BEST EDIT YET!!! Stay positive, smile, and crank up this beautiful tune!!! 🤘#TruckerConvoy2022 #truckersforfreedom pic.twitter.com/STUCvHQKEg
— Phyxx🇨🇦🇺🇸🇸🇰 (@phyxx) January 27, 2022
AMAZING 🔥Scenes & sounds.#TruckersForFreedom pic.twitter.com/Ah8lQrDech
— Resistere News (@ResistereNews) January 28, 2022
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed plans to temporarily replace two Bell helicopter types operated in Brunei and Cyprus with part of the Puma fleet currently flown by the Royal Air Force (RAF).
In Brunei, five Bell 212s are operated by the Army Air Corps in support of jungle warfare training, while in Cyprus, the RAF uses a trio of search and rescue-roled Bell 412s, according to Cirium fleets data. In both cases, the helicopters are owned by Draken Europe.
The suggestion of a new role for the Puma first surfaced in late 2021 but was not verified by the MoD, which said at the time that no decision had been taken.
However, the ministry now confirms the initiative. “Under current plans we are looking at the Puma helicopter to temporarily replace the Bell 212 helicopter in Brunei from autumn 2022 and the Bell 412 helicopter in Cyprus from spring 2023.”British Forces Brunei (BFB) is the only remaining British military base in the Far East, BFB is located at Seria and is centred on a light infantry battalion, which will be one of the two battalions of the Royal Gurkha Rifles (image : GoogleMaps)
But the move is likely to have implications for the Puma’s own retirement. In last year’s Command Paper defence review, the MoD said the veteran rotorcraft would be phased out over the 2023-2025 period, with suggestions that the milestone could happen sooner rather than later.
Assuming a like-for-like replacement of the Bell helicopters, plus several retained as cover, then as many as a dozen Pumas will be required – over half the current 23-strong fleet. These may also be needed beyond the type’s current 2025 out-of-service date.
But the MoD says it is too soon to provide a precise timeline for the Puma’s retirement. “We are working with all key stakeholders on this decision and cannot comment further at this time.”
The MoD intends to replace the Pumas – plus the two Bell models and army-operated Airbus Helicopters Dapuhins – with a single type to be procured under its New Medium Helicopter programme.
That competition is likely to kick off next month, Ben Wallace, the Secretary of State for Defence, recently told the House of Commons.
Officials from the Indonesian Navy and the Ministry of Defence have held another meeting with German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS).
This time, it was to discuss the HDW Class 209/1400mod submarine for Jakarta's underwater warfare requirements. The meeting was held virtually on 12 January, a source close to the discussions has informed Janes.
The matters that were discussed include the HDW Class 209/1400mod's mission profiles and if it can undertake missions required of the Indonesian Navy including conventional submarine warfare, and other operations such as intelligence gathering and special forces insertion.
The HDW Class 209/1400mod is the most recent version of TKMS' 209 family of diesel-electrically powered submarines. The vessel has an overall length of 62 m, a pressure hull diameter of 6.2 m, and it displaces about 1,450 tonnes when surfaced. The vessel is equipped with eight weapon tubes and can accommodate a crew of 30.
Also rediscussed during the meeting was TKMS' Class 214 family, which can be equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems.
This is the second known formal meeting held between Indonesian defence officials and TKMS. As reported by Janes in March 2021, a TKMS delegation was in Jakarta that month to brief Indonesian defence planners on the company's Class 214 offerings.
The Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) operates one German-made Cakra (Type 2019/1300)-class submarine that has been in service since the 1980s, and three South Korean-made Nagapasa (DSME 2019/1400)-class SSKs that were commissioned between 2017 and 2021. The service lost one Cakra-class submarine in a mishap in April 2021 and the vessel and its crew were never recovered.
The British Army’s 16 Regiment Royal Artillery has retired its Rapier air defense missile system and fully replace it with the new Sky Sabre.
xi'an city
— Songpinganq (@songpinganq) January 24, 2022
After more than one month people can't bearable lockdown anymore. So people are protesting in the heavy snow'' Lift lockdown! Lift lockdown! Lift lockdown!...''
2022/1/23 pic.twitter.com/YmyCuYlSab
xi'an city
— Songpinganq (@songpinganq) January 24, 2022
After more than one month people can't bearable lockdown anymore. So people are protesting in the heavy snow'' Lift lockdown! Lift lockdown! Lift lockdown!...''
2022/1/23 pic.twitter.com/YmyCuYlSab
Раночку бодрого,панове українці!✌🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/l09y4SohUZ
— Еліна (@MTVr7S5ZKoBs0bJ) January 21, 2022
там же pic.twitter.com/RN5uhhprrp
— IgorGirkin (@GirkinGirkin) January 18, 2022
Челябинск pic.twitter.com/I4k2SBGynV
— IgorGirkin (@GirkinGirkin) January 19, 2022
Russian train loaded with BMPs, MT-LBs and T-80 tanks in Khabarovsk two days ago on the way to the border area with Ukraine. Russian military is moving a massive amount of tanks and APCs from Khabarovsk Krai towards Western Russia over a distance of more than 8,000 kilometers. pic.twitter.com/Ph9bba87uQ
— WorldOnAlert (@worldonalert) January 13, 2022
Another Russian military train loaded with BMP-3s is on the way to the border area with Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/LUnb0l7Ugi
— WorldOnAlert (@worldonalert) January 13, 2022
Airborne troops of the Russian peacekeeping forces hold military exercises at Almaty airport following the massive unrest in Kazakhstan pic.twitter.com/1HZJS6B73C
— RT (@RT_com) January 10, 2022
She’s looking ready! India’s Vikrant indigenous aircraft carrier steams out for a fresh cycle of sea trials. pic.twitter.com/1VV7g62NM5
— Livefist (@livefist) January 9, 2022
#Xinjiang #PLAAF
— Iron Lady (@nuwangzi) January 6, 2022
Urumqi/South AB (10/2021)
A Y-20 was spotted landing in this airfield - Home of 110th AB.
In addition, new hangars were built lately at the facility's eastern part. pic.twitter.com/300yf8iS0L
New vehicle mounted 120mm mortar system test fires precision guided mortar munition pic.twitter.com/komkrfiURk
— Eva 郑重 (@evazhengll) January 7, 2022
