Reports have indicated that India and Russia
have finalized a major deal for manufacturing
AK-47 203 rifles in India during Defence Minister
Rajnath Singh’s ongoing visit here, the
official Russian media reported on Thursday.
The AK-47 203 is the latest and most advanced
version of the AK-47 rifle.
It will replace the Indian Small Arms System
(INSAS) 5.56x45 mm assault rifle.
The Indian Army has a requirement for around
770,000 AK-47 203 rifles, of which 100,000
will be imported and the rest will be manufactured
in India.
The rifles will be manufactured in India as
part of the joint venture Indo-Russia Rifles
Private Limited (IRRPL), established between
the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), the Kalashnikov
Concern and Rosoboronexport.
The cost per rifle is expected to be around
USD 1,100, including the cost of technology
transfer and of setting up the manufacturing
unit.
In another massive show of force aimed at
Russia, U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress
bombers flew from the United Kingdom to Ukraine
airspace.
After arriving there, they flew for an extended
period at the edge of the Russian-occupied
Crimean Peninsula.
This comes a week after a Russian Su-27 Flanker
fighter jet performed a potentially dangerous
maneuver in front of another B-52H flying
over the Black Sea.
In recent times U.S & Russia has been flexing
muscles and carrying out tit for tat military
maneuvers.
For this mission, the B-52s leveraged its
combat range which is more than 8,800 miles
or 14,080 km without aerial refueling
Viewers may note that the powerful engines
also enable B 52 to carry up to 70,000 pounds
or 32,000 kg of weapons.
The B 52 is capable of carrying both conventional
as well as nuclear weapons.
Apart from the ability to drop bombs, B 52
can carry land-attack cruise missiles.
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Taiwan has denied claims that it shot down
a Chinese PLA Air Force plane this week.
The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense said in
a statement,
“The Air Force Command has refuted reports
of shooting down Su-35.
The information is false and completely untrue.
The service strongly condemns this malicious
act by deliberately creating and disseminating
false information on the Internet in an attempt
to confuse the audience,”
Speculation began after a video of a burning
warplane was shared in Twitter, leading many
to believe a PLAAF Su-35 had been downed after
flying into Taiwanese airspace.
The MoD stated,
“The Air Force Command emphasized that in
order to maintain airspace security, it will
continue to closely monitor the conditions
of the sea and airspace around the Taiwan
Strait; and provide the correct information
in a timely manner to prevent the spread of
fake and false news, and to avoid social unrest,
and appeals to people to rest assured,”
Of late China’s aggressive posturing against
Taiwan has increases tensions in the region
and many believe that China could initiate
a military action to take over Taiwan
During Rim Of The Pacific (RIMPAC) international
naval exercises off Hawaii USS Durham (LKA-114)
was sunk, which was used as a live target.
3 anti-ship missiles were used and are most
likely have been the RGM-84 Harpoon.
The USS Durham was named after Durham, North
Carolina was laid down at Newport News in
Virginia on January 1, 1969.
It was extensively involved in the Vietnam
War and served in the evacuation of Saigon.
The Durham served during the Persian Gulf
War, as part of one of the largest amphibious
task forces since the Korean War.
Eventually, the Durham was decommissioned
in February of 1994.
The sinking of real warships is designed to
validate the effectiveness of the anti-ship
missile.
Reports indicate that Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu has privately green-lighted
the sale of American F-35 fighter jets to
the United Arab Emirates, despite repeated
assertions that he is against the deal.
The deal also includes Reaper drone, and Electronic
Warfare EA-18G Growler jets.
These assets have the ability to reduce Israel’s
military advantage against UAE especially
the F-35 fighter jets which the UAE has wanted
to purchase for several years.
Viewers may note that Washington had always
sought Israel's approval for these kinds of
sales as it has committed to maintaining Israel’s
military edge in the region.
The move comes after a recent announcement
that the UAE is normalizing ties with Israel.
The Israel–United Arab Emirates peace agreement,
or the Abraham Accord, was agreed to by Israel
and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on August
13, 2020.
The 
mine countermeasures ship USS Ardent (MCM
12), has been decommissioned after a ceremony
at Naval Base San Diego, Aug. 20.
The vessel has served for more than 26 years.
Due to public health safety and restrictions
of large public events related to the novel
coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, plankowners
and former crew members of the Avenger-class
ship virtually celebrated its distinguished
history.
The first Ardent (SP-680) was built as a commercial
fishing steamer by the Greenport Basin and
Construction Company at Greenport on Long
Island, New York, in 1902.
The U.S. Navy purchased her on June 11, 1917
to be used as a section patrol boat and minesweeper
during World War I.
She was commissioned on Aug. 15, 1917 as USS
Ardent.
Viewers may note that going forward Littoral
Combat Ships are expected to carry out minesweeping
with specialized modules.
The first flight of Northrop Grumman B-21
Raider long-range strike bomber (LRSB) will
be slightly delayed.
The US Air Force (USAF) is now expecting the
first flight to take place no earlier than
2022 against thee late 2021 timeframe the
service previously predicted.
The B-21 Raider is envisaged to be a super
stealthy bomber which will be able to penetrate
the most sophisticated air defenses for decades
into the future and be able to take out high-value
enemy targets without the rival even knowing
it was there in the first place.
The bomber will have a very long range and
high payload capacity to carry conventional
& nuclear weapons.
B 21 is expected to replace the Air Force's
aging fleets of B-1, B-2, and B-52 strategic
bombers, which have an average age of 27 years.
President Trump has stated that he is willing
to help India and China resolve the border
row.
Mr. Trump said, "While we're at it, we're
talking about China and India, (they) are
going at it pretty good on the border, as
you know.
It has been very nasty, “
He added, "And we stand ready to help, with
respect to China and India.
If we can do anything, we would love to get
involved and help.
And we are talking to both countries about
that,"
The comments come amid renewed tension between
India and China over what the Indian government
called new attempts by Beijing to change the
status quo in specific areas in eastern Ladakh.
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met
his Chinese counterpart in Moscow late Friday
on the sidelines of a three-day summit, in
the first high-level contact of its kind since
the border stand-off escalated.
Both the countries have moved troops closer
to the border region and the Indian Army chief
has visited the forward areas.
He stated that the situation along the contested
Line of Actual Control (LAC) was “delicate
and serious”
