Persian Gulf & Middle East Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

The F-15SA that the Saudis have is the most advanced production F-15 on the market. With their new engine, new AESA radar, their new fly-by-wire, and Tiger Eyes, they have an amazing weapon carrying capability.

Here's a Saudi F-15SA loaded with:

8 x AIM-120AMRAAMs
8 x AIM-9X Sidewinders



Here's a Saudi F-15SA loaded with:

2 x AIM-120AMRAAMs
2 x AIM-9X Sidewinders
2 x AGM-84 SLAM-ERs
2 x AGM-88 HARMs
6 x GBU-54/B Laser JDAMs
8 x GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs

Kuwait buys 28 Eurofighter Typhoons


(Defensa.com) The Eurofighter consortium has announced the sale to Kuwait of a total of 28 Eurofighter Typhoon to the Air Force Gulf country. The acquisition demonstrates the success of the European game in the Gulf Region, where it is already operated by the Air Force in Saudi Arabia and Oman. As advanced defensa.com last June, the governments of Italy and Kuwait had initiated negotiations for the sale of a consignment of 28 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter-bombers to Iraq. As usual in the offers of the Eurofighter each of the four nations that have launched (Germany, Spain, Italy and the UK) program unitary head offers for sale, corresponding in this case to the Azzurri lead the Kuwait campaign.

Kuwaitis had been two years evaluating various fourth-generation fighters with the intention of buying a round for retrofitting its two fighter squadrons with 24 to 28 devices, hiring timely maintenance, logistical support and training. Last May it was noted that Kuwait would acquire a similar number of Boeing F / A-18E / F Super Hornet, with which to replace its current fleet of just under forty Hornet, specifically version F / A- 18C / D with equipping squads Nos 9 and 25. It seemed more logical then, from the purely technical point, retrofitted with devices of the same US company, but greater control of sales and further logistical support makes the United States through the DSCA, and the possible pursuit of greater European political support in addition to the advantages of the aircraft itself, could have swing the selection of European fighter jet. Most nations in the region are in full process of resetting to the crisis that has befallen linked to the threat of the Islamic State, the Air Force of Kuwait, in this scenario, is providing its base, besides participating with its F / A-18C / D in the campaign of airstrikes against Shiite hutíes that overthrew the government of Yemen, supporting the Sunni nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Operated by seven countries (Germany, UK, Italy, Spain, Austria, Saudi Arabia and Oman), the Eurofighter Typhoon is currently the largest military procurement program in Europe. Its high technology strengthens the position of the European aerospace industry in the international market. Last July the hunt completed more than 300,000 flying hours since the entry into service of its international fleet. Kuwait to rise to 599 orders and delivered 444 aircraft aircraft. The program guarantees more than 100,000 jobs in 400 companies. Jagdflugzeug Eurofighter GmbH manages the program on behalf of the Eurofighter partner companies that make: Alenia Aermacchi / Finmeccanica, BAE Systems and Airbus Defence and Space in Germany and Spain.

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The last Russian submarine of the Typhoon class leaves its current port with possible destination to port in Syria


(Defensa.com) The nuclear-powered missile submarine of the Russian Navy TK-208 "Dmitri Donskoy" last Friday left the naval base in Severodvinsk accompanied by two antisubmarine ships to officially participate in anti-submarine combat exercise in the Black Sea. An official source in the North Sea Fleet, to which the "Dmitry Donskoy" belongs informed of the departure of the ship and its entry into the White Sea, as recorded by the flot.com page.

The submarine departed accompanied by antisubmarine corvettes "Onega" and "Naryan-Mar" of the Project class 1124 Albatros (code NATO Grisha) with which it has done in previous exercises of this type in which surface ships attempt to detect the presence the submarine and this in turn escape detection means which have the corvettes. However, according to trade publication DEBKAfile, the fate of the submarine would not be participating in these exercises but cross the Mediterranean and reach Syria to bolster the Russian military presence in this country, until recently unrecognized by the Russian government. If so, it would be a clear signal of Russia to the United States and countries seeking to overthrow the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has the support of Russia and Iran primarily. If you are on course for Syria will take about ten days at sea to reach its destination and will become relevant when making decisions on military intervention in the conflict factor.

The "Dmitri Donskoy"
This is the last of the boomers of the Akula class (code NATO Typhoon or Project 941) remaining in service and was modified to serve as a testbed for new ballistic nuclear missiles RSM-56 Bulava (code NATO SS-NX -30 or SS-N-32) which could carry up to 20 units. These missiles have a range of 10,000 kilometers and carry six to ten multiple independent reentry heads (MIRV), which is on board the "Dmitri Donskoy" could be up to 200 nuclear warheads.

The Typhoon class that owns this submarine is a third generation design that entered service in the early eighties and currently only remain in service this and two other remote unit in reserve. It is still the largest submarines in the world with a length of 172 meters, an impressive displacement of up to 24,000 tons in surface and 48,000 underwater. In 2002 he withdrew the R-39 missiles that had and installation of the new Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles than it has been conducting test launches in recent years began. The installation of these modern missiles and various modifications still remain in the submarine service that is now classified in Russia as fourth generation and renamed Project 941UM. However this series of submarines is being replaced by the more modern of the Borei-class submersibles.

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Miragedriver said:

The last Russian submarine of the Typhoon class leaves its current port with possible destination to port in Syria

The submarine departed accompanied by antisubmarine corvettes "Onega" and "Naryan-Mar" of the Project class 1124 Albatros (code NATO Grisha) with which it has done in previous exercises of this type in which surface ships attempt to detect the presence the submarine and this in turn escape detection means which have the corvettes.

However, according to trade publication DEBKAfile, the fate of the submarine would not be participating in these exercises but cross the Mediterranean and reach Syria to bolster the Russian military presence in this country, until recently unrecognized by the Russian government. If so, it would be a clear signal of Russia to the United States and countries seeking to overthrow the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has the support of Russia and Iran primarily. If you are on course for Syria will take about ten days at sea to reach its destination and will become relevant when making decisions on military intervention in the conflict factor.

Click to expand...

Using an SSBN either to do ASW exercises, or to "show the flag," is a ridiculous use of such a vessel.

If they are not using her for SSBN duties any longer perhaps the ASW exercise is believable.

We shall see...but I am odds on that it does not dock in Syria.

Jeff Head said:

Using an SSBN either to do ASW exercises, or to "show the flag," is a ridiculous use of such a vessel.

If they are not using her for SSBN duties any longer perhaps the ASW exercise is believable.

We shall see...but I am odds on that it does not dock in Syria.

Click to expand...

Why not Jeff?

It sounds like a good way to deliver advanced missile systems to Syria, especially for your own use.

Jeff Head said:

The F-15SA that the Saudis have is the most advanced production F-15 on the market. With their new engine, new AESA radar, their new fly-by-wire, and Tiger Eyes, they have an amazing weapon carrying capability.

Here's a Saudi F-15SA loaded with:

8 x AIM-120AMRAAMs
8 x AIM-9X Sidewinders

View attachment 18646

Here's a Saudi F-15SA loaded with:

2 x AIM-120AMRAAMs
2 x AIM-9X Sidewinders
2 x AGM-84 SLAM-ERs
2 x AGM-88 HARMs
6 x GBU-54/B Laser JDAMs
8 x GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs

View attachment 18647

Click to expand...

How come one of those Eagles have a nose mounted IRST and the other doesn't?

Love the quad missile rails BTW. Surprised more forces don't use them.

SampanViking said:

Why not Jeff?

It sounds like a good way to deliver advanced missile systems to Syria, especially for your own use.

Click to expand...

Because a Typhoon SSBN is not a cargo vessel.

The Typhoon is not going to be used in the conflict in Syria. It is a not a vessel that was designed or intended for either a local, regional, or even theater-wide conventional conflict...much less a conflict involving insurgencies, terror groups or civil war.

Anyhow, it may well visit the port sand make a port call to send a message...but they could do that with any number of other vessels.

Heck, IMHO, the better candidate would be for their Black Sea Slava Cruiser. It is high value, would make a HUGE statement, and would be capable of making a direct contribution if necessary.

A Typhoon is really none of those things. It would have been like the US Navy having an Ohio Class SSBN dock in Panama back in the day.

IMHO, it is so out of place that it would be like the Russians confessing that they do not have anything better for it to do...and perhaps they do not at this stage. I do not know...but I could certainly find better things for that vessel to do...if they can afford to.

Anyhow, this is just a "report," and not anything official. I will be very surprised if they do it...but it would not be the first time I was surprised. LOL!

plawolf said:

How come one of those Eagles have a nose mounted IRST and the other doesn't?

Click to expand...

Didn't really notice until now. I think the Tiger-EYES in the bottom ("A-S") F-15, while having IRST capability does much more, (FLIR / targeting etc.). It may therefore be much more expensive than a pure nose IRST as seen on the top F-15. The iger-EYES pod probably also produces more drag. Therefore the smaller AN/AAS-42 may make economical sense on purely A-A role F-15s.
Just a guess though ...

The French ship Mistral retain the original Russian equipment if they are sold to Egypt or India


(Defensa.com) The two amphibious ships of the Mistral class derived France has built for the Russian Navy but did not provide, could keep the Russian team that had been originally selected if finally sold to Egypt or India. So French officials have expressed that they would have reached an agreement with Russia. In this way it would save the time and expense of removing them from the Vladivostok and Sevastopol ships and reinstalling equipment Western origin. Russia and France had agreed to meet on 21 this month to negotiate the process of withdrawal of Russian equipment.

As recently analyzed, Egypt is one of the potential candidates to finally stay with one or two amphibious helicopter carrier ships built in France and are currently owned by the French state after compensate Russia with almost 1,000 million euros. Russia had so far reluctant to sell the two vessels to third countries but accept that they were supplied to Egypt or India, countries with which it has good relations in the military field. In addition, if one of these two countries to stay with ships lot of Kamov Ka-52K helicopters being built to provide both vessels would be offered.

Among the equipment of Russian origin that would be endowed these vessels are the combat management system would have been installed in France and the communications system that would include Russian-made equipment, confirmed long ago the French shipyard DCNS. The ship was to be equipped with weapons of Russian origin, among which stands out the air defense system next AK-630 based on multiple guns of 30 mm. of each vessel would have two parts. Yet to date, only ships dispondrían preinstallation for these components, which would subsequently be installed in Russia.

Instead of Sinbad Mistral missile launchers that were equipped with French ships, the Russian vessels would employ two other towers equipped with 3M-47 Ghibka four Igla-S missiles (NATO code SA-24 Grinch). Finally, the ships were to have four pitchers DP-65, a device with two guns throwing grenades into the sea where they act as small depth charges to avoid the action of sabotage divers.

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Could the T-90 tank win the M-1 Abrams tank in Syria?

The American "Abrams", captured by ISIS militants, may confront the Russian T-90.

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So how would ISIS’ Abrams fare versus the best Russian-owned and operated tanks? Probably not very well—the Russian crews are professional soldiers, with proper training, tactics and a functional logistical train. ISIS, meanwhile, might have some veterans of Saddam Hussein’s army, but they aren’t exactly experts at employing an Abrams or even mechanized warfare in general given their past performance.

Unlike in previous encounters between Russian-built hardware and U.S.-built machines, the Soviet-built machines were generally export models that didn’t feature the most advanced equipment. American, crew training, tactics, maintenance, spare parts availability and logistical support has always been superb—unlike Saddam Hussein’s army when it faced off against the U.S. Army in the first Gulf War.


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