Boeing Offers Super Hornet F/A-18E Block II or Japan’s FX
September 26, 2011: Boeing and the U.S. Navy have submitted a proposal to sell an enhanced version of the F/A-18E Super Hornet block II multirole fighter for the next generation fighter competition in Japan. A request for proposal was issued by Japan Air Self Defense Force’s (JASDF) for its Qnext premier fighter aircraft (FX). The deadline for submissions was today, Sept. 26. The advanced Super Hornet version offered to Japan is based on the F/A-18E/F model operated by the U.S. Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. The two other competitors in this program are Lockheed Martin offering the F-35A and BAE Systems/Eurofighter, offering the Typhoon. Given the delay in the Lightning II program, the Typhoon and Super Hornet, both being matured production programs, are more likely to meet the delivery date of early 2017 set by Japan. (More news about F-X)
Moscow, Beijing and Tehran Discussing Missile Defense Alliance?
September 26, 2011: What does the Russian envoy to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin has to do in Tehran this week? According to Russian news agency RIA Novosti, Rogozin is arriving this week in Tehran to discuss “strategic issues”. Unofficial sources in Iran are reporting that Iran, Russia, and China are discussing a proposal to establish a joint missile defense shield as a counterweight to a NATO missile defense initiative. According to the Iranian daily newspaper Kayhan, the three countries have raised common concern about the NATO initiative, that pretends to be defending against threats from Iran and North Korea, but rather aim at diminishing the Russian and Chinese ballistic missile capability and, therefore destabilising the current balance of power between East and West. Rogozin denied the report stating “Iran is Russia’s good neighbor and economic partner but not a military ally… Russia has one military ally –the CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization)” Rogozin said. Iran As a precursor to this visit Russia refunded the downpayment Iran made on the S-300 missiles Iran ordered but Moscow refused to transfer.
16 Dead in Rebel Attack in the Philippines
September 25, 2011: At least 13 rebels, two Marines soldiers and one civilian were killed when 50 armed rebels linked with the Philippine Abu Sayyaf terrorist group attacked a Marine detachment shortly before dawn, in Barangay Kabungkol in Talipao, Sulu, in the Philippines. Brig. Gen. Romeo Tanalgo, chief of the Sulu Island Command, said six soldiers, including a junior officer, were also wounded when the rebel faction stormed the detachment of the 30th Marine Company under the Marine Battalion Landing Team 10 (MBLT). (Phil Star)
