Author: Michael

US Army/Heriberto Ibarra/White Sands Missile Range

The U.S. Army is exploring adding a second type of interceptor, capable of knocking down supersonic cruise missiles and large-caliber artillery rockets, to go with its future Enduring Shield Indirect Fire Protection systems. Enduring Shield is intended to provide an additional layer of defense against the ever-growing threats presented by cruise missiles, drones, and artillery rockets, and is already slated to fire the AIM-9X Sidewinder missile.

An Airman receives the COVID-19 vaccine at the Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, Pennsylvania, Jan. 28, 2021. (Joshua J. Seybert/US. Air Force).

The Defense Department is backtracking on an earlier statement that appeared to open the possibility that the more than 8,400 U.S. service members who were separated for refusing to get vaccinated for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) could receive back pay.
“Right now, we are not currently pursuing back pay for service members who were dismissed for refusing to take the COVID vaccination,” Air Force Brig. Gen.

During the Korean War, Navy Lt. Royce Williams went head-to-head with 7 Soviet fighters and not only survived, but left the fight with multiple confirmed kills. (Task & Purpose photo composite/Wikimedia Commons/U.S. Navy via Twitter).

More than 70 years ago, Navy Capt. Royce Williams flew in one of the greatest dogfights of all time, taking on seven Soviet jets alone in an engagement that remained classified for decades. 
This Friday, Williams will receive the Navy Cross — the service’s second-highest award for valor — for his heroic actions.

The military also has a long tradition of adopting hunting weapons and seven of them have left their mark over the decades.
The post 7 great hunting weapons chosen by the US military appeared first on Sandboxx.

Zvezda TV screencap/Fighterbomber/via Telegram

More and more evidence is emerging of Russia’s latest Mi-28NM combat helicopters being used in the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine. These helicopters also appear to be increasingly employing the new-generation LMUR, or izdeliye 305 missile, in combat. While The War Zone previously looked at the use of LMUR in Ukraine, we had not definitively seen the missile in action until now.
Before we get to the first iron-clad visual documentation of the LMUR’s employment in the conflict, here is some key background on its launch platform.

The Department of Defense has not yet determined exactly what existing and future desired capabilities will be needed to realize its vision for JADC2, its new way of fighting wars, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office.
GAO’s audit, which was part of a congressional ask to examine DOD’s goals, found that DOD is still in the early stages of defining what existing systems will contribute and what future capabilities are needed to be developed for Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2).

Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), a joint venture between India and Russia, has started producing AK-203 Kalashnikov assault rifles at Korwa in Uttar Pradesh, according to Alexander Mikheev, the Director General of Russia’s Rosoboronexport. 
General Manoj Pande, chief of the Indian Army, announced last week that the service would get its first shipment of 5,000 rifles in March. 
“The first 7.62 mm Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles have been made at the Korwa Ordnance Factory in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. In a statement from Rosoboronexport on Tuesday, Mr.

Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal today appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take personal action to prevent the implementation of the Indian government’s move to make helmets mandatory for Sikhs in the country’s armed forces. 
Terming this move as provocative, harsh, and insensitive, Badal said that this has never happened before in history and is absurd because Sikh soldiers have always been at the forefront of protecting the country. They never needed helmets in the past.

In a new series of war games, America’s ability to defend Taiwan from a Chinese invasion seems assured… but it would come at great cost.
The post The US military would likely prevail against a Chinese invasion of Taiwan (but at great cost) appeared first on Sandboxx.

The Pentagon’s Silicon Valley-based innovation hub is on the hunt for advanced flight-training capabilities that use emerging technologies like extended reality to teach the next generation of fighter pilots in synthetic environments.
The Defense Innovation Unit issued a new commercial solutions opening to acquire “best-in-class commercial immersive training solutions for synthetic training environments and extended-reality training devices to produce the next generation of fast-jet pilots.