Latest news with #HMSPrinceofWales
Newsweek
a day ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
US and NATO Ally Flex Aircraft Carrier Muscles in Pacific
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. Aircraft carriers deployed by the United States and the United Kingdom conducted joint operations during a war game amid concerns over China's increasing presence in the Pacific. The operations—which took place in the Timor Sea, north of Australia, as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025—followed China's simultaneous deployment of a pair of aircraft carriers in the western Pacific in June, in a move seen as challenging U.S. naval dominance. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese defense and foreign ministries for comment via email. Why It Matters The American aircraft carrier, USS George Washington, is one of the U.S. naval vessels based in Japan. Prior to its deployment near Australia, the nuclear-powered warship patrolled the South China Sea, where China is involved in territorial disputes with regional countries. Meanwhile, HMS Prince of Wales, a British aircraft carrier, has been leading a naval strike group on an eight-month mission since April. It is scheduled to visit Japan later this summer. The deployment of the Prince of Wales marked the fourth time a European North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member state has dispatched an aircraft carrier to the Indo-Pacific since 2021, supporting efforts to keep China in check while the U.S. remains preoccupied with tensions in the Middle East. The British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, front, and the United States aircraft carrier USS George Washington, back, sail in formation in the Timor Sea on July 18. The British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, front, and the United States aircraft carrier USS George Washington, back, sail in formation in the Timor Sea on July 18. Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Nicolas Quezada/U.S. Navy What To Know The USS George Washington, accompanied by the cruiser USS Robert Smalls and the destroyer USS Shoup, participated in dual aircraft carrier operations with the Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group in the Timor Sea on Friday, according to photos released by the U.S. Navy. The Prince of Wales was joined by two British ships—the destroyer HMS Dauntless and the tanker RFA Tidespring—alongside the Australian destroyer HMAS Sydney, the Norwegian frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen, and the Canadian frigate HMCS Ville de Québec. In addition to naval vessels sailing in formation, U.S. Navy aircraft were seen flying over the joint U.S.-U.K. carrier strike group. The aircraft, including F-35C stealth fighter jets, were assigned to the Carrier Air Wing 5, which was deployed aboard the USS George Washington. The Prince of Wales also carried up to two dozen F-35B fighter jets, which are capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings on ships without full-length runways, while the F-35C—one of their sister variants—is specifically designed for operations from aircraft carriers. The Royal Navy said this powerful demonstration of naval power brought together advanced capabilities and carrier aviation, describing the formation as a "mighty allied naval force." The U.S. also deployed the amphibious assault ship USS America, which operates F-35B aircraft, for Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025. According to U.S. Navy photos, the warship was seen conducting flight operations in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia, on Wednesday. The United States George Washington Carrier Strike Group sails alongside the British Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group in the Timor Sea on July 18. The United States George Washington Carrier Strike Group sails alongside the British Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group in the Timor Sea on July 18. Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Nicolas Quezada/U.S. Navy What People Are Saying The U.S. Navy said in a photo caption on Friday: "Talisman Sabre is the largest bilateral military exercise between Australia and the United States advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific by strengthening relationships and interoperability among key allies and partners, while enhancing our collective capabilities to respond to a wide array of potential security concerns." The Royal Navy said in a press release on Friday: "As allies demonstrate their commitment to the collective security of the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, the U.S. Navy's George Washington Carrier Strike Group joined up with the U.K. Carrier Strike Group for dual carrier operations in the Timor Sea—between the Australian mainland and Timor-Leste and Indonesia." What Happens Next? It remains to be seen whether the USS America will join the USS George Washington and the Prince of Wales during the exercise in Australian waters, forming a triple F-35 carrier strike group.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
An F-35 stealth fighter has been stuck in a country not cleared to access the tech for over a month
A UK Royal Air Force F-35B has been stuck in India for more than a month. India is not a part of the program, and doesn't have permission to access the jet's advanced tech. A warfare analyst said: "You really don't want it sitting in a country that isn't cleared to access knowledge about those capabilities." A UK F-35 stealth fighter jet has been stuck for more than a month in India, a country that isn't part of the program and does not have access to the plane's advanced tech and capabilities. The stealth fighter landed on June 14 at Thiruvananthapuram airport in the state of Kerala, where it was diverted after it ran into bad weather in the Indian Ocean. An engine issue then prevented the jet from returning to the Royal Navy's flagship carrier, the HMS Prince of Wales, the British High Commission in New Delhi said. Local media reports that the jet is still there but the repair work is underway. The jet is an F-35B, the short-takeoff/vertical landing variant built with a lift fan for operations on amphibious assault ships, certain aircraft carriers, and limited runways. This version of the fighter is used by the UK, Japan, Italy, and the US. The fifth-generation aircraft, made by the US defense contractor Lockheed Martin, is one of the most advanced jets in the world, and the US determines who gets access to these planes. India isn't on the list of approved partner countries. The jet being stuck for so long has raised questions about how this could happen to such a modern jet and concerns about having top tech stranded where it shouldn't be. Former Australian Army Maj. Gen. Mick Ryan, a warfare strategist, explained to Business Insider that "given the extraordinary capabilities and advanced technologies on these things, you really don't want it sitting in a country that isn't cleared to access knowledge about those capabilities." He said he suspects the US is putting pressure on the UK concerning the recovery of the jet. Neither the Pentagon nor the US State Department responded to BI's request for comment. The F-35 Joint Program Office did not immediately respond either. "I'd say there'd be a lot of diplomatic action in the background with the Indians to ensure that the security of that aircraft is paramount and that there aren't efforts to exploit that aircraft by some who might be tempted to do so," Ryan added. The US is able to decide a lot about how the jet is used around the world, including restricting its export. It has previously done so with countries that use Russian and Chinese weapon systems, such as Turkey, which was initially part of the program. India has never been a part of the program, though there's been interest. Christoph Bergs, an airpower analyst at the UK's Royal United Services Institute, told The New York Times this month that "there's lots of secrecy involving military aircraft in general," but it's even more sensitive with the F-35. Even though it's used by many American and partners allies, its tech is carefully guarded. "You don't want unauthorized access where people can either interfere with the machine, or take very close-up pictures, or even start, you know, messing with the machinery itself," he said. The jet has been moved to an on-site hangar. When it was sitting out in the open, there were reports in Indian media that it hadn't been moved due to the UK's distrust. The Royal Navy rejected that in a statement to The Independent, saying it would have been done sooner if the required tools and expertise had been available. When relocating the fighter jet to a hangar became an option, action was taken "to minimise disruptions to the regular airport operations," it said. The British Royal Navy directed BI to the British defense ministry, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. While the British military and experts have attempted to downplay potential trust issues and there have been no indications that India is attempting to access the jet's classified technology, there is, nonetheless, a reason to take security seriously. A complicated relationship The advanced combat technology aboard the F-35 stealth fighter is exceptionally sensitive, and the US carefully weighs who gets access to it. The US and India are not formal allies, but they are strategic partners. India has purchased billions of dollars worth of US defense equipment, and the countries hold military exercises together, with Washington viewing Mumbai as a partner against China. India, however, also buys a lot of Russian equipment, with Moscow as a major supplier of weapons to Mumbai. India also maintains a relationship with Russia and is a major buyer of Russian oil, complicating ties with the US. Amid these complexities in the relationship, the US has at times been hesitant to share advanced tech with India. For instance, the previous US administration left it off the list of countries with unrestricted access to US-made microchips. It's unclear how the new Trump administration will affect ties. India rejected President Donald Trump's claim in June that he had brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan during a conflict in May. But India's government has also publicly praised Trump, in a move seen by some analysts as a bid to avoid heavy tariffs that Trump is putting on much of the world. The Trump administration has pledged to deepen its defense partnership with India. Trump said in February that "starting this year, we'll be increasing military sales to India by many billions of dollars." He added that they were "paving the way" for India to eventually get the F-35. Whether that goes through remains to be seen. It's uncertain whether F-35s are right for India, which is eager to grow its own defense industry. Also, Russia is offering India an export version of its less expensive Su-57. The Russian jet comes with less red tape but also less capability. Rescuing the jet The UK is trying to repair the stranded aircraft to take it out of India. The UK Defence in India, the official X account of UK Defence Adviser in India, Commodore Chris Saunders, posted on July 7 that a team of engineers from the UK had arrived to work on the aircraft It said repairs were underway on the aircraft, which had been moved to the maintenance hangar. It said "we are grateful for the continued support and collaboration of the Indian authorities." India Today reported that UK military personnel were guarding the hangar and that India's security forces were staying outside and at a distance. The jet likely can't be safely flown right now. The UK Ministry of Defence, in a statement to The Associated Press, rejected speculation that the jet could be partially dismantled and transported in a cargo plane if it can't be fixed by engineers. For now, the advanced jet is where it is and has become something of a source of humor in India, sparking memes. The tourism department of Kerala shared a cartoon image of the fighter jet on a runway beside some palm trees with a fake five-star review alongside the text "Kerala is such an amazing place, I don't want to leave. Definitely recommend." Read the original article on Business Insider Solve the daily Crossword
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
An F-35 stealth fighter has been stuck in a country not cleared to access the tech for over a month
A UK F-35 stealth fighter jet has been stuck for more than a month in India, a country that isn't part of the program and does not have access to the plane's advanced tech and capabilities. The stealth fighter landed on June 14 at Thiruvananthapuram airport in the state of Kerala, where it was diverted after it ran into bad weather in the Indian Ocean. An engine issue then prevented the jet from returning to the Royal Navy's flagship carrier, the HMS Prince of Wales, the British High Commission in New Delhi said. Local media reports that the jet is still there but the repair work is underway. The jet is an F-35B, the short-takeoff/vertical landing variant built with a lift fan for operations on amphibious assault ships, certain aircraft carriers, and limited runways. This version of the fighter is used by the UK, Japan, Italy, and the US. The fifth-generation aircraft, made by the US defense contractor Lockheed Martin, is one of the most advanced jets in the world, and the US determines who gets access to these planes. India isn't on the list of approved partner countries. The jet being stuck for so long has raised questions about how this could happen to such a modern jet and concerns about having top tech stranded where it shouldn't be. Former Australian Army Maj. Gen. Mick Ryan, a warfare strategist, explained to Business Insider that "given the extraordinary capabilities and advanced technologies on these things, you really don't want it sitting in a country that isn't cleared to access knowledge about those capabilities." He said he suspects the US is putting pressure on the UK concerning the recovery of the jet. Neither the Pentagon nor the US State Department responded to BI's request for comment. The F-35 Joint Program Office did not immediately respond either. "I'd say there'd be a lot of diplomatic action in the background with the Indians to ensure that the security of that aircraft is paramount and that there aren't efforts to exploit that aircraft by some who might be tempted to do so," Ryan added. The US is able to decide a lot about how the jet is used around the world, including restricting its export. It has previously done so with countries that use Russian and Chinese weapon systems, such as Turkey, which was initially part of the program. India has never been a part of the program, though there's been interest. Christoph Bergs, an airpower analyst at the UK's Royal United Services Institute, told The New York Times this month that "there's lots of secrecy involving military aircraft in general," but it's even more sensitive with the F-35. Even though it's used by many American and partners allies, its tech is carefully guarded. "You don't want unauthorized access where people can either interfere with the machine, or take very close-up pictures, or even start, you know, messing with the machinery itself," he said. The jet has been moved to an on-site hangar. When it was sitting out in the open, there were reports in Indian media that it hadn't been moved due to the UK's distrust. The Royal Navy rejected that in a statement to The Independent, saying it would have been done sooner if the required tools and expertise had been available. When relocating the fighter jet to a hangar became an option, action was taken "to minimise disruptions to the regular airport operations," it said. The British Royal Navy directed BI to the British defense ministry, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. While the British military and experts have attempted to downplay potential trust issues and there have been no indications that India is attempting to access the jet's classified technology, there is, nonetheless, a reason to take security seriously. A complicated relationship The advanced combat technology aboard the F-35 stealth fighter is exceptionally sensitive, and the US carefully weighs who gets access to it. The US and India are not formal allies, but they are strategic partners. India has purchased billions of dollars worth of US defense equipment, and the countries hold military exercises together, with Washington viewing Mumbai as a partner against China. India, however, also buys a lot of Russian equipment, with Moscow as a major supplier of weapons to Mumbai. India also maintains a relationship with Russia and is a major buyer of Russian oil, complicating ties with the US. Amid these complexities in the relationship, the US has at times been hesitant to share advanced tech with India. For instance, the previous US administration left it off the list of countries with unrestricted access to US-made microchips. It's unclear how the new Trump administration will affect ties. India rejected President Donald Trump's claim in June that he had brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan during a conflict in May. But India's government has also publicly praised Trump, in a move seen by some analysts as a bid to avoid heavy tariffs that Trump is putting on much of the world. The Trump administration has pledged to deepen its defense partnership with India. Trump said in February that "starting this year, we'll be increasing military sales to India by many billions of dollars." He added that they were "paving the way" for India to eventually get the F-35. Whether that goes through remains to be seen. It's uncertain whether F-35s are right for India, which is eager to grow its own defense industry. Also, Russia is offering India an export version of its less expensive Su-57. The Russian jet comes with less red tape but also less capability. Rescuing the jet The UK is trying to repair the stranded aircraft to take it out of India. The UK Defence in India, the official X account of UK Defence Adviser in India, Commodore Chris Saunders, posted on July 7 that a team of engineers from the UK had arrived to work on the aircraft It said repairs were underway on the aircraft, which had been moved to the maintenance hangar. It said "we are grateful for the continued support and collaboration of the Indian authorities." UPDATE: A team of UK engineers has arrived in India to commence repairs on the UK F35B aircraft. Repairs are underway on the aircraft, which has now been moved to the maintenance hangar. We are grateful for the continued support and collaboration of the Indian authorities. 🇬🇧🤝🇮🇳 — UK Defence in India🇬🇧🇮🇳 (@UKDefenceIndia) July 7, 2025 India Today reported that UK military personnel were guarding the hangar and that India's security forces were staying outside and at a distance. The jet likely can't be safely flown right now. The UK Ministry of Defence, in a statement to The Associated Press, rejected speculation that the jet could be partially dismantled and transported in a cargo plane if it can't be fixed by engineers. Kerala, the destination you'll never want to leave. Thank you, The Fauxy. #F35 #Trivandrum #KeralaTourism — Kerala Tourism (@KeralaTourism) July 2, 2025 For now, the advanced jet is where it is and has become something of a source of humor in India, sparking memes. The tourism department of Kerala shared a cartoon image of the fighter jet on a runway beside some palm trees with a fake five-star review alongside the text "Kerala is such an amazing place, I don't want to leave. Definitely recommend."
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Dramatic moment British killer drone fires laser guided missile in incredible world-first that could change warfighting
DRAMATIC footage caught the moment a British killer drone fired a laser-guided missile in an incredible world-first mission set to change dogfights. T150, a heavy-lifter quadcopter, was seen firing precision rockets - obliterating targets on the ground and in the air. Advertisement 7 Moment T150 fired precision rockets at targets Credit: Malloy Aeronautics / BAE Systems 7 The missile blasted a mini cargo van in a desert during a trial Credit: Malloy Aeronautics / BAE Systems 7 The drone successfully shot down a winged drone during a trial in the US Credit: Malloy Aeronautics / BAE Systems 7 These images show Royal Navy personnel from 700X Naval Air Squadron testing their new Malloy Aeronautics Heavy Lift Drone from the flight deck of HMS Prince of Wales Credit: Cover Images Footage shared by Malloy Aeronautics - a Brit aviation company which manufactured the drone - shows the drone successfully shooting a winged drone during a trial in the US. It marks the first time a precision munition was fired from a rotary drone to blast another airborne target, according to British defence giant BAE Systems, which owns Malloy. The clip also showed a quadcopter launching missiles and blasting a van during trials this summer over a desert in Utah. Engineers said the trials marked a 'game-changing moment for the modern battlefield'. Advertisement read more on drone warfare It is being seen as a breakthrough in modern warfare tactics that could help thwart cheap kamikaze drone attacks without having to deploy expensive defence systems - like the US patriot missiles. The drone can be equipped with with APKWS laser-guidance kit that fires 70-millimetre rockets up to 6.5 kilometres. Initially, the drone system was designed to act as a heavy lifter for the military. Each one can carry loads of up to 68kg each - allowing them to take over cargo jobs that are currently carried out using manned helicopters. Advertisement Most read in The Sun The weapon system can be removed from the drone within an hour, enabling the drone to be repurposed to supply cargo or to perform reconnaissance It is already used by the US Marines and Britain's Royal Navy to move equipment between ships at sea, replacing some helicopter lifts. China & Russia will use drones 'the size of insects' to spy on UK & commit untraceable murders, ex-Google futurist warns Anthony Gregory, of BAE Systems Air, said: 'Everybody can see what's going on in the world with drone technology . "So the counter-[drone] piece is on everybody's lips, and therefore trying to do that sustainably and affordably. Advertisement 'At the moment, people are having to fire patriot missiles and all that kind of stuff. "That's an expensive way of countering a very low-cost threat. So that's the genesis of why we've gone down this avenue.' Cheap drones have been touted as the 7 A Royal Navy personnel from 700X Naval Air Squadron testing their new Malloy Aeronautics Heavy Lift Drone from Credit: Cover Images Advertisement 7 A T150 drone drops supplies to troops on the ground Credit: The Times And the best example of Kyiv's pioneering work on aerial warfare has to be Operation Spiderweb - a mass drone attack which inflicted $7billion worth of damage and left Russia's precious fleet of bombers in tatters. The T150 drones currently cost tens of thousands of pounds each to produce. But BAE Systems said it was developing a new weaponised drone, aiming to offer military customers a lower-cost option for countering unmanned aircraft. Advertisement Given anticipated demand from Western militaries, BAE said it was aiming to start manufacturing the electric motors that power the drone in Britain, instead of buying them from China. "We're trying to what we would call onshore, or friend shore, all elements in the value chain of the supply chain," Gregory said. Inside Operation Spiderweb By James Halpin, Foreign News Reporter UKRAINE'S shock sleeper drone blitz on Russia's bomber fleet has delivered a hammer blow to Vladimir Putin's nuclear arsenal. The SAS-style strike against four airfields deep inside Russia is reminiscent of the most daring raids of the WW2 that turned the tide against the Nazis. Volodymyr Zelensky oversaw Operation Spiderweb - much like Winston Churchill did as Britain struck deep behind enemy lines. Putin's doomsday bomber fleet is now crippled with 41, or a third, of his most prized aircraft lying in smouldering wrecks on tarmac. Ukraine said the sneak attack was worth $7bn (£5.2bn) in damage to Russia - caused by only 117 cheaply made drones. Ukraine's spies spent 18 months putting the plan into action and struck on the eve of fresh peace talks in Istanbul. The drones and the containers were smuggled into Russia separately and were pieced together right under Vlad's nose. Clueless lorry drivers then parked the containers next to Russian airbases - where they sat and waited in plain sight. Then, on the morning of June 1, the fleet of flying bombs rose over the far reaches of Russia - and the most daring military operation of the war began. Nondescript shipping containers parked in laybys and verges had attracted little attention - before their lids blew open and the drone swarms poured out. The craft buzzed as they took off into the air and only had to travel a short distance to their valuable targets. Each of the 117 drones had their own dedicated pilot and Russia had little defences to protect their bases and stop them. Drones with cameras sent video back to HQ in Ukraine of the moment craft struck their targets and explosions ripped into the sky. Thick black smoke climbed high, with civilians near the bases sending video of Ukraine's successes around the world. The furthest strike was Belaya Air Base - so far inside Russia that the closest neighbouring country is Mongolia. Olenya Air Base near Finland and Ivanovo and Dyagilevo near Moscow were also struck in the country's west. 7
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Dramatic moment British killer drone fires laser guided missile in incredible world-first that could change warfighting
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DRAMATIC footage caught the moment a British killer drone fired a laser-guided missile in an incredible world-first mission set to change dogfights. T150, a heavy-lifter quadcopter, was seen firing precision rockets - obliterating targets on the ground and in the air. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Moment T150 fired precision rockets at targets Credit: Malloy Aeronautics / BAE Systems 7 The missile blasted a mini cargo van in a desert during a trial Credit: Malloy Aeronautics / BAE Systems 7 The drone successfully shot down a winged drone during a trial in the US Credit: Malloy Aeronautics / BAE Systems 7 These images show Royal Navy personnel from 700X Naval Air Squadron testing their new Malloy Aeronautics Heavy Lift Drone from the flight deck of HMS Prince of Wales Credit: Cover Images Footage shared by Malloy Aeronautics - a Brit aviation company which manufactured the drone - shows the drone successfully shooting a winged drone during a trial in the US. It marks the first time a precision munition was fired from a rotary drone to blast another airborne target, according to British defence giant BAE Systems, which owns Malloy. The clip also showed a quadcopter launching missiles and blasting a van during trials this summer over a desert in Utah. Engineers said the trials marked a 'game-changing moment for the modern battlefield'. It is being seen as a breakthrough in modern warfare tactics that could help thwart cheap kamikaze drone attacks without having to deploy expensive defence systems - like the US patriot missiles. The drone can be equipped with with APKWS laser-guidance kit that fires 70-millimetre rockets up to 6.5 kilometres. Initially, the drone system was designed to act as a heavy lifter for the military. Each one can carry loads of up to 68kg each - allowing them to take over cargo jobs that are currently carried out using manned helicopters. The weapon system can be removed from the drone within an hour, enabling the drone to be repurposed to supply cargo or to perform reconnaissance It is already used by the US Marines and Britain's Royal Navy to move equipment between ships at sea, replacing some helicopter lifts. China & Russia will use drones 'the size of insects' to spy on UK & commit untraceable murders, ex-Google futurist warns Anthony Gregory, of BAE Systems Air, said: 'Everybody can see what's going on in the world with drone technology. "So the counter-[drone] piece is on everybody's lips, and therefore trying to do that sustainably and affordably. 'At the moment, people are having to fire patriot missiles and all that kind of stuff. "That's an expensive way of countering a very low-cost threat. So that's the genesis of why we've gone down this avenue.' Cheap drones have been touted as the future of modern warfare after Ukraine took the world by surprise with its advanced drone technology. 7 A Royal Navy personnel from 700X Naval Air Squadron testing their new Malloy Aeronautics Heavy Lift Drone from Credit: Cover Images 7 A T150 drone drops supplies to troops on the ground Credit: The Times And the best example of Kyiv's pioneering work on aerial warfare has to be Operation Spiderweb - a mass drone attack which inflicted $7billion worth of damage and left Russia's precious fleet of bombers in tatters. The T150 drones currently cost tens of thousands of pounds each to produce. But BAE Systems said it was developing a new weaponised drone, aiming to offer military customers a lower-cost option for countering unmanned aircraft. Given anticipated demand from Western militaries, BAE said it was aiming to start manufacturing the electric motors that power the drone in Britain, instead of buying them from China. "We're trying to what we would call onshore, or friend shore, all elements in the value chain of the supply chain," Gregory said. Inside Operation Spiderweb By James Halpin, Foreign News Reporter UKRAINE'S shock sleeper drone blitz on Russia's bomber fleet has delivered a hammer blow to Vladimir Putin's nuclear arsenal. The SAS-style strike against four airfields deep inside Russia is reminiscent of the most daring raids of the WW2 that turned the tide against the Nazis. Volodymyr Zelensky oversaw Operation Spiderweb - much like Winston Churchill did as Britain struck deep behind enemy lines. Putin's doomsday bomber fleet is now crippled with 41, or a third, of his most prized aircraft lying in smouldering wrecks on tarmac. Ukraine said the sneak attack was worth $7bn (£5.2bn) in damage to Russia - caused by only 117 cheaply made drones. Ukraine's spies spent 18 months putting the plan into action and struck on the eve of fresh peace talks in Istanbul. The drones and the containers were smuggled into Russia separately and were pieced together right under Vlad's nose. Clueless lorry drivers then parked the containers next to Russian airbases - where they sat and waited in plain sight. Then, on the morning of June 1, the fleet of flying bombs rose over the far reaches of Russia - and the most daring military operation of the war began. Nondescript shipping containers parked in laybys and verges had attracted little attention - before their lids blew open and the drone swarms poured out. The craft buzzed as they took off into the air and only had to travel a short distance to their valuable targets. Each of the 117 drones had their own dedicated pilot and Russia had little defences to protect their bases and stop them. Drones with cameras sent video back to HQ in Ukraine of the moment craft struck their targets and explosions ripped into the sky. Thick black smoke climbed high, with civilians near the bases sending video of Ukraine's successes around the world. The furthest strike was Belaya Air Base - so far inside Russia that the closest neighbouring country is Mongolia. Olenya Air Base near Finland and Ivanovo and Dyagilevo near Moscow were also struck in the country's west.
