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AllAfrica
12-06-2025
- Business
- AllAfrica
New heights for China's arms diplomacy in South Asia
China is arming Pakistan and Azerbaijan with high-tech fighter jets, missile shields and surveillance aircraft — a bold play to redraw the balance of power in South Asia and the Caucasus. This month, Breaking Defense reported that Pakistan confirmed China's offer of 40 fifth-generation Shenyang J-35 stealth fighters, KJ-500 AEW&C aircraft and HQ-19 air defense systems. The deal was first leaked in December 2024 and now publicly credited by Islamabad to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's diplomacy. Also known as the FC-31, the J-35 is developed for both China's air force and navy and made its debut at Airshow China 2024. It features stealth shaping similar to that of the US F-35 Lightning II. Deliveries to Pakistan are expected within the next few months. The announcement follows a separate US$4.6 billion agreement between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, in which Baku will procure 40 JF-17 fighter jets co-manufactured by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and China's Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC). China's defense exports to Islamabad signal deeper strategic alignment amid growing regional competition. As Pakistan pursues advanced capabilities, the deal highlights China's growing presence in global arms sales, particularly among states seeking alternatives to Western defense suppliers. Defense Security Asia notes in an article this month that the J-35, HQ-19 and KJ-500 represent a considerable leap in Pakistan's air defense capabilities. According to the report, the J-35 fifth-generation fighter armed with PL-17 missiles boasting a range of over 400 kilometers enables Pakistan to target high-value Indian aerial assets from beyond visual range. It also states that the HQ-19 system, dubbed the 'Chinese THAAD,' is designed for the high-altitude interception of intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs) and hypersonic threats up to 150 kilometers above the ground, utilizing hit-to-kill technology and promising exoatmospheric defense with tracking radars that reach 1,000 kilometers. Meanwhile, Defense Security Asia mentions that the KJ-500 provides 360-degree radar coverage with its active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, tracking up to 100 targets over a 470-kilometer range while coordinating air operations through advanced electronic intelligence. China's transfer of interoperable systems reflects its approach to systems warfare, as explained by Michael Dahm in a May 2025 article for Air & Space Forces Magazine. According to Dahm, one of the most essential takeaways from the April 2025 Kashmir clash is how Pakistan integrated its Chinese-origin weapons and air defenses against India, forming an effective kill chain. Dahm says that Pakistan's J-10 downing of a prized Indian Rafale jet says more about the quality of intangible factors between the opposing sides, such as system-of-systems integration, training and tactics, rather than the capabilities of either aircraft. Azerbaijan's decision to purchase JF-17 jets co-produced by China and Pakistan marks a significant departure from its traditional arms purchases from Russia. Paul Iddon notes in an April 2024 Business Insider article that while Russia has previously marketed the Su-30SM, Su-35 and MiG-25 fighters to Azerbaijan, the former's arms exports to the latter ceased in 2019, creating a vacuum for other arms exporters, such as Turkey, Pakistan, and China, to fill. In the same article, Federico Borsari notes that, as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and subsequent sanctions, Russia's arms exports have dropped as much as 64%, according to 2024 data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Borsari also notes that the poor performance of Russian aircraft in the Russia-Ukraine war may have prompted Azerbaijan to reconsider its arms purchases from Russia. Highlighting the political aspect of Azerbaijan's decision to purchase JF-17 jets, Sebastien Roblin notes in the same article that Russia's unreliability as a supplier, along with Western concerns over Azerbaijan's human rights record and potential future conflicts with Armenia, has made Turkey, Pakistan and China ideal partners. In terms of capability, Roblin says the JF-17 is a substantial upgrade over Azerbaijan's Soviet-era MiG-29 jets, with its newer electronics and the PL-15 missile possibly giving it an edge over Armenia's Russian-made Su-30SM fighters. China's arms sales to Pakistan and Azerbaijan tie into its larger military-economic interests. Jake Rinaldi mentions in a November 2024 article for the US Army War College that China's arms exports are driven by the need to protect its economic interests, gain influence in conflict zones, enhance the capabilities of its partners, build diplomatic relationships and offset research and development costs. Importantly, Pakistan and Azerbaijan are part of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a global land-and-sea infrastructure project that aims to offset the latter's 'Malacca Dilemma,' a strategic weakness wherein most of its trade and fuel imports passes through the narrow waterway, leaving it vulnerable to a US blockade in the event of a conflict. In line with that, Mohit Choudhary mentions in a February 2023 article for the Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs that as China's sea lanes of communication (SLOCs) straddle the Indian Ocean, China leverages economic, diplomatic and security influence in a region fraught with fragile states such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Choudhary notes that India views the Indian Ocean as its sphere of influence, and China's increasing presence in the region through dual-use port infrastructure and arms exports heightens India's sense of insecurity. Likewise, Emil Avdaliani mentions in an April 2025 South China Morning Post (SCMP) article that China's ambitions in West Asia and the Black Sea region have grown in the past years, with the strategic goal of developing the Middle Corridor, a trade route that connects Europe and China via Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, requiring significant economic and security investment. Avdaliani states that while Russia remains a significant source of military technology for Central Asia and, by extension, the Caucasus, the space for Russian arms exports is narrowing while China opens its defense industry, thereby eroding Russia's regional sphere of influence. China isn't just selling weapons. It is building alliances, projecting power and rewriting the rules of the global arms game. It is transforming arms sales into strategic tools of influence — building alliances, displacing rivals and reshaping the rules of power projection from the Indian Ocean to the Black Sea.
Newsweek
20-05-2025
- Science
- Newsweek
US Military Receives Major Boost Against Hypersonic Missiles
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The United States military has received an upgraded Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) radar, capable of tracking hypersonic missiles. Newsweek has contacted the U.S. Missile Defense Agency for further comment by email. Why It Matters A hypersonic weapon is defined as one capable of flying at Mach 5 or faster—over five times the speed of sound. Unlike ballistic missiles, which travel on a predictable trajectory, this type of "superfast" weapon can maneuver in flight, making it difficult to intercept. Both China and Russia have put hypersonic weapons into service, while North Korea and Iran claim to have developed and tested similar systems. In late March, the U.S. conducted a missile defense test by firing a simulated interceptor at a hypersonic target over the Pacific. The delivery of the upgraded THAAD AN/TPY-2 radar to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency comes as Washington pushes for an American version of Israel's Iron Dome air defense system—also known as the "Golden Dome"—to defend against current and future aerial threats. What To Know Raytheon, the U.S. defense contractor that manufactures the AN/TPY-2 radar, announced the delivery on Monday. The radar can detect, track, and discriminate ballistic missiles in multiple phases of flight to defend the U.S. and allies, the company stated. An AN/TPY-2 radar is positioned in the Kwajalein Atoll of the Marshall Islands during a flight test on August 11, 2012. An AN/TPY-2 radar is positioned in the Kwajalein Atoll of the Marshall Islands during a flight test on August 11, 2012. U.S. Missile Defense Agency While this is the 13th AN/TPY-2 radar handed over to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, it is the first with a complete Gallium Nitride populated array, providing greater sensitivity to increase range, expanding surveillance capacity and supporting hypersonic defense missions. The new radar can "see things twice as far," Jon Norman, vice president for Air and Space Defense Systems Requirements and Capabilities at Raytheon, told the specialist outlet Breaking Defense. The radar's original version has an estimated range of over 1,800 miles. A longer detection range allows earlier decisions to be made on the type of interceptor needed to destroy a target, he said, adding that interceptors can be launched by THAAD as well as other missile defense systems, including the Standard Missile and the Patriot. Regarding its hypersonic defense capability, Norman claimed that the upgraded radar can now detect what he called "very small targets" when a missile's booster separates from its warhead after launch. "We can hit it before it starts maneuvering," he told Breaking Defense. In addition, the radar can detect and track targets more clearly and distinguish between a threat and non-threatening objects, like separation debris, Raytheon explained in a press release. According to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, two foreign countries—the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia—have procured the THAAD system. The United Arab Emirates carried out the first combat intercept by THAAD, intercepting ballistic missiles in 2022. A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor launcher sits in position at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam on February 5, 2019. A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor launcher sits in position at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam on February 5, 2019. Capt. Adan Cazarez/U.S. Army What People Are Saying Sam Deneke, president of Air and Space Defense Systems at Raytheon, said: "This is the most advanced version of AN/TPY-2 that Raytheon has built, leveraging years of investment and innovation to produce superior capability at a lower cost to the U.S. armed forces…As demand increases for missile defense of the homeland, the AN/TPY-2 radar is ready to meet the mission." The U.S. Missile Defense Agency said: "The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) element provides the Missile Defense System with a globally-transportable, rapidly-deployable capability to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles inside or outside the atmosphere during their final, or terminal, phase of flight." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether the enhanced AN/TPY-2 radar will be deployed at overseas locations. The U.S. military has stationed earlier versions of the missile defense radar in Turkey, Israel, Japan, South Korea and Guam, according to the specialist outlet The War Zone.
American Military News
24-04-2025
- Politics
- American Military News
Pics: Egypt holds military drills with China in historic first
Egypt and China are conducting military drills in Egyptian airspace after launching the 'Eagles of Civilization 2025' on April 19. Last week, China's Ministry of National Defense published a press release, saying, 'According to the consensus between the Chinese and Egyptian militaries, the Chinese PLA Air Force will send a detachment to Egypt to take part in the China-Egypt joint air force training code-named 'Eagles of Civilization 2025' from mid April to early May in 2025.' China's Ministry of National Defense added, 'This is the first joint training between the Chinese and Egyptian militaries, which is of great significance to promoting pragmatic cooperation and enhancing mutual trust and friendship between the two militaries.' According to The War Zone, China's People's Liberation Army Air Force has deployed J-10B/C fighters, a KJ-50 AWACS aircraft, and a Y-20U aerial refueling tanker for the military drills, while Egypt is flying MiG-29M/M2 Fulcrum fighters. In a post on Facebook, an Egyptian military spokesperson confirmed that 'a number of multi-role fighter aircraft of various models' are being featured in the joint military drills and that the 'Eagles of Civilization 2025' exercises are aimed to 'unify combat concepts between the two sides through a series of theoretical and practical lectures.' READ MORE: China's military buildup poses 'real and serious threat,' Pentagon warns The Egyptian military spokesperson said, 'The training will also involve joint aerial sorties, planning exercises, and simulated air combat management operations to exchange expertise and enhance the skills of the participating forces.' The spokesperson added that the current military drills are 'within the framework of strengthening military cooperation relations between the Egyptian and Chinese armed forces.' Mohammed Soliman, a Middle East Institute senior fellow, told Breaking Defense that the joint military drills featuring Egypt and China represent a 'pivotal shift in Middle Eastern geopolitics' as a United States ally is partnering with China on military exercises. Soliman noted that by hosting the Chinese People's Liberation Army's Air Force, Egypt is signaling to the United States that it is frustrated by 'US restrictions on modernizing its F-16 fleet' and that the U.S. ally is 'poised to diversify its defense procurement.' David Des Roches, a professor at the Near East South Asia Center for Security Studies, told Breaking Defense that the joint military exercises come as Egypt is growing increasingly concerned regarding military aid annually provided by the United States. Roches said, 'The Trump administration is more skeptical towards foreign aid than previous administrations in the past, and the aid to Egypt is always viewed with skepticism within the United States, even when relations with Egypt are generally favorable.' Pictures of the joint Egyptian and Chinese military drills were shared Sunday on X, formerly Twitter. The 1st training day of the "Eagle of Civilization 2025" China & Egypt joint training began on April 19, PLAAF training group consisted of J-10C/S fighters, a KJ-500 AWACS a/c, YY-20A tanker and helio. — dafeng cao (@dafengcao) April 20, 2025
AllAfrica
14-04-2025
- Business
- AllAfrica
Indonesia looks to Turkey to up its laggard air power
Indonesia is betting on Turkey's Kaan fighter jet to modernize its aging air force—but can Jakarta's ambition overcome its budget reality? Breaking Defense reported this month that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is interested in joining Turkey's Kaan fighter jet development program. The expression of interest came during a high-level meeting in Ankara with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Kaan program, spearheaded by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), focuses on creating a fifth-generation combat aircraft to address Turkey's punitive removal from the US F-35 fighter program after it acquired Russia's S-400 missile defense systems, which Washington considers sensitive. At their joint press conference, Subianto emphasized Indonesia's desire to partner with Turkey's defense industry on the Kaan project as well as submarine development. The Kaan aircraft made its first flight in February 2024, successfully attaining an altitude of 8,000 feet and reaching speeds of 230 knots. The program aims to deliver its first production model to the Turkish Air Force by 2028-2029, with future models having sixth-generation capabilities, such as manned-unmanned teaming with Turkish UAVs. The potential collaboration aligns with Erdogan's broader strategy to nationalize Turkey's defense sector. Indonesia's interest underscores its drive for military modernization and reflects the growing geopolitical significance of defense cooperation between the Indo-Pacific and Middle East regions. TAI declined to comment on the development. Indonesia has faced significant struggles in modernizing its air force. In a March 2021 commentary for the Singapore-based S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Olli Suorsa mentions that Indonesia's primary combat aircraft, the F-16, Hawk and Su-27/30 come in six variants from three manufacturers. Suorsa says this force composition makes maintenance, repair and overhaul difficult and costly, with interoperability among various types practically non-existent. He also points out that Indonesia's air force modernization has struggled with funding, lack of government commitment and an inefficient, highly personalized acquisition policy. Indonesia's attempts to modernize its air force have had mixed results. For instance, in December 2022, it dropped its plans to acquire Russian Su-35s due to US pressure and the threat of sanctions. Also, the country has been struggling to pay its share in South Korea's KF-21 Boramae next-generation fighter project. As of March 2025, Indonesia had only paid 25% of its pledged contribution, which is 20% of the project's US$5.5 billion budget until 2026. This situation led the South Korean government to take up 74.5% of Indonesia's outstanding balance of $322.2 million, with Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) shouldering the remaining 25.5%. These capability gaps led Indonesia to consider stopgap solutions, such as buying used Qatari Mirage 2000 jets, which did not push through due to technical, practical and corruption concerns. While Indonesia placed an order for 42 French Rafale jets in February 2022, with the first jets expected to arrive in 2026, the fighter's lack of stealth and suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) capability makes it vulnerable to an adversary with an advanced integrated air defense system (IADS), according to a January 2025 report by the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI). The IFRI report mentions that French pilots flying Rafales found winning against F-35s in joint exercises challenging due to the former's sensor limitations. It adds that while the Rafale is still relevant in the short and medium term, its capabilities are becoming increasingly inadequate for high-intensity combat operations within a coalition setting. While Indonesia's partnership with Turkey allows the former to future-proof its air force to some degree, the Kaan's dependency on foreign assistance may cast doubts on its exportability. In a May 2024 War on the Rocks article, Rebecca Lucas and Stuart Lee mention that building a fifth-generation fighter is difficult, as the US is the only other NATO member with indigenous fifth-generation aircraft programs, such as the F-22 and F-35. Lucas and Lee say countries with independent fourth-generation fighter programs, such as France with its Rafale and Sweden with its Gripen, disguise their reliance on external suppliers for key systems. They point out that for Kaan, Turkey used technical advice from UK defense firm BAE Systems and US-supplied General Electric F110 engines while an indigenous replacement is underway. According to them, that situation raises questions about whether Turkey can turn the Kaan from a one-off test aircraft into a repeatable, exportable and sustainable program in service. They add that export restrictions from critical Kaan technical data suppliers and subsystems may limit Turkey's future choices. In an October 2020 article, Luerdi and Hizra Marisa explain the possible reasons why Indonesia views Turkey as an ideal high-end military modernization partner. They note Turkey can help Indonesia to narrow existing defense weaknesses, such as a limited domestic technology base, insufficient strategic military hardware and dependence on major powers' supplies. Luerdi and Marisa highlight Turkey's leading position in military technology and arms sales as key to such a partnership. In line with that, a March 2025 report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) says that in 2024, Turkey was the 11th largest arms exporter globally, with most of its sales going to the UAE, Pakistan and Qatar. Molly Campbell mentions in a September 2024 article for the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) that military drone exports served as Turkey's gateway into the global arms industry. Campbell mentions that since 2018, Turkey has made 65% of all sales, overtaking China as the world's largest military drone supplier. Jens Bastian mentions in a February 2024 report for Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) that Turkey's armament projects, such as the Bayraktar TB-2, Altay main battle tank (MBT), Anka-3 stealth drone and Kaan fighter show its aim to become independent of international providers, systematically promote technological innovation with start-ups and universities and increase its capacity to export various weapons systems. However, Turkey must keep costs down given the saturated fighter jet market. Can Kasapoglu mentions in a June 2024 Atlantic Council article that the Kaan faces competition from the US F-35, South Korea's KF-21, France's Rafale and Sweden's Gripen. Kasapoglu says that Turkey's best sales pitch for the Kaan would be to position it as an alternative NATO-grade fighter for countries that cannot purchase the F-35. Further, Monty Pounder mentions in a Channel News Asia (CNA) article this month that despite Subianto's ambitious military wish list, Indonesia's defense spending has hovered around only 1% of GDP for decades. Pounder says the Indonesian state collects relatively little revenue and has one of the lowest revenue-to-GDP ratios in the Asia-Pacific region. He also says that the impact of Indonesia's planned acquisitions must be assessed against its military's low baseline capabilities. Pounder says the Indonesian Air Force's F-16s will approach 40 years of service as the Rafale jets arrive in 2026. If such trends continue, even if Indonesia manages to acquire Turkey's Kaan, it might not significantly affect its overall military capability.
See - Sada Elbalad
04-04-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Reports: Head of NSA, Cyber Command Dismissed
Taarek Refaat A platform concerned with defense and military affair "Breaking Defense" revealed important decisions taken by the administration of President Donald Trump in the past few hours to reorganize the US national security apparatus. Breaking Defense explained that Trump removed General Timothy Haugh from his position as director of Cyber Command, as well as from his position as director of the US National Security Agency (NSA), responsible for eavesdropping and monitoring communications. Haugh had held the dual position since February 2024. The platform indicated that his deputy, Wendy Noble, was removed from her position for reasons that are not yet known. In an interview with Breaking Defense, a spokesperson for the US National Security Agency stated that he could not provide any information at this time, indicating that Haugh could be assigned to another position or even promoted to newly established branches of the US defense and national security system. The Washington Post has hinted in several reports at ideas the new US administration intends to implement within the defense and national security system and its agencies. Among these ideas is separating the US Army's Cyber Command and the National Security Agency so that they operate independently of each other. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Videos & Features Bouchra Dahlab Crowned Miss Arab World 2025 .. Reem Ganzoury Wins Miss Arab Africa Title (VIDEO) News Israeli PM Diagnosed with Stage 3 Prostate Cancer News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple
