20 June 2022
by Prathamesh Karle
The Russian Navy tug Spasatel Vasily Bekh was operated by the Black Sea Fleet. It entered service in 2017. (Yoruk Isik)
The Ukrainian Navy claims that it has struck the Russian Navy Project 22870 salvage tugboat Spasatel Vasily Bekh ( SB 739) in a missile strike in the Black Sea.
In a statement on its official Twitter acount on 17 June, the Ukrainian Navy said the vessel was attacked while transporting personnel, weapons, and ammunition to the Zmiinyi (Snake) Island with a Tor surface-to-air missile system on board.
Based on the preliminary data available, 70% of the vessel's crew were affected and the fate of the rest is unknown, as Russian vessels attempted to conduct a search-and-rescue operation, the Southern Operational Command of Ukraine's Ground Forces stated on its Facebook page the same day.
A video circulating on social media platforms purportedly taken from an unmanned aerial vehicle shows a vessel being attacked by two missiles. The vessel under attack, however, could not be identified from the footage.
Neither the claims made by Ukraine, nor the veracity of the video, could be independently verified by Janes
18 March 2024
by Kapil Kajal
The CS/AA3 gun – pictured above in service with the Cameroonian Defence Forces – has a maximum slant range of 11 km, but its effective slant range is 4 km and effective altitude is 3 km. (Cameroon Ministry of Defence)
The Bangladesh Army's Adhoc 57 Air Defence (AD) Regiment Artillery test-fired two CS/AA3 twin-barrel anti-aircraft gun systems for the first time during a firing exercise held in mid-March at Inanistha AD Firing Range in Cox's Bazar.
According to a press release by Bangladesh Armed Forces' media and public relations wing Inter Services Public Relation Directorate (ISPR) in mid-March, the system is capable of hitting ground and air targets at a maximum strike range of 4 km.
The test fire confirms the induction of the systems – manufactured by China North Industries Group Corporation Limited (Norinco) – in the Bangladesh Army. The ISPR imagery suggests the induction of at least three CS/AA3 systems into the service.
The CS/AA3 – known as PG99 in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) service – is intended to intercept low and slow-flying threats such as close air support aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
13 March 2024
by Jon Grevatt
Janes Defence Budgets forecasts that growth in China's total military spending, which includes its official defence budget, will start to slow down in the second half of this decade. (Janes)
China released its annual ‘work report' on 12 March, outlining a government commitment to accelerate military modernisation in line with its current five-year plan, which ends in 2025.
The work report was formally adopted one day earlier on the final day of the second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing.
In the report, the government said that it had made “new achievements and progress in national defence and military development” during 2023. It also outlined a commitment for similar progress in 2024.
“We will modernise the military governance system, advance military development as outlined in the 14th Five-Year Plan and speed up the implementation of major defence-related projects,” it said.
07 March 2024
by Jon Grevatt
A model of the GCAP fighter displayed at DSEI Japan 2023 in Chiba. (Janes/Jon Grevatt)
Japan is considering the implementation of further reforms to support military exports. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on 6 March that the additional reforms are necessary to allow future Japan sales of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) aircraft to international customers.
Speaking at the House of Councillors budget committee, Kishida said that additional export reforms – to support GCAP sales – are required for three reasons: to reduce GCAP production costs, to support Japan's national security, and to ensure Japan is recognised as a reliable partner in international defence joint development programmes.
Japan is developing the GCAP alongside Italy and the UK under a trilateral partnership announced in December 2022.
“The UK and Italy consider promoting the transfer of finished products to third countries to lower procurement prices as an important element of their contribution, and [they have] requested that Japan take a similar response,” Kishida said in comments released by the Komeito party, the junior partner in the Japanese coalition government.
The Ukrainian Navy claims that it has struck the Russian Navy Project 22870 salvage tugboat Spasatel...
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