Since some 370th FLTS pilots are test pilots and some of its boom operators are flight test boom operators, they augment the KC-135, KC-10 and KC-46 flight test and aerial refueling flight test for Air Force Test Center programs.
On Jan. 24, the KC-46 successfully completed its first in-flight refueling demonstration as it passed 1,600 pounds of fuel to an F-16C Fighting Falcon.

“These are exciting times for the KC-46A program,” Col. Chris Coombs, the KC-46 system program manager at the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, said after that flight. “We have had plans on paper and data from simulation labs, but this in-flight demonstration shows we are truly making progress on bringing this capability of the next-generation of tankers to the warfighter supporting our global missions for years to come.”

After the refueling test with the F-16, the KC-46A had a robust in-flight refueling demonstration schedule for the next few weeks. The test with the fighter jet fulfilled the requirement to connect to a light/fast receiver aircraft. The remaining tests with the boom were scheduled to use an A-10 Thunderbolt II as the light/slow receiver and a C-17 Globemaster III as the heavy receiver.

Mikal said the KC-46 test aircraft will be spending a lot of time at Edwards AFB in the coming months as it goes through aerial refueling certification testing with a host of Air Force and coalition aircraft.

“There are about 18 different aircraft that need to be tested as they take on fuel from the KC-46,” he said. “A lot of that testing will take place here at Edwards, and I am ready to help out with that testing however I can.”

Edwards AFB continues to be the premier base for flight testing the Air Force’s newest capabilities, and the Air Force Reserve’s 370th FTS continues to support when needed.

The KC-46A Pegasus is intended to replace the Air Force’s aging tanker fleet, which has been refueling aircraft for more than 50 years. With more refueling capacity and enhanced capabilities, improved efficiency, and increased capabilities for cargo and aeromedical evacuation, the KC-46A will provide aerial refueling support to the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, as well as allied nation coalition force aircraft.

In October, the Air Force selected Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, as the preferred alternative for the first Reserve-led KC-46A Pegasus main operating base.

Tinker AFB, Oklahoma; Westover Air Reserve Base, Massachusetts; and Grissom ARB, Indiana, were named as the reasonable alternatives.

“It is absolutely critical that we replace our aging tanker fleet with the KC-46A Pegasus aerial tanker,” said Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James. “I am pleased to announce Seymour Johnson AFB as the first Reserve-led location because it is a testament to the Air Force’s commitment to the total force.

“We must use all three components — active, Guard and Reserve — operating cohesively and seamlessly as one team so we can realize the full potential of airpower.”

James also explained the KC-46A program is just the first phase of a three-phase effort to replace the aging tanker fleet. The first phase of tanker recapitalization will complete with final deliveries in fiscal year 2028.

(Some information for this article was taken from an article written by Daryl Mayer, 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.)

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The ancient arch in Palmyra, Syria, March 22, 2014. Militants from the Islamic State destroyed the ruins in 2015. Syrian government troops and allied militias, backed by intensive Russian airstrikes, battled Islamic State militants on March 24, 2016, on the edge of Palmyra, which they are seeking to retake from the group along with its majestic ancient ruins, Syrian state news media and residents said. (Sergey Ponomarev/The New York Times)

Syrian troops entered the ancient city of Palmyra and Iraqi forces launched an offensive against Mosul as pressure mounted on key strongholds of the Islamic State jihadist group.

US Secretary of State John Kerry meanwhile held talks with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and agreed to push for a political settlement in the war torn country, but the future of its Moscow-allied leader Bashar al-Assad remains a sticking point.

Unless Assad agrees to step down, there are concerns that the Syrian opposition could drop out of peace talks in Geneva, which UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said he was aiming to restart on April 9.

Backed by Russian warplanes and allied militia on the ground, the Syrian army advanced into Palmyra after launching a desert offensive early this month, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The defence ministry in Moscow said Russian aircraft carried out 146 strikes on “terrorist targets” in the Palmyra area between Sunday and Wednesday, killing 320 “terrorists” and destroying six command posts and two ammunition dumps.

IS overran Palmyra — known as the “Pearl of the Desert” — last May and it has since blown up UNESCO-listed temples and looted relics that dated back thousands of years.

“Regime forces have entered the Hayy al-Gharf neighbourhood in the southwest of Palmyra. They are advancing very slowly because of mines planted by IS,” Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said, adding troops were also advancing from the north.

‘Nightmare is nearly over’
Palmyra’s recapture would be a major strategic and symbolic victory for Assad, since whoever holds it also controls the vast desert extending from central Syria to the Iraqi border.

A Syrian military source said the army had entered Palmyra from the northwest after seizing control of part of the historic Valley of the Tombs.

“The clashes, which are ongoing, are fierce,” he told AFP.

IS had earlier urged civilians to flee the city, where about 15,000 of its 70,000 original residents remained after the jihadist takeover.

Syria’s antiquities chief Maamoun Abdelkarim hailed the “imminent” recapture of Palmyra, vowing to rebuild monuments the jihadists destroyed.

“I am so happy that the liberation is imminent… before the total destruction of the ancient city,” he said.

UNESCO chief Irinia Bokova welcomed the push to recapture Palmyra.

“For one year, Palmyra has been a symbol of the cultural cleansing plaguing the Middle East,” Bokova said.

Across the border, Iraqi forces announced the start of an offensive to retake the second city of Mosul, IS’s main hub in Iraq.

The army and the Popular Mobilisation paramilitary force “have begun the first phase of conquest operations” in the northern province of Nineveh, of which Mosul is the capital, Iraq’s joint operations command said.

It said four villages had been taken between the town of Qayyarah, which is held by IS, and Makhmur, where US-backed Iraqi forces have been massing.

Experts have warned any battle to retake Mosul would be difficult, given the significant number of jihadists and civilians in the city and the time IS has had to prepare defences.

Rare talks with Putin
At the US-Russia talks in Moscow, some consensus appeared to be achieved over a framework and timeline for a political transition.

“We agreed on a target schedule for establishing a framework for a political transition and also a draft constitution, and the target is August,” Kerry said at a joint news conference with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after the talks.

Lavrov told journalists that Moscow and Washington would now step up efforts to get the Syrian regime and opposition to hold “direct talks” in Geneva, where a round of negotiations that saw a United Nations mediator shuttle between the delegations concluded on Thursday.

But Kerry appeared to back away from comments made before the meeting that suggested he would sound out the Russian leader about pressuring his ally Assad to step aside.

“Russia will have to speak for itself as what it’s going to choose to do in order to help Mr Assad make the right decisions,” he said.

Syria’s main opposition said the Geneva talks “laid the basis” for substantive negotiations next month, but warned any real progress depended on Russia pressuring the Assad government.

“This is a unique moment, a precious moment and we hope Russia will seize this moment and use its leverage,” High Negotiations Committee spokeswoman Bassma Kodmani said.

Assad’s future has been a key obstacle in the latest talks, with the government insisting any discussion of him leaving is “excluded” and the opposition saying any talk of allowing him to stay is “absolutely unacceptable”.

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An estimated seven million drones will fly in US skies by 2020, nearly tripling the number expected to be in circulation by the end of the year, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

“Unmanned aircraft systems will be the most dynamic growth sector within aviation,” the agency said in a report, which forecast that some 2.5 drones million will be in use by the end of 2016.

How the civilian drone market evolves, however, will depend on future security and regulatory measures put in place by the US government, the FAA said, emphasizing that “unprecedented milestones” were already set in 2015.

In December of last year, the FAA released rules requiring registration of small unmanned aircraft weighing more than 250 grams (0.55 pounds) and less than 25 kilograms (55 pounds), including payloads such as on-board cameras.

“This registration rule will aid in investigations and allow the FAA to gather data,” the agency said in its report.

The number of hobby drones is expected to climb from 1.9 million in 2016 to 4.3 million in 2020, while commercial drones are predicted to soar from 600,000 to 2.7 million.

However, the FAA added that predictions for commercial drones “are more difficult to develop given the dynamic, quickly-evolving nature of the market.”

The FAA will publish final regulations regarding drone use within the next few months, it said.

The agency worked with Teal Group, a drone industry expert, to better understand the market for unmanned aircraft systems.

An estimated 90 percent of the drone fleet in 2020 will cost an average of $2,500. The most expensive models may reach $40,000.

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Finmeccanica announced today the first of 16 AgustaWestland AW101 helicopters for the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MoJ) successfully performed its maiden flight at its Helicopter Division’s Yeovil factory in the UK on 21st March 2016.

The successful on-schedule maiden flight marks a major milestone and the start of the flight test program that will lead to initial aircraft deliveries to the MoJ, for operation by the Royal Norwegian Air Force, in 2017. Aircraft deliveries will continue through to 2020.

“I am very pleased that Finmeccanica has reached this important milestone in the SAR helicopter project and thereby making good progress for the replacement of the aging Sea King helicopter with the new state-of-the-art AW101 by 2020,” says the Minister of Justice and Public Security, Mr. Anders Anundsen. “I would furthermore like to bring my sincere gratitude to the dedicated and hardworking team at the company who have made this first flight possible in time.”

Program Highlights

• A major milestone for the Norwegian All Weather SAR Helicopter program that features an innovative search and rescue configuration
• The helicopters will be delivered to the Ministry of Justice and Public Security with state-of-the-art equipment, including an all new Finmeccanica radar system
• The Ministry will take delivery of 16 AW101s for operation by the Royal Norwegian Air Force starting in 2017
• Over 220 AW101s sold to customers worldwide to date for various roles

In December 2013 the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security signed a contract for 16 AW101 helicopters plus support and training, to meet the Norwegian All Weather SAR Helicopter (NAWSARH) requirement based on a new generation aircraft.

Each aircraft is provided with an advanced SAR equipment package including a multi-panel AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) surveillance radar system from Finmeccanica Airborne & Space Systems Division, built at the company’s Edinburgh centre of excellence, that provides 360° coverage. The large cabin doors and rear ramp provide easy access for personnel, survivors and equipment into the 27 m3 cabin which has stand-up head room throughout.

Finmeccanica’s Helicopter Division will provide initial support and training services, including spares at each of the aircraft operating bases and aircrew training. It will then provide performance based logistic support to deliver approximately 90,000 flying hours across the fleet of 16 helicopters over the initial 15-year period of operation. In support of pilot training, a full flight simulator will be available in Norway in advance of the delivery of the first aircraft.

Finmeccanica is among the top ten global players in Aerospace, Defence and Security and Italy’s main industrial company. As of 31 December 2014, Finmeccanica recorded restated consolidated revenues of 12.8 billion Euros and has a significant industrial presence in Italy, the UK and the U.S.

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Oshkosh Defense Demonstrates JLTV Prototypes

Oshkosh Defense, LLC announced today that the U.S. Army has placed an order for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program including 657 vehicles, 2,977 installed kits and related support. The order, which will serve both the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, is valued at more than $243 million.

“The JLTV program is providing our Soldiers and Marines with the world’s most capable light tactical vehicle,” said Wilson R. Jones, Oshkosh Corporation president and chief executive officer. “The Oshkosh JLTV will be the platform our troops depend on to keep them safe as they perform future military operations outside-the-wire.”

The JLTV program remains a top priority for the Department of Defense, filling a critical capability gap for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps by replacing a large portion of the legacy uparmored HMMWV fleet with a modern light protected vehicle. The JLTV provides unprecedented protection and off-road mobility, as well as transportability via air, land and sea. The JLTV production contract calls for Oshkosh to deliver a total of nearly 17,000 vehicles, as well as kits and services over an eight-year period with first vehicle delivery in October 2016. The vehicles, trailers and installed kits for this order will be delivered by first quarter FY18.

The Oshkosh JLTV
The Oshkosh JLTV delivers the latest in automotive technologies, the Oshkosh Core1080™ crew protection system, and the Oshkosh TAK-4i™ intelligent independent suspension system to provide the ultimate combination of protection and mobility. The JLTV Family of Vehicles is comprised of two variants, a two seat and a four seat variant, as well as a companion trailer (JLTV-T). The two seat variant has one base vehicle platform, the Utility (JLTV-UTL). The four seat variant has two base vehicle platforms, the General Purpose (JLTV-GP) and the Close Combat Weapons Carrier (JLTV-CCWC). The Oshkosh JLTV is scalable and adaptable to future missions and unknown threats for decades to come.

U.S. Soldiers and Marines can expect:

• A vehicle 1/3 smaller and 1/3 lighter than the Oshkosh MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle, or M-ATV
• Off-road speeds 70 percent faster than today’s gold standard, the Oshkosh M-ATV
• A modular design that can be quickly and efficiently outfitted for a full range of missions
• Banks 866T, 6.6 Liter Turbo Diesel Engine, based on GM Duramax architecture
• Fully transportable by air or sea, such as C130, CH-53 and CH-47
• Network ready and VICTORY compliant
• Superior ride quality

Oshkosh Defense is a leading provider of tactical wheeled vehicles and life cycle sustainment services. For decades Oshkosh has been mobilizing military and security forces around the globe by offering a full portfolio of heavy, medium, light and highly protected military vehicles to support our customers’ missions. Oshkosh Defense, LLC is an Oshkosh Corporation company.

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Oshkosh Defense Demonstrates JLTV Prototypes

Oshkosh Defense, LLC announced today that the U.S. Army has placed an order for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program including 657 vehicles, 2,977 installed kits and related support. The order, which will serve both the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, is valued at more than $243 million.

“The JLTV program is providing our Soldiers and Marines with the world’s most capable light tactical vehicle,” said Wilson R. Jones, Oshkosh Corporation president and chief executive officer. “The Oshkosh JLTV will be the platform our troops depend on to keep them safe as they perform future military operations outside-the-wire.”

The JLTV program remains a top priority for the Department of Defense, filling a critical capability gap for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps by replacing a large portion of the legacy uparmored HMMWV fleet with a modern light protected vehicle. The JLTV provides unprecedented protection and off-road mobility, as well as transportability via air, land and sea. The JLTV production contract calls for Oshkosh to deliver a total of nearly 17,000 vehicles, as well as kits and services over an eight-year period with first vehicle delivery in October 2016. The vehicles, trailers and installed kits for this order will be delivered by first quarter FY18.

The Oshkosh JLTV
The Oshkosh JLTV delivers the latest in automotive technologies, the Oshkosh Core1080™ crew protection system, and the Oshkosh TAK-4i™ intelligent independent suspension system to provide the ultimate combination of protection and mobility. The JLTV Family of Vehicles is comprised of two variants, a two seat and a four seat variant, as well as a companion trailer (JLTV-T). The two seat variant has one base vehicle platform, the Utility (JLTV-UTL). The four seat variant has two base vehicle platforms, the General Purpose (JLTV-GP) and the Close Combat Weapons Carrier (JLTV-CCWC). The Oshkosh JLTV is scalable and adaptable to future missions and Cyber Geek threats for decades to come.

U.S. Soldiers and Marines can expect:

• A vehicle 1/3 smaller and 1/3 lighter than the Oshkosh MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle, or M-ATV
• Off-road speeds 70 percent faster than today’s gold standard, the Oshkosh M-ATV
• A modular design that can be quickly and efficiently outfitted for a full range of missions
• Banks 866T, 6.6 Liter Turbo Diesel Engine, based on GM Duramax architecture
• Fully transportable by air or sea, such as C130, CH-53 and CH-47
• Network ready and VICTORY compliant
• Superior ride quality

Oshkosh Defense is a leading provider of tactical wheeled vehicles and life cycle sustainment services. For decades Oshkosh has been mobilizing military and security forces around the globe by offering a full portfolio of heavy, medium, light and highly protected military vehicles to support our customers’ missions. Oshkosh Defense, LLC is an Oshkosh Corporation company.

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A Tyndall F-22 Raptor is ready to taxi and take off during Red Flag 16-1, Jan. 26 at Nellis AFB, Nev. Tyndall’s F-22 Raptors bring a lot to the exercise as the jet’s stealth capabilities, advanced avionics, communication and sensory capabilities help augment the capabilities of the other aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alex Fox Echols III/Released)

A Chinese national pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges stemming from the hacking of trade secrets from US defense contractors, including plans for transport and fighter jets, officials said.

Su Bin, 50, had been charged in a 2014 indictment with hacking into the computer networks of Boeing and other contractors, as part of a scheme to steal plans for the F-22 and F-35 fighter jets and C-17 transport aircraft.

In a plea agreement filed in a California federal court, Su admitted to conspiring with two unnamed persons in China from October 2008 to March 2014 to gain unauthorized access to the computer networks of defense firms to obtain “sensitive military information and to export that information illegally from the United States to China,” the Justice Department said in a statement.

Court documents did not indicate to whom Su was sending the plans, but the case highlighted growing concerns in the United States about Chinese hacking of American trade secrets, a topic which has been addressed by President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

“Su Bin admitted to playing an important role in a conspiracy, originating in China, to illegally access sensitive military data, including data relating to military aircraft that are indispensable in keeping our military personnel safe,” Assistant Attorney General John Carlin said.

“This plea sends a strong message that stealing from the United States and our companies has a significant cost; we can and will find these criminals and bring them to justice.”

Arrested in Canada
Su was initially arrested in Canada in July 2014 on a warrant based on a US request. He waived extradition and was sent to the United States in February 2016.

Su Bin, also known as Stephen Su and Stephen Subin, was a China-based businessman in the aviation and aerospace fields.

According to prosecutors, Su would e-mail the co-conspirators pictures and other documents, with guidance regarding what persons, companies and technologies to target for hacking.

After the data was stolen, Su translated the information from English into Chinese.

Su and his co-conspirators each wrote, revised and emailed reports about the information and technology they had acquired “to the final beneficiaries of their hacking activities,” the Justice Department said.

Sentencing was set for July 13. Su faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain from the offense.

Last September, Obama and Xi addressed the issue of cybertheft at their Washington meeting, and both leaders agreed it was unacceptable.

Obama said after the talks that “we’ve agreed that neither the US or the Chinese government will conduct or knowingly support cyber-enabled theft of intellectual property.”

Xi said “China strongly opposes and combats the theft of commercial secrets and other kinds of hacking attacks.”

Analysts have been cautious, warning that it remained to be seen if Beijing would live up to its agreement to crack down on hacking.

One report by a cybersecurity firm said hackers linked to the Chinese government kept up efforts to break into US computer networks shortly after the cybersecurity agreement.

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The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has announced a further £472 million for the Royal Navy’s Type 26 Global Combat Ship program. It will allow the MOD to continue progressing the project’s demonstration phase, with additional investment for detailed design work, the purchase of essential equipment and setting up shore-based testing facilities.

This demonstrates an enduring commitment to the program, centered on the Clyde, which will benefit suppliers across the UK including companies in Fife, Midlothian, Derbyshire, Warwickshire, West Yorkshire, Hampshire, Dorset, Bristol and Leicestershire.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:

“These highly advanced ships will help keep Britain safe and support our ship-building industry. Investing in them is part of our plan to increase defence spending so our Armed Forces have the most modern equipment they need.”

Key equipment purchases will include diesel generators; sonar domes, which form the bow-mounted sonar used for Anti-Submarine detection; helicopter handling equipment to control the movement of aircraft to/from the hanger; mission bay side doors, for the loading/unloading of equipment; and the stabilizer and steering gear system, key elements of the T26 navigation system. These will all provide further work for the Type 26 Global Combat Ship supply chain.

Meanwhile, shore-based testing facilities will assess key parts of the ship’s power and propulsion system and the Combat System.

The Type 26 Global Combat Ship will replace in time the Type 23 Frigates, and will undertake the Royal Navy’s three core roles – warfighting, maritime security and international engagement – worldwide.

Together with two additional Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), making five OPVs in total, and the planned light General Purpose Frigate, the warships will be a key element of the UK’s defence, specializing in Anti-Submarine Warfare.

Chief Executive of Defence Equipment and Support, the MOD’s procurement organization, Tony Douglas added:

“We have a long history of delivering complex warships in the UK and as a result of today’s announcement we will continue to develop a clear way forward for the Type 26 Global Combat Ship Program that reflects the recent Strategic Defence and Security Review, in which the design is further matured while extending the engagement of the wider UK supply chain.”

The Type 26 Global Combat Ship will be in service with the Royal Navy into the 2050s. The ship is being designed so it can be upgraded as new technology develops, so that it remains relevant and capable far into the future.

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Rosoboronexport, a subsidiary of the Rostec State Corporation, begins active promotion to the international market of the newest Russian-made man-portable air defence missile system (MANPADS) “Verba” designed and manufactured by the KBM Scientific Production Concern, a subsidiary of JSC High Precision Systems Scientific Production Association.

At present the Verba MANPADS is entering into service with the Russian Army, and its first appearance abroad will take place at the “DEFEXPO India – 2016” major international land and naval systems exhibition to be held in South Goa, India, from 28 to 31 March 2016.

“Traditionally Russia is ranked among world’s leading manufacturers of air defence weapons including man-portable missile systems (MANPADS). We are confident that the Verba will provoke interest of Indian militaries and our partners in South East Asia and other regions. It is the best weapon system in its class among offered today in the international arms market, judging by the combination of its tactical and technical characteristics and realisation of unique technical solutions.

It should be noted here that the demand for the Igla-S MANPADS, which is a predecessor to the Verba, is expected to remain at the same level since it satisfies the requirements of armies in many countries,” stressed Sergei Goreslavsky, deputy director general of JSC Rosoboronexport.

Verba MANPADS: tactical and technical characteristics

Anti-air combat performance of the Verba MANPADS has been significantly improved by introducing a new highly sensitive tri-band optical homer into the 9M336 missile as well as new instruments and a unique warhead featuring an adaptive contact / proximity fuze and increased-weight explosive.

These measures have provided the following improvements:

• Enhanced capability of engaging small-size targets with low thermal signatures, first of all such as cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles;
• Enhanced jamming immunity to contemporary high-power pyrotechnical jamming devices;
• Enhanced combat effectiveness against modern air strike weapons thanks to more powerful missile warhead and high-precision guidance system.

Low-weight highly automated combat assets of the MANPADS enable its operator to engage air targets flying within the following parameter envelope:

• altitude – 10 m to 3,500 m;
• range – 500 m to 6,000 m;
• airspeed – up to 400 m/s (approaching), or up to 320 m/s (receding);
• maneuvering loads – up to +8 g.

The organic 1PN97N Maugli-2M night vision sight allows target acquisition round the clock and target engagement at a far-off boundary of the kill envelope.

The Verba MANPADS can be also mounted on various land, maritime and airborne platforms.

Joint employment of the 9M336 missiles of the Verba MANPADS, combat control set of equipment and launch modules makes it possible to build on their basis light-weight mobile close-in air defence missile systems, or to include these assets into existing air defence missile and artillery systems. Optional deployment of the MANPADS combat assets on various carriers allows salvo launching of missiles, which enhances target kill probability by 1.5 times.

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