{"id":29362,"date":"2016-11-01T12:30:14","date_gmt":"2016-11-01T01:30:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/?p=29362"},"modified":"2016-10-31T15:26:11","modified_gmt":"2016-10-31T04:26:11","slug":"sea-air-land-space-updates-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/sea-air-land-space-updates-11\/","title":{"rendered":"Sea, air, land and space updates"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sea State <\/strong><\/p>\n The search is officially underway for Canada\u2019s new major surface combatant. Last week, the Canadian government requested off-the-shelf design and combat systems integration proposals<\/a> from 12 pre-qualified bidders for its Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) project. The CSC project is set to replace Canada\u2019s fleet of Halifax-class frigates and (now mostly retired<\/a>) Iroquois-class destroyers with up to 15 new ships. According to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Ottawa is demanding a high level of detail<\/a> from the bidders, including the number of nuts and bolts that will be used during construction. While the exact cost of the ships won\u2019t be known until a design is selected next year, observers are pegging the project at around C$40 billion<\/a>.<\/p>\n One of Russia\u2019s most intriguing submarines, the Podmoskovye<\/em>, began sea trials<\/a> last week. The Podmoskovye <\/em>is a Delta IV stretch nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine that has been converted to serve as a mothership<\/a> for unmanned underwater vehicles and Russia\u2019s mysterious Project 1851-class (\u2018Paltus\u2019), Project 10831-class (\u2018Losharik\u2019) and Project 1910 (\u2018Kashalot\u2019) submarines. Little\u2019s known about those vessels (save for the photo of one was accidentally published<\/a> on the cover of a car magazine) but many analysts believe that their focus is on deep water intelligence gathering and ocean surveillance missions.<\/p>\n Flight Path<\/strong><\/p>\n A-10 news<\/a> has kept us on our toes this year. The US Air Force\u2019s attempts to divest the A-10 Thunderbolt (aka Warthog) in favour of funding the F-35 stealth fighter has resulted in repeated pressure from US Congress<\/a> and the public. As a result, retirement plans have been pushed back numerous times. But ground troops can breathe a sigh of relief this week as US Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) chief Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski confirmed<\/a> plans to fly the A-10 indefinitely. AFMC has reportedly begun rebuilding depot-line capacity and the supply chain to provide more A-10 sustainment.<\/p>\n China has accused<\/a> Japan of \u2018unprofessional, dangerous and provocative behaviour\u2019 and endangering its military aircraft, including locking fire-control radars onto PLA Air Force aircraft. Japan\u2019s Air Self-Defense Force has reportedly dispatched fighter jets 571 times<\/a> during the 2015\u201316 fiscal year in order to intercept Chinese military aircraft approaching or flying in Japanese airspace.<\/p>\n Rapid Fire<\/strong><\/p>\n India is on track to procure 145 American M777 Ultra Lightweight Howitzers. The Indian Defence Ministry\u2019s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved the purchase in July. Disagreements delayed final acceptance until 20 October, when the DAC cleared the US$750 million acquisition. Manufactured by BAE Systems, the guns are easily airlifted for use in mountain warfare<\/a>, and will be deployed in high altitude areas in Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh<\/a>, on the Sino\u2013Indian border. The deal marks India\u2019s first artillery purchase since the Bofors scandal<\/a> in the 1980s.<\/p>\n Melbourne-based defence systems integrator Tectonica is set to team up with German firm Rheinmetall Defence<\/a> to advance the latter\u2019s bid for Phase 2 of the Australian Army\u2019s Land 400 project. Rheinmetall offered its Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle to meet the Phase 2 requirement. The partnership, announced on 28 October, will see Rheinmetall provide funding and support for Tectonica in developing and manufacturing a local situational awareness system<\/a> (LSAS) for the Boxer. Under the agreement, if Rheinmetall\u2019s bid is successful, the LSAS will be made available for export through its global supply chain.<\/p>\n Finally, the US Army expects laser weapons for the defence of vehicles against artillery and mortar shells and drones to become operational by 2023. Check out more in this video report<\/a>.<\/p>\n Zero Gravity <\/strong><\/p>\n An upgraded Russian Soyuz MS-01 capsule has landed<\/a> in the deserts of Kazakhstan, returning three Russian, American and Japanese astronauts to Earth. Their successful landing marked the end of a 115-day space mission to the International Space Station. The team performed almost 160 experiments and technology tests in space, including the first genetic sequencing in space.<\/p>\n