The Z-10ME, seen here at Singapore Airshow 2024. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)
Beijing’s state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) is marketing an export variant of its Changhe Aircraft Industries (Group) Company Z-10 attack helicopter at Singapore Airshow 2024.

Dubbed as the Z-10 ME, the helicopter is being shown overseas for the first time, an AVIC representative who spoke to
Janes
at the airshow has confirmed.

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WA2000 Sniper rifle: From Cold War to Modern Warfare
Introduction
The WA2000 sniper rifle is a remarkable fusion of Cold War technology and modern craftsmanship. Developed during a time of heightened international tensions, this firearm has evolved into a formidable weapon on today’s battlefield. This article will explore the history, design, and performance of the WA2000, showcasing its unique blend of legacy and innovation.

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The World’s Fastest Fighter Jets: USA vs Russia vs China
The World’s Fastest Fighter Jets: USA vs Russia vs China
Since the invention of the airplane in 1903, aviation has flourished as a complex and strategically important human activity that has profoundly changed every aspect of life. In this field, the advancement of aviation technology has not only promoted the development of civil aviation but also spawned a powerful air force in the military, which has become a pillar of modern armed forces.

A drill sergeant who trains new recruits to be infantry soldiers became the first to shoot a perfect over the five weeks of an Army course for marksmanship instructors.
Staff Sgt. Do Hwan Yi shot a perfect 170-out-of-170 on every critical shooting event at the Marksmanship Master Trainer Course at Fort Moore, Georgia in December.
He is the first soldier to not miss a single shot while completing the five-week course, which formally began in 2018.

Kim Jong Un’s luxury car collection has a new vehicle in its ranks, thanks to the transfer of a Russian-made Aurus as a gift from Russian President Vladimir Putin. The offering, which is widely considered a violation of United Nations (U.N.) sanctions against North Korea, comes as the two countries have moved closer together — spurred by Russia’s urgent need for weaponry and North Korea’s demand for, well, nearly everything.

As Task Force Lima moves towards its fast-approaching deadline to help the Pentagon responsibly understand, adopt, and secure powerful and still-emerging generative AI technologies, a key element of its work is to produce a set of classification guidelines to inform the military’s use of large language models. 
“That’s one of my deliverables. So, I have to have that done in order to claim ‘mission complete,’” Task Force Lima Mission Commander Navy Capt. M. Xavier Lugo told DefenseScoop on Tuesday.

A U.S. Marine recites the Pledge of Allegiance during a naturalization ceremony hosted at the Camp Foster Community Center on Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 14, 2023. (Cpl. Jonathan Beauchamp/U.S. Marine Corps).
Two members of Congress have introduced a bill that would help vetted and qualified immigrants who serve in the U.S. military become American citizens.

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Russia may have spent more than $210 billion on the war in Ukraine
The Pentagon said Russia spent about 211 billion USD in nearly two years of fighting in Ukraine, as well as suffering many losses in arms revenue.

According to statistical data recently published by the Pentagon, in addition to the amount spent, Russia also lost about 10 billion USD due to having to stop selling weapons or canceling defense orders during nearly two years of war with Ukraine.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The Navy is moving to the second phase of a pilot effort to integrate information warfare personnel and capabilities aboard submarines.
Previously, the Navy had placed an information warfare professional and two cryptologic technicians on two subs: USS New Mexico and USS Washington.

AURORA, Colo. — Lockheed Martin Space’s innovation unit has greenlit another mission to experiment with and demonstrate new technologies on orbit — this time focusing on tactical communications and artificial intelligence capabilities.
No later than March, the company will launch two small satellites into low-Earth orbit for its Pony Express 2 mission.

MilitaryView

Russia upgrades Kinzhal missiles to defeat anti-aircraft systems
The Kinzhal and Iskander-M, selected for their similar characteristics, share a unique launch dynamic.
Technological advances promise to increase the lethality of the Iskander ballistic missile and the Kinzhal hypersonic cruise missile, expanding their range of action, providing them with more devastating warheads, improving their ability to avoid anti-aircraft systems through more agile maneuvers and perfecting communications to coordinate multiple attacks.

Media in China reported that a man was jailed for 10 months after having an affair with the wife of a deployed soldier. No such plans are underway in the U.S. to jail Jodys. Photo by Liu Yang/VCG via Getty Images.
Reports of a recent legal case in China say a man was sentenced to 10-months in prison for misbehavior that would not be a crime in the U.S. but that many U.S. troops likely think should be.

Russia has finally begun receiving hundreds of Iranian ballistic missiles, according to a new report. If true, these deliveries would bolster Russia’s dwindling ballistic missile arsenal, which has already presented significant challenges for defenders in neighboring Ukraine, with additional combat-proven types. The War Zone highlighted these exact issues in detail before and after the first reports that Iran might send ballistic missiles to Russia first emerged in late 2022.

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Ukraine has shot down six of the best Russian fighters in three days
The Ukrainian Air Force has optimized its defense capabilities through the strategic distribution of Patriot missile batteries, with key locations in kyiv, the south, and the east of the country.
The Ukrainian Air Force faces a critical shortage of its most sophisticated arsenal, including U.S.-made Patriot missiles, which stand out for their aerial interception capabilities at ranges of up to 90 miles.

A lot happens every day. Alliances shift, leaders change, and conflicts erupt. With In Brief, we’ll help you make sense of it all. Each week, experts will dig deep on a single issue happening in the world to help you better understand it. *** Last week, leaders of the Department of the Air Force “unveiled sweeping plans for reshaping, refocusing, and reoptimizing the Air Force and Space Force to ensure continued supremacy in those domains while also better posturing the services to deter and, if necessary, prevail in an era of Great Power Competition.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The Navy has built a concept for specialized teams delivering non-kinetic effects in the fleet, and there’s a plan to develop more within the next two years.
The term “non-kinetic effects,” in Pentagon parlance, generally refers to capabilities that don’t blow up or explode such as cyber, electromagnetic spectrum, or space-based tools. They have come into sharper focus in recent years and the U.S. military has sought ways to expand their use and integration as a complement to more traditional weapon systems.

The U.K. Ministry of Defense (MoD) has moved to provide reassurances after the failure of the Royal Navy’s latest Trident submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) test. However, this is now the second British Trident test in a succession to go awry and it provides further ammunition for critics of the U.K.’s hugely expensive nuclear deterrent.
The MoD has provided very few details of what happened during the latest test involving the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) HMS Vanguard in the Atlantic on January 30.

A somber moment as U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Jack Casey’s funeral procession rolled by a group of first responders and locals showing their support. (Joshua Skovlund/Task & Purpose).
DOVER, N.H. — After arriving outside Tendercrop Farm, I noticed how unusually quiet the road was. The temperature was just above freezing, the air crisp with an occasional gust of wind on an otherwise nice winter day in New Hampshire. A red and white fire truck gleamed in the bright sun, its ladder extended with an American flag suspended from the end.

Turkey’s next-generation fighter, previously known as the TF-X, and now as the TF Kaan, made its first flight today. While the prototype had been delayed getting into the air, based on the previously announced plans, it remains a highly significant milestone for Turkey’s burgeoning aerospace industry and one that was still achieved in a remarkably compressed timeline.

KAAN, #GökVatan‘ı ile buluştu.🇹🇷.

Poland has opened and inaugurated its new ‘Regional Competency Centre’ for users of the Abrams main battle tank in Poznan.

HMS
Vanguard
is the lead boat of a four-strong class of Trident-armed SSBNs whose role is to provide the UK’s strategic nuclear deterrent.
(UK MoD)
The test firing of an unarmed Trident II D5 missile from one of the UK Royal Navy’s (RN’s) nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) has failed, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed.

According to Elbit Systems, the Hermes 650’s front-engine configuration is designed to support several capabilities such as short take-off, increased endurance, and the ability to support a diverse payload. (Elbit Systems/Janes)
Elbit Systems unveiled its new front-engine Hermes 650 Spark tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on 21 February at Singapore Air Show 2024.

The German Navy’s Type 124 Sachsen-class air-defence frigate FGS
Hessen
(F 221) departs Wilhelmshaven, bound for the Red Sea, on 8 February.
(Bundeswehr/Julia Kelm)
The European Union (EU) has officially launched its new maritime operation to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemen-based Houthi rebels.

The UK’s nuclear deterrent plopped into the sea during a test in Florida, the second Trident missile misfire in a row.

Sweden Ministry of Defence has announced its largest military support package to Ukraine to date, which includes maritime and land systems.

Sweden and Denmark have agreed to co-finance the 50 Swedish CV90s donated to Ukraine and for the production of additional IFVs. (Hägglunds)
The Swedish government announced its largest military support package for Ukraine on its website on 20 February. The SEK7.1 billion (USD683 million) package includes a maritime package, ground equipment, and financial support for bilateral projects and funds.
The latter includes financial support for Ukraine to buy more CV90 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs).

Screengrab of a video showing the first flight of the Kaan combat aircraft on 21 February 2024. (Presidency of the Republic of Turkey)
Turkey has flown its Kaan National Combat Aircraft (MMU) for the first time, Turkish Aerospace (TA) announced.
The domestically developed ‘fifth-generation’ fighter departed TA’s Ankara facility for its approximately 15-minute maiden flight on 21 February. For the flight, the Kaan MMU was accompanied by a Turkish Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon chase plane.

The US Coast Guard operates US icebreakers such as Coast Guard Cutter
Healy
.
(Janes/Michael Fabey)
The US Coast Guard (USCG) has established a Polar Coordination Office (CG-PCO) under the USCG Director of Marine Transportation Systems (CG-5PW), the service confirmed on 20 February.
CG-PCO was stood up as an office on 4 July 2023 and reached initial operating capability (IOC) on 7 November 2023.
Office duties include developing USCG Arctic and Antarctic strategy and policy, the service said in its official establishment notice.

Image by Ted Eytan

The Defense Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion (DACODAI) was formed in 2022. The committee’s website says it is to “examine and provide recommendations to improve racial/ethnic diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity within the DoD [Department of Defense], with a primary focus on military personnel.”
Sounds innocuous. However, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) ideology promotes a radical, un-American belief system.

Lauren C. Williams, Defense One
USS John L. Canley was designed to tackle a variety of missions, including special operations and counter-mine efforts.

Jon Harper, DefenseScoop
The Silicon Valley-headquartered Defense Innovation Unit is looking for hardware via its FrontierNode initiative.

Garri Hendell, War Room
Philosophy is the context in which we discuss ethics, and ethics is the context in which we discuss morals and values.

William Roberts, Providence The United States cannot militarily extricate itself from Iraq without massively benefitting Iran

Young, RCH Three years ago, the United States gave up its defense of freedom and constitutional democracy for the people of Afghanistan.

A Republic of Singapore Air Force Apache AH-64D helicopter seen here at the Singapore Airshow 2024. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)
Singapore’s fleet of Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters will soon undergo a life extension programme (LEP).
The matter was confirmed by the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s (RSAF’s) outgoing chief, Major General Kelvin Khong, in a statement ahead of the Singapore Airshow 2024, held from 20 to 25 February.

Nato announced that European Nato allies have collectively met the 2% of GDP defence spending target for the first time.

An Arjun Mk 1A main battle tank. (Indian MoD/Janes)
The deliveries of Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO’s) Arjun Mk 1A main battle tanks (MBTs) to the Indian Army will experience a delay because of an engine shortage, a DRDO official told Janes on 20 February.
The Indian Army ordered 118 Arjun Mk 1A MBTs worth INR75.23 billion (USD907 million) in September 2021, with deliveries of the initial batch scheduled for 2024 and the final batch in 2027.

Discover how Bombardier’s patented method and system for synchrophasing aircraft engines reduces vibration levels and improves comfort. Learn more here.

Improve engine efficiency and performance with Woodward Inc’s patented gas mixer. This innovative technology optimizes gas mixing, controls flow, and reduces emissions.

Discover Rolls-Royce’s groundbreaking turbofan engine for supersonic aircraft, featuring unique design elements and innovative thrust control technology.

Discover how Bombardier Inc’s patented airstair systems with deployable upper steps revolutionize aircraft door operations.

Discover the groundbreaking patent granted to Aviation Industry Corp of China for a compound revolutionizing organic light-emitting devices in display technology.

Discover how AeroVironment’s patented motor assembly reduces damage from propeller ground strikes. Learn about the innovative method and system in this detailed article.

Revolutionize pilot training with Embraer’s patented flight simulator featuring a robotic arm, wraparound display, and projectors for an immersive experience. FAA-approved and customizable for different cockpit configurations.

Detect potentially hazardous faults in electrical circuits with Astronics Corp’s patented series arc detection apparatus. Enhance safety with quick and accurate fault detection for AC/DC power sources.

Discover the groundbreaking patent by General Atomics for sealing ceramic structures in extreme environments. Learn about the innovative process crucial for nuclear reactors and other demanding applications.

Experience high-quality super-resolution video playback of moving objects with minimal image artifacts with Elbit Systems Ltd’s patented method and system.

Workers at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant prepare 155 mm artillery rounds to be filled as a part of the load, assemble, and pack operation. (US Army)
It has been more than a year since the US Army announced its ramp-up of 155 mm ammunition was under way. Now, the Pentagon has to find a way to more than double its production output by the end of the year as the war in Ukraine marches on.

Lee Hsi-ming, Taiwan’s Plan for Victory: An Asymmetric Strategy to Use the Small to Control the Large: All of Taiwan Should Understand the Overall Defense Concept (Linking Books, 2022). In 1874, the Japanese Meiji government dispatched a punitive expedition to Taiwan. Its leaders sailed with instructions to exact retribution on indigenous islanders who, in 1871, had captured and executed a group of shipwrecked sailors.

HMAS
Waller
sails through Sydney Harbour as the boat prepares to berth at Fleet Base East, Sydney. Commissioned in July 1999, HMAS
Waller
is the third of six RAN Collins-class submarines.
(Commonwealth of Australia)
Although planning is well-advanced for the Life of Type Extension (LOTE) planned for all six of the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) conventionally powered Collins-class submarines, some question marks hang over the schedule and implementation of the multibillion-dollar programme.