Feed aggregator

Americas Lockheed Martin has selected Voyager Space to provide an advanced upper stage solid-propulsion subsystem for the US Missile Defense Agency’s Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) defense capability. Under the partnership, the Denver-based firm will lead the design and production of a “flight-qualified, production-ready subsystem” before the NGI’s expected delivery date. Callan Marine Limited, Galveston, Texas, was awarded a $105 million firm-fixed-price contract for Brazos Island Harbor channel deepening. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Brownsville, Texas, with an estimated completion date of August 28, 2026. Fiscal 2024 civil construction funds in the amount of $104,974,200 were obligated at the time of the award. US Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston, Texas, is the contracting activity. Middle East & Africa The United States military has completed its withdrawal from air base 201 in Niger, officials said on Monday, after Niger’s ruling junta ordered nearly 1,000 U.S. military personnel to leave following a coup last year. Air base 201, a drone base near Agadez in central Niger that was built at a cost of $100 million, had provided crucial intelligence about Islamist militant groups before the coup. Europe The Latvian National Armed Forces finally received its first […]

How Kyiv Can Capitalize on Russia’s Waning Momentum

The Trump shooting and the risk of more bloodshed.

Les deux taekwondoïstes ivoiriens représentent, à eux seuls, trois des quatre médailles olympiques de leur pays. Ils préparent ensemble les JO de Paris 2024.

Summary and Key Points: The F-35 stealth fighter jet program saw significant developments in July after months of delays. The Pentagon, Lockheed Martin, and the F-35 Joint Program Office resumed deliveries of the aircraft following a temporary fix for TR-3 software issues.

-Greece also joined the F-35 program, ordering 20 F-35A jets, making it the 19th participant and strengthening Europe’s F-35 presence.

-U.S. Air Force F-35As intercepted Russian and Chinese aircraft near Alaska, demonstrating their operational readiness. Additionally, Italian F-35s participated in joint training with Australia, underscoring their role in the Indo-Pacific. Over 1,000 F-35s have been delivered, with more than 3,500 ordered.

The F-35 Comeback Has Started 

After months of delays, the F-35 stealth fighter jet program is returning to strength. 

July was the most active month for the F-35 program in a long while, with several different developments across the globe. 

Deliveries, A New Member, Action Against Chinese and Russian Aircraft 

To begin with, the Pentagon, Lockheed Martin, and the F-35 Joint Program Office in July reached an agreement to resume deliveries of the stealth aircraft. Lingering issues with the TR-3 software update have been fixed, at least temporarily, and Lockheed Martin is once more delivering aircraft to program participants. 

Moreover, in July the State Department formally approved Greece’s bid to join the F-35 community as the 19th participant. Greece ordered 20 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter jets and has the option to purchase another 20 at a later date. Europe is now an F-35 bastion, with 12 out of the 19 participants of the program, and 575 fighter jets located on the continent. 

Further, U.S. Air Force F-35A fighter jets faced down Chinese and Russian aircraft. Specifically, on July 24, two F-35A Lightning II fighters identified and intercepted two Russian Tu-95 Bear and two Chinese Xian H-6 strategic bombers over the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone. The F-35As operated alongside Canadian F/A-18 Hornets and American F-16 Fighting Falcons, showcasing their ability to seamlessly operate alongside other aircraft.

In addition, Italian F-35As and F-35Bs transited all the way to Australia to participate in joint training with the Royal Australian Air Force. It was an important show of unity in the Indo-Pacific. As a NATO member, Italy could be asked to contribute forces in the region in the event of a conflict between the United States and China.

The F-35 Lightning II is a multi-role stealth fighter jet. The fifth-generation aircraft comes in three versions: the F-35A, F-35B, and F-35C. They are the same aircraft with slight differences. 

The F-35A is the conventional version that takes off and lands from regular runways. The F-35B is the Short Take-Off, Vertical Landing iteration that can take off and land like a helicopter, making it an excellent choice for expeditionary warfare. Finally, the F-35C is the carrier version of the aircraft and is designed to operate from aircraft carriers. 

Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 1,000 aircraft of all versions. Put together, the F-35 program has a total of 3,542 orders for aircraft. The F-35A version is by far the most popular, with over 2,660 aircraft. The U.S. Air Force remains the biggest customer with an order for 1,763 F-35As, and the U.S. military as a whole has ordered almost 2,500 aircraft of all three versions for the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps. 

About the Author: 

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

All images are Creative Commons and/or Shutterstock. 

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi’s visit to Tehran marks the first time in nearly ten years that one of Amman’s top officials has visited Iran. The region is on the brink of war, and Jordan may soon have to choose between upholding its commitments to its allies and antagonizing its Palestinian-majority population.

Iran and its proxies have vowed to retaliate against Israel following the recent assassinations of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr. Iranian media claim Safadi aimed to persuade Iran not to retaliate. At the same time, the Jordanian government framed the trip as an effort “to address disagreements between Amman and Tehran transparently for mutual benefit.”

Jordan today is facing the same dilemma it did in April, following Israeli airstrikes in Damascus that killed top officers from Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps. Iran struck back by launching more than 300 missiles and drones in Israel’s direction, several of them penetrating Jordanian air space on the way to their targets. The Iranian salvo confronted Amman with a difficult decision: Would it join the United States, Britain, and Israel in a joint effort to defeat the attack, or would it hold back to avoid riling up its population, many of whom would rather see Iran and Hamas prevail?

On the night of April 13, Jordan chose to assist Israel by intercepting Iranian drones over its airspace, leading Tehran to threaten, “The Iranian armed forces are closely monitoring Jordan's movements during the process of disciplining the Zionist entity. If Jordan participates in any potential actions, it will then become the next target.”

Jordan framed its decision as a defensive action to protect its sovereignty and airspace, not as a gesture of support for the Jewish state. This approach aimed to calm the public and mitigate any potential backlash.

Since October 7, Iranian proxies have incited protests in Jordan, especially after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh. Demonstrations over the past week have shown increased support for Hamas, with marchers waving Hamas flags, wearing Qassam headbands, and chanting, “Our army is the army of the free...Protectors of the homeland...We are your soldiers, O Sinwar.”

The repercussions of an Iranian attack on Jordan are not only domestic. Safadi stated a few days ago in a clear signal to Iran that Jordan would rather not be a battlefield for any conflict and “will firmly confront anyone attempting to violate Jordanian airspace.”

In addition to inciting protests, Iranian proxies have increased their efforts to turn Jordan into a base for attacks against Israel. In March, Iraq-based Kataib Hezbollah threatened to “arm 12,000 Jordanians to defend their brethren in Palestine.” In April, Hamas spokesperson Abu Ubayda said, “the most important Arab front—especially popular and most concerning to the enemy—are the cherished Jordanian masses to whom we send our greetings and call upon to escalate their actions.” In June, reports in Arab media claimed that authorities found explosives in an apartment in Amman and linked them to new Iranian attempts to smuggle weapons and explosives into Jordan for domestic use.

Jordan’s leadership faces a critical challenge: maintaining domestic stability while balancing its sovereignty and commitments to Western allies. Safadi’s visit represents a crucial effort to dissuade Iran from involving Jordan in its regional conflict with Israel. However, Amman must remain cautious. The Islamic Republic has long harbored ambitions to destabilize Jordan, and its malign networks in the region have been the primary source of Amman’s security challenges.

In the event of an Iranian or proxy attack targeting Israel, Jordan should replicate its defensive posture from the night of April 13. This approach will help maintain its reliability and important security relationship with Israel and the United States. Additionally, Jordan should employ the same narrative it used on that night, framing the action as purely defensive to dampen any potential uproar.

Ahmad Sharawi is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

Image: Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock.com. 

Summary and Key Points: NASA operated a unique F-15 fighter jet, known as the F-15 Flight Research Facility, which was highly modified from its U.S. Air Force counterparts. This one-of-a-kind aircraft was used to test and demonstrate advanced integrated flight and propulsion control technologies.

-It was the first to showcase a fully integrated inlet-engine-flight control system and a Self-Repairing Flight Control System (SRFCS), among other innovations.

-The F-15 was involved in over 25 research projects, including testing the Space Shuttle’s thermal protection tiles, contributing significantly to NASA's aerodynamics, propulsion control, and safety advancements.

NASA Had A Special F-15 Fighter

Did you know that NASA operated a single F-15 fighter jet? NASA’s lone F-15 was a highly modified version of its U.S. Air Force counterparts. NASA used this aircraft to demonstrate and evaluate advanced integrated flight and propulsion control technologies. 

The jet was known as the F-15 Flight Research Facility. 

One of a kind

The F-15 Flight Research Facility is the only aircraft of its kind ever made. The jet hit plenty of other firsts, too, as “the first aircraft to demonstrate a fully integrated inlet-engine-flight control system, a self-repairing flight control system, and a propulsion-only flight control system,” NASA explains.

Whereas a standard F-15 features mechanical electronic flight controls, the NASA F-15 carried a dual-channel, fail-safe digital flight control system. The result was an airframe used across an expansive flight envelope to conduct “complex and sophisticated research projects.”

Here are a few of the systems that the F-15 Flight Research Facility testing helped to develop: ADECS (Adaptive Engine Control System); SRFCS (Self-repairing Flight Control System); PSC (Performance Seeing Control); and PCA (Propulsion Controlled Aircraft). Not bad for a single testing platform. 

In all, the F-15 was used for “more than 25 advanced research projects involving aerodynamics, performance, propulsion control, control integration, instrumentation development, human factors, and flight test techniques.”

Perhaps the most publicly prominent test the F-15 Flight Research Facility ever conducted was for the Space Shuttle’s thermal protection tiles. The tiles coat the surface of the Space Shuttle to act as a collective heat shield during re-entry to the Earth’s atmosphere. They were notoriously difficult to design, manufacture, and install on the Space Shuttle. The F-15 had a significant role getting the tiles dialed in and ready for installation, which allowed the Space Shuttle to finally take flight – one of NASA’s biggest wins ever.

Learning to Fly

NASA’s F-15 was the first aircraft to demonstrate a Self-Repairing Flight Control System. The SRFCS “demonstrated the ability of a flight control system to identify the failure of a control surface and reconfigure commands to the other control devices such as ailerons, rudders, elevators, and flaps to continue the aircraft’s mission or allow it to be landed safely,” according to NASA.

Here’s an example of how the SRFCS might work: A rudder is damaged, or fails entirely mid-flight. The SRFCS identifies the dead rudder and calculates how the still-functioning flight surfaces can be adjusted to compensate for the dead rudder. Meanwhile, the SRFCS displays information in the cockpit telling the pilot how the remaining flight surfaces are being reconfigured, The pilot also learns the new operational limits resulting from the reconfigurations, i.e. reductions in “G’ loading, airspeed, angle-of-attack, and altitude.

In addition to identifying failures in flight surfaces, the SRFCS could diagnose failures in the jet’s electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical systems.   

About the Author: Harrison Kass 

Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.

Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Summary and Key Points: The USS America (CV-66), a conventionally-powered Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carrier, served the U.S. Navy from 1965 to 1996. Known as "Big A," the ship played significant roles in the Vietnam War, the Six-Day War, Operation Eagle Claw, and Operation Desert Storm, among others.

-Despite her stellar service record, she met an unfortunate end when she was deliberately sunk during a U.S. Navy exercise in 2005.

-The data gained from her sinking provided valuable insights into carrier survivability, but many believe the legendary vessel deserved a better fate, possibly as a museum to honor her contributions.

USS America (CV-66) was a Legend

The USS America (CV-66) was a conventionally-powered Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carrier that served the United States Navy from 1965-1996. She was built by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company and was initially based in Norfolk, Virginia. This warship would go on to provide stellar service to her country.

She was known as “Big A” by her crew and the ship’s official motto was “Don’t Tread On Me.” 

“Big A” Service Record

In terms of CV-66, she served in the Vietnam War. This carrier was used to launch airstrikes against targets deep inside North Vietnam. Indeed, according to MilitaryFactory.com, the USS America, living up to her great name, “performed to mythical standards,” as the America never lost any of her pilots in air combat over the unfriendly skies of Indochina. Indeed, a whopping 11,000 tons of ordnance over 10,500 sorties, were dropped on Vietcong targets.

After the Vietnam War, the USS America (CV-66) was not done serving. During the Six-Day War between Israel and its Arab neighbors, the America was deployed to the Mediterranean Sea as part of a larger US Navy flotilla. That flotilla included the infamous USS Liberty. Still a controversy today, the USS Liberty was conducting surveillance of the ongoing Israel-Arab war in 1967 near the warzone when, according to the official account, Israeli warplanes misidentified the American warship for an enemy one and ordered the destruction of the boat. Israeli torpedo boats attacked the American ship, killing thirty-four US sailors and injuring another seventy-five.

Once word got out to the US fleet that Liberty was under attack, America’s airwing went into action, providing support for the stricken warship. 

She also participated in the failed Operation Eagle Claw, which was President Jimmy Carter’s shambolic attempt to free the captured American hostages in Iran. It failed, to the chagrin and shame of everyone involved.

Multiple operations thereafter demanded the carrier’s time and attention, such as the Reagan administration’s mini-war with Muammar Gaddafi’s Libya. America supported multiple engagements against the Libyan military during the 1980s. 

Notably, CV-66 was involved with Operation Desert Storm in 1991. This boat provided important aerial support for the US forces fighting against the Iraqi Army in the mission to liberate Kuwait from Iraq’s illegal invasion. America would launch 3,000 sorties throughout the war. In the 1990s, her last decade of service, she supported the enforcement of the No-Fly Zones over Iraq and participated in the Clinton administration’s air war over Bosnia.

Her Design

CV-66 was a fairly common-looking US aircraft carrier with a familiar design. It had a starboard island and an angled deck with three catapults for launching warplanes. Four hangar elevators serviced the flight deck. She carried a whopping seventy-nine aircraft, both fixed-wing and rotorcraft, making her a potent asset on the battlefield. The aircraft that comprised her airwing included the likes of the legendary F-4 Phantoms, A-6 Intruders, A-7 Corsair IIs, and SP-2 Neptunes. 

This boat was not without defenses. America had an electronic countermeasures suite that included the Raytheon-built AN/SLQ-32. At first, the old Terrier missiles were included in the warship’s armaments package. Eventually, these were swapped out for the Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missiles. Three, 20mm Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems (CWIS) were installed to further assist with anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense. 

USS America: She Deserved Better

This legendary boat, unfortunately, met an ignominious end. 

Rather than be preserved as a museum, she was ultimately sent to the bottom of the drink. No, the USS America was not sunk in combat with one of America’s enemies. The great ship was sunk during an exercise in which she was the target practice by US forces back in 2005.

It was a tragic end to a legendary ship. 

At the same time, though, it should be noted that the American sinking of the USS America (CV-66) allowed the US military to learn crucial information about how aircraft carriers can survive a serious fight—and how long it takes for these behemoths to go under the waves. 

That information, while still classified, remains an important set of data points for the US Navy to incorporate in the designs and operations of their current fleet of Nimitz-class and Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers. 

After all, America’s enemies are deeply wedded to the notion of sinking US carriers in combat. Especially China. By sinking the America during a test, the Navy was able to learn about some of the weaknesses of its carrier fleet and could have conceivably mitigated the threat those weaknesses posed. 

The Navy brass insisted that the USS America died as she lived: serving the US Navy. However, one cannot help but think that this glorious warship was wasted. 

By sinking her in a test the Navy did learn some interesting tidbits. But she deserved better. This was most obvious considering her stellar service record across thirty years. 

Author Experience and Expertise: Brandon J. Weichert

Brandon J. Weichert, a National Interest national security analyst, is a former Congressional staffer and geopolitical analyst who is a contributor at The Washington Times, the Asia Times, and The-Pipeline. He is the author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His next book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine, is due October 22 from Encounter Books. Weichert can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.

All images are Creative Commons or Shutterstock. Main image is of a Ford-Class carrier under shock test. 

From the Vault

Russia Freaked Out: Why the U.S. Navy 'Unretired' the Iowa-Class Battleships

Battleship vs. Battlecruiser: Iowa-Class vs. Russia's Kirov-Class (Who Wins?)

Image Credit: Creative Commons and/or Shutterstock.

Most of President William Ruto's plans for the economy since coming to power are in tatters.

Le chef du gouvernement a été démis de ses fonctions, mercredi soir, sans explication officielle. Il est remplacé par le ministre des affaires sociales, Kamel Madouri.

Summary and Key Points: The Ukrainian military has likely destroyed the Russian Kilo-class submarine Rostov-on-Don in Sevastopol, Crimea, using a combination of unmanned aerial systems and MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS).

-This marks the final chapter for the submarine, which had been heavily damaged in a previous Ukrainian strike in September 2023. The submarine had been involved in Russia’s long-range missile strikes against Ukraine.

-While the attack is a significant morale boost for Ukraine, British Military Intelligence suggests it will not greatly impact Russia's maritime strike capabilities but may force Russia to reconsider its naval deployments in Crimea.

-The Ukrainian military continues to strike targets deep behind the frontlines. In one of their latest attacks, the Ukrainians destroyed a Russian submarine. 

Submarine Destroyed 

“On 3 August 2024, a Ukrainian attack on Crimea highly likely resulted in the sinking of the Russian Black Sea Fleet KILO-Class submarine ROSTOV ON DON,” British Military Intelligence assessed in its latest estimate of the war. 

To achieve such a result, the Ukrainian military used a combination of unmanned aerial systems and MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS). 

The Russian submarine was harbored in Sevastopol, the capital of Crimea and the headquarters of the Russian Navy’s Black Sea Fleet. The Ukrainian military has struck high-value targets in and around Sevastopol with increased frequency. Some of the targets include the headquarters of the Russian Navy, shipyards, fuel depots, and S-300/S-400 air defense batteries. 

The Russian military invaded and illegally annexed Ukraine in 2014. Since then, the Kremlin has turned the Ukrainian peninsula into a fortress, moving hundreds of thousands of troops into the area and constructing extensive fortifications. 

“Contrary to some reporting, the submarine had highly likely not been fully repaired from a previous attack on Crimea in September 2023,” British Military Intelligence stated. 

On Sept. 13, 2023, the Ukrainian military launched a salvo of cruise missiles – most likely Storm Shadow and SCALP-EG air-launched munitions – against the Russian Navy in Sevastopol. The Rostov-on-Don submarine was hit while it lay in the shipyard for maintenance. A subsequent large fire heavily damaged the vessel. 

“This latest attack is almost certainly the final chapter for the submarine with it highly likely being more economically viable to build a replacement submarine than recover and repair it,” British Military Intelligence added.

One of the main reasons the Ukrainians targeted the Russian submarine was its part in the Russian military’s long-range strikes against Ukrainian urban centers and critical infrastructure. Since February 24, 2022, Russian forces have launched thousands of ballistic and cruise missiles and suicide drones against Ukraine, killing and wounding thousands of innocent civilians and destroying or damaging significant parts of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure. 

“Although this is a significant morale boost to the Ukrainian forces, this is highly unlikely to have any major impact on Russian long range maritime strikes into Ukraine from the Black Sea Fleet,” British Military Intelligence assessed.

“The strike does highlight the increasing risks to Russian forces in Crimea and will highly likely force Russia to reconsider any plans to relocate any significant maritime force back to the peninsula,” British Military Intelligence concluded. 

Although the Ukrainian Navy is almost non-existent, Kyiv has sunk or destroyed dozens of Russian warships and support vessels since the war began. Using a combination of anti-ship missiles and suicide drones, the Ukrainians have wreaked havoc on Russian shipping and have forced the Kremlin to relocate much of its naval forces from the Crimean Peninsula back to Russia. 

About the Author 

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

All images are Creative Commons and/or Shutterstock. 

In a change of pace, the Ukrainian military this week struck inside Russia in a cross-border raid. 

On Tuesday, Ukrainian forces ventured into Kursk Oblast, wreaking havoc on any Russian unit they encountered. 

Cross Border Raid by Ukraine into Russia 

Starting in the morning, Ukrainian forces entered Russia from Kharkiv Oblast and moved toward  Russian positions near Sumy. The Ukrainians used a battalion-sized mechanized unit with main battle tanks, armored personnel carriers, and infantry fighting vehicles. 

In a short while, the Ukrainian forces advanced several miles into Russian territory. They also shot down a Russian Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopter, destroyed several main battle tanks, armored vehicles, and trucks, and took dozens of Russian prisoners. 

The raid was most likely an attempt to distract the Russian military leadership and force it to relocate forces from the contact line back to Russia to address the threat and prevent further incursions. 

However, with defenses in the Donbas under heavy strain, the Ukrainian military took a serious gamble when it diverted significant forces to a cross-border raid without any strategic significance. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin bases much of his domestic credibility on the fact that he ensures peace and security within Russia. Ukraine’s cross-border raid directly challenges that assumption. 

For most of the war, Kyiv has been generally careful not to escalate the conflict. That means no action within Russia. But continuous Russian attacks against civilian targets have pushed the Ukrainians to be more aggressive. Slowly but surely, the Ukrainians have been targeting and attacking high-value targets such as air bases, military production facilities, and fuel depots inside Russia.

“The Russian MoD claimed that Russian reserve forces also responded to the supposed Ukrainian raids, and a Russian insider source claimed that elements of the Chechen ‘Akhmat’ Spetsnaz also responded to the raids, but ISW cannot verify these claims,” the Institute for the Study of War assessed in its latest operational estimate of the conflict. 

The Russian military claimed to have destroyed dozens of Ukrainian armored vehicles, but that claim also cannot be verified. Indeed, anything official that comes out of Russia is often intentionally false or misrepresented.

Russian Casualties: 700,000 Dead or Wounded by End of Year

Meanwhile, the Russian military and pro-Russian separatist forces continue to take heavy casualties on the ground. According to the latest data released by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, over the past 24 hours, the Russian forces reportedly lost approximately 1,230 men killed, wounded, or captured. They also lost a reported 78 tactical vehicles and fuel trucks; 67 artillery pieces and multiple launch rocket systems; 54 unmanned aerial systems; 29 armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles; 21 pieces of special equipment; 8 main battle tanks; 1 helicopter; and 1 cruise missile. 

The Russian military continues to absorb these heavy losses and maintain an offensive posture. But soon, this heavy attrition, estimated to reach 700,000 personnel losses by the end of this year, might become too heavy a burden to carry. 

About the Author 

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

Image Credit: Creative Commons and/or Shutterstock. 

Avec la fin de semaine qui approche, il est temps de planifier vos activités pour le week-end, que ce soit une sortie à la plage, […]

L’article Prévisions météo en Algérie : que nous réserve le temps pour ce jeudi 8 août ? est apparu en premier sur .

Les dernières données de la Banque d’Algérie offrent un aperçu fascinant des variations récentes sur le marché officiel des devises. Entre le 7 et le […]

L’article Évolution des devises en Algérie : l’euro a-t-il connu une nouvelle hausse ce jeudi 8 août ? est apparu en premier sur .

Le président tunisien, Kaïs Saïed, a limogé, mercredi, son Premier ministre, Ahmed Hachani, remplacé par le ministre des Affaires sociales, Kamel Madouri. Ahmed Hachani était en poste depuis le 1er août 2023.

Summary and Key Points: In the 1980s, the U.S. Air Force experimented with modifying F-16s to provide Close Air Support (CAS) similar to the A-10 Warthog. Dubbed the A-16, these F-16s were equipped with a 30mm cannon and strengthened wings.

-However, the concept failed due to overheating issues and concerns over the A-16's vulnerability in contested airspace.

-Despite initial enthusiasm, the A-16 was abandoned. During Desert Storm, a brief attempt was made to equip F-16s with a similar cannon in a Pave Claw pod, redesignating them as F/A-16s. However, the system proved inaccurate and was quickly discontinued.

How to Merge the F-16 and A-10 Warthog 

I learned something new about the F-16 today. In the 1980s, the U.S. Air Force began setting aside F-16s that they would modify to provide Close Air Support (CAS) to troops on the ground. The most capable CAS aircraft ever built is the A-10, of course – and that’s exactly what the designers had in mind when crafting this modification. These F-16s would be outfitted with a 30 mm cannon and strengthened wing structures. Designers saw a conceptual hybrid between the F-16 and the A-10 that would be known as the A-16.  

The Air Force even got as far as designating a block – Block 60 – for the A-10-esque modifications, and two Block 15 F-16s were converted to test the technology. Ultimately, the concept failed when the cannons overheated and singed components of the fuselage.

A-16: What Could Have Been

For a moment, some Air Force officials argued that the A-16 was the answer to concerns that the A-10 would not be able to survive over a high-tech battlefield. The venerable close support aircraft is notoriously slow, with straight wings and engines placed above the fuselage, and without stealth capabilities. So, the concerns were valid: The A-10 would not be able to survive in contested air space against a sophisticated adversary. 

Still, the A-10 has some remarkable features. The cannon in particular, which spits out soda-can-sized depleted uranium shells at a rate of 70 rounds per second, can rip through armored vehicles and enemy fortifications. The A-10 was also built tough. With redundancies built into every system, reinforced flight control systems, and a titanium “bathtub” encasing the cockpit, the A-10 is hard to kill. Obviously, it made sense for a CAS platform like the A-10 to fly low and slow over the battle space. 

The F-16, a single-engine multipurpose fighter, has been called upon at times to provide CAS – it was built for a wide variety of mission profiles. But as the thinking went, if the fast and maneuverable F-16 could be outfitted with the enviable Close Air Support bits of the A-10, then perhaps the hybrid aircraft could offer the best of both airframes.

Not everyone was convinced. Some officials were skeptical that the A-16 would have the range and load-carrying capability to serve as an effective attack aircraft. Additionally, they thought it would be vulnerable to enemy anti-aircraft fire – a major deficiency for any aircraft aspiring to serve in a Close Air Support role. 

The A-16 was eventually abandoned. But during Desert Storm, F-16s from the 174th were outfitted with the General Electric GPU-5/A Pave Claw pod on the centerline station. The pod happened to house a 30 mm GAU-13/A four-barrel derivative of the A-10’s seven-barrel cannon. These aircraft were redesignated as F/A-16s, but the venture was short-lived, proving to be an abject failure.

“The pylon mount isn’t as steady as the A-10s rigid mounting” and “the F-16 flies much faster than an A-10, giving the pilots too little time approaching the target,” F-16.net explains. The result was an inaccurate weapon system that was quickly removed from the F/A-16s.

About the Author: Harrison Kass 

Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.

All images are Creative Commons and/or Shutterstock. 

Arrivée dans la ville de Kaya, en février 2020, au lendemain d'une attaque ayant coûté la vie à un pasteur, promotionnaire de son époux, Wendzaanda Sawadogo tente aujourd'hui de se reconstruire avec les siens dans la cité des cuirs et peaux. Elle fait partie de ces milliers de personnes déplacées internes (PDI), accrochées à l'espoir d'une vie meilleure et qui tentent par tous les moyens de ne pas ployer le genou. Portrait d'une quinquagénaire que le travail n'épouvante guère et qui vit à présent de l'élevage de porcs.

Wendzaanda Sawadogo fait partie des Burkinabè qui ont abandonné tout derrière eux. Une maison, des affaires, des animaux, des voisins, mais aussi des souvenirs doux et amers. Épouse de pasteur, elle fait aussi partie des femmes dont la vie, forgée dans le marbre de l'adversité, impose le respect. Ne dit-on d'ailleurs pas que « la résilience est cette lumière intérieure qui ne s'éteint jamais ».

Demander l'aumône ? Non. Se résigner ? Non. Wendzaanda Sawadogo aurait pu envisager toutes les excuses possibles pour justifier les souffrances endurées lors de son exode forcé de Pilga à Kaya, un soir de 15 février 2020. Mais, au lieu de geindre, cette étoile venue de la commune de Tougouri est restée digne. En Dieu, elle confie avoir placé son espoir. « Il a préservé ma vie et celle de ma famille comme l'évoque mon prénom Wendzaanda, en langue mooré », a-t-elle annoncé, lors de notre rencontre, ce lundi 29 juillet 2024.

A l'image des rayons du soleil qui transpercent les nuages, Wendzaanda Sawadogo a travaillé pour sortir de l'ornière

Note: ">Lire aussi : Histoire d'un village : Pilga, les Yarsé et le fétiche

La peur des regards

A son arrivée à Kaya, la quinquagénaire est accueillie par son oncle maternel. Hantée par les souvenirs de l'épreuve qu'elle traversait, Wendzaanda Sawadogo avoue avoir souffert de céphalées pendant deux semaines. « La maison de mon oncle ne comptait qu'une seule pièce, où nous étions 21 personnes à dormir : les enfants à l'intérieur et les adultes à l'extérieur. », raconte-t-elle avant de pousser un long soupir.

Wendzaanda Sawadogo et les siens étaient toujours à l'affût de toute information concernant les personnes déplacées internes. Mais, selon ses propres mots, une peur bleue l'envahissait chaque fois qu'elle se rendait à l'action sociale : le regard des autres. « Il arrivait que des gens rient ou élèvent le ton lorsqu'ils te voient. J'avais mal », regrette-t-elle.

La quinquagénaire a toujours eu peur des regards des autres,

La traversée du désert

Après trois mois et dix jours, Wendzaanda Sawadogo et sa famille prennent congés de leur hôte pour voler de leurs propres ailes. Ils s'installent au secteur 2 de Kaya sur une parcelle achetée par l'un de ses fils, ancien orpailleur devenu militaire. Sur ce terrain non clôturé, ils construisent une maison en banco recouverte de 22 tôles. Mais, trois mois plus tard, le 15 août 2021, une partie du nouveau refuge s'effondre. « Mon oncle m'a proposé de revenir chez lui le temps de reconstruire une autre maison, mais j'ai refusé. Je n'allais pas fuir une seconde fois. Louer une maison n'était pas une option, car nous n'en avions pas les moyens », avance-t-elle.

Dans la tourmente, la famille reçoit le soutien d'une personne bienveillante qui met à sa disposition une maison de 10 tôles pour entreposer ses affaires. Quant à la famille, elle reste vivre dans une partie de la maison qui a résisté aux intempéries. « Nous avions trois enfants avec nous. Ils dormaient à l'intérieur de la maison et nous passions les nuits sous un hangar à la belle étoile. Cela a duré à peu près neuf mois. Nous avons ensuite bénéficié de trois tentes, dont une a été donnée à mon oncle. Lorsque notre fils a abandonné l'orpaillage pour rejoindre les forces armées nationales, il nous a construit une maison beaucoup plus solide », raconte Wendzaanda Sawadogo.

Wendzaanda Sawadogo entourée de Yaabré Sawadogo, l'épouse de son oncle (à droite), et de sa fille Florence

Note: ">Lire aussi : Insécurité dans le Centre-nord du Burkina : La commune de Tougouri se vide de sa population, alertent des ressortissants

Le déclic

A Kaya, les « arrivants » - terme pour désigner les PDI en langue mooré, étaient toujours à l'affût de toute information concernant les personnes déplacées internes. Wendzaanda aussi. Mais selon ses propres mots, une peur l'envahissait chaque fois qu'elle se rendait à l'action sociale : le regard des autres. Avec le temps, elle s'est fait la promesse de changer la perception qu'avaient les gens des PDI, non pas par honte de son nouveau statut, mais elle tenait à se prouver qu'une autre vie est possible, malgré les vicissitudes de la vie.

Elle décide donc de se lancer dans l'élevage de porcs, l'une des multiples activités qu'elle menait dans son village. « J'ai tout abandonné dans mon village sauf mes connaissances », soutient-elle. Pour débuter, elle achète un porcelet à 15 000 FCFA auprès de son oncle.

L'élevage porcin est une activité que menait Wendzaanda Sawadogo dans son village, Pilga

Début d'une nouvelle aventure

À la faveur du Fonds de relance économique FREE COVID-19, lancé par le gouvernement burkinabè pour soutenir la résilience des entreprises face à cette pandémie, le Fonds d'appui aux activités rémunératrices des femmes (FAARF) organise une rencontre d'informations dans plusieurs villes, dont Kaya.

« Nous nous sommes rendus à l'action sociale à deux heures du matin pour nous inscrire. Après les explications du FAARF, le matin, nous avons compris qu'il ne s'agissait pas d'une opération de recensement pour une distribution de vivres, mais de financement d'activités via des micro-crédits. Beaucoup n'étaient pas intéressées. J'ai voulu m'associer à une dame pour postuler, mais ça ne l'intéressait pas. J'en ai parlé à la famille de mon tuteur », se souvient Wendzaanda.

Elle s'associe finalement à deux femmes autochtones de Kaya : Yaabré Sawadogo, l'épouse de son oncle, et Florence Sawadogo, sa fille. Ensemble, elles forment un groupe de solidarité. Leur dossier pour la mise en place d'une ferme porcine est validé par le FAARF, qui leur octroie un prêt de 900 000 FCFA, remboursable en deux ans.

La ferme a été frappée par la grippe porcine début 2023 réduisant le cheptel de moitié

Note: ">Lire aussi : Fonds de relance économique Covid-19 : Plus de 20 300 femmes bénéficient de crédit dans les 45 provinces du Burkina

Une activité « rentable »

Grâce à ce crédit, Wendzaanda achète quatre porcelets et les deux autres femmes, cinq porcelets au total. Elles construisent une porcherie sur un terrain adjacent à la concession de la native de Pilga. A cette mise de départ, s'ajoute le premier porc de Wendzaanda Sawadogo, qui a eu nuits porcelets pour sa première portée.

« Cet élevage est rentable. Cela m'a permis de prendre en charge ma famille et de scolariser mes enfants qui avaient décroché de l'école à cause de l'insécurité. J'ai aussi acheté une moto », explique la quinquagénaire, visiblement épanouie.

Selon Justine Zoungrana du FAARF (à l'extrême droite), Wendzaanda Sawadogo est un modèle d'engagement féminin

Selon la gestionnaire de crédits au FAARF, Justine Zoungrana, Wendzaanda Sawadogo et son groupe sont à féliciter, car grâce au premier crédit remboursé en une année seulement au lieu de deux ans, le FAARF leur a octroyé un autre crédit d'un million de francs CFA. « Ce second prêt a été également remboursé dans les délais », foi de Mme Zoungrana.

L'épreuve

Tout allait bien pour le trio. Mais après deux années d'activités, la grippe porcine s'installe et décime la moitié du cheptel porcin, estimé à l'époque à une quarantaine de têtes. Les dames, qui avaient pourtant contracté un troisième prêt de 1 500 000 FCFA, se retrouvent en difficulté pour le remboursement. L'échéance fixée au mois de juillet 2024 n'a pas été respecté. Le FAARF doit recouvrer environ un million quarante-cinq mille francs CFA.

Dans ces moments difficiles, Wendzaanda peut compter sur le soutien de son époux, Pasteur Jean Baptiste Ouédraogo, aujourd'hui maroquinier. Au regard de la situation économique difficile, il peine à écouler ses sacs, sandales et ceintures en cuir. « De nombreux clients achètent à crédit. Ce n'est pas simple. J'aimerais développer mon activité, mais en tant que pasteur, il est difficile d'emprunter de l'argent », regrette Pasteur Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo, qui ne cache pas sa fierté pour le chemin parcouru par sa tendre épouse.

Pasteur Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo soutient son épouse grâce à son métier de maroquinier

Note: ">Lire aussi : Femmes déplacées internes au Burkina Faso : Défis, résilience et besoin de soutien

Le rêve

Malgré les nuits blanches passées à se creuser les méninges pour trouver comment rembourser le crédit, Wendzaanda Sawadogo trouve toujours la force de rêver. Elle ne refuse de s'éteindre. Son souhait est de construire une porcherie plus spacieuse, car une partie de la cour abritant l'habitat des porcs a été réaménagée pour accueillir un ménage de déplacés internes.

« La porcherie actuelle est vieille et contrairement à ce qu'on pourrait penser, les porcs n'aiment pas la saleté », précise-t-elle. Une autre idée la taraude : produire du soumbala. C'est d'ailleurs avec ferveur qu'elle en parle. Toutefois, malgré ses difficultés, Wendzaanda Sawadogo s'estime chanceuse. Chanceuse d'avoir survécu malgré un parcours semé de ronces ; des ronces qui couvrent encore les sentiers de Pilga et de plusieurs villages du Burkina Faso, un pays en quête de paix pour plus de 20 millions d'âmes.

Herman Frédéric Bassolé
Lefaso.net

Chaque année, le Premier ministre Joachimson Apollinaire Kyelem de Tambela, procède à l'évaluation de ses ministres, qui sont tous tenus par un contrat d'objectifs. Pour le premier semestre de cette année 2024, s'est prêté à cet exercice, le ministre d'Etat, ministre de la défense et des anciens combattants, le général de brigade Kassoum Coulibaly. A la date du mercredi 7 août 2024, 35% des objectifs fixés ont été atteints, même si, de ces dires, l'on devrait être à 50%. Toutefois précise-t-il, ces chiffres sont le reflet de la réalité du terrain.

« Il faut retenir deux aspects : ce que nous prévoyons, et ce qui est réellement conduit sur le terrain. Pour le ministère de la Défense qui est assez atypique et spécifique, quand nous donnons un programme, il arrive que dans la conduite des instructions en cours d'action, on réajuste les choses. C'est ce qui s'est passé pour ce premier semestre. Ce qui avait été proposé dès avril, en mai et juin, on a eu des modifications, pour être sûr qu'on se met sur la bonne ligne. Dans le domaine militaire, on choisit les bonnes cibles pour être sûr que quand on fait le tir, c'est vraiment tirer au but ». Tels sont les termes du ministre de la défense Kassoum Coulibaly, au début de son allocution, présentant l'état de son contrat d'objectifs à la presse.

« Nous faisons en sorte qu'il y ait beaucoup plus de vigilance » Kassoum Coulibaly

Toujours de ces dires, son ministère s'attelle à coordonner les actions prévues avec celles réalisées sur le terrain. Il en a été ainsi pour les recrutements et les investissements. « Globalement, où il était prévu d'être à 50%, nous nous retrouvons à 35%. Mais, ces 35 reflètent la réalité de ce que nous vivons, parce qu'il ne s'agit pas d'une course de vitesse. Nous sommes dans une course de fond. Les ressources étant un peu rares, il ne sied pas pour nous, défense, où tout le monde à un regard sur nous, ... que nous soyons là à dépenser parce qu'il est prévu qu'on dépense... L'essentiel est que le soldat au front puisse être sûr qu'il est habillé de la tête au pied ; qu'il a les moyens pour vivre ; qu'il a les moyens pour se déplacer », a-t-il clarifié.

Le Premier ministre Apollinaire Kyelem de Tambela

Au sujet de la reconquête du territoire à proprement parler, Kassoum Coulibaly estime que des efforts ont été faits. « En 2022, une partie était contrôlée à hauteur de 40%. Sur le terrain, nous avons évolué jusqu'aux environs de 69%... On essaie de reconquérir le territoire actuellement avec le maillage du territoire, pour être sûr que nous prenons des grands ensembles. Ensuite, on essaie de rayonner autour de la navette. On ne peut pas être partout. Dieu merci, beaucoup s'engagent pour être Volontaire pour la défense de la patrie (VDP) ; les unités sont déployées ; on insiste pour être sûr qu'on coopère beaucoup dans ce sens. Et c'est pour ça qu'on tient vraiment à sensibiliser les VDP sur les droits de l'homme, pour qu'il n'y ait pas des histoires d'exactions et de vengeances », a-t-il assuré.

Une équipe du ministère de la Défense, avec à sa tête, le ministre Kassoum Coulibaly

Même s'il y a encore du chemin à faire, la conviction du ministre de la défense quant à la détermination des Burkinabè pour faire face à cette guerre est intacte. Pour lui, chaque Burkinabè, à quelque niveau qu'il soit et quel que soit le poste où il se trouve, est un combattant pour la souveraineté de l'Etat ; un combattant pour la libération du territoire national.

Erwan Compaoré
Lefaso.net

Gnama Paco Drabo est n'est plus. Celui que l'on surnommait le "maître du micro", a été victime d'un accident sur l'axe Ouaga-Koudougou, le mardi 6 aout 2024. Il était un homme affable qui savait semer la bonne humeur autour de lui. La lévée du corp est prevue pour le jeudi 8 août 2024 à 13h au CMA de Bogodogo suivie de son inhumation à 14h au cimetière Municipal de Gounghin.

Gnama Paco Drabo, l'homme que tout le Burkina Faso pleure est né le 10 mars 1957. Il quitte le monde des mortels à l'âge de 67 ans, laissant derrière lui trois enfants et une veuve inconsolables. Il n'a pas survécu à un accident sur l'axe Ouaga-Koudougou, le mardi 6 août 2024. Celui qu'on surnommait "le maître du micro", s'était spécialisé en production, réalisation et animation radio après une formation, en 1987, à l'Union des radiotélévisions nationales d'Afrique (URTNA) au Caire, en Égypte.

Il a poursuivi sa formation, niveaux I et II, au CFPI actuel ISTIC, entre 1989 et 1991. L'homme affable qui savait semer la bonne humeur autour de lui était entre 1983 et 1991, producteur, anmateur radio, réalisateur et présentateur au sein de la Radiodiffusion du Burkina (RTB). Chef de service des programmes de Canal Arc-en-ciel de 2003 à 2004, il sera reporter sportif à la television nationale. En 2004, il est nommé chef de service des relations publiques à la RTB. En 2012, il passera chef de service communication au PSCE/JF.

Il fut également enseignant à l'Institut des sciences et techniques de l'information (ISTIC), en techniques de prise de parole en public, en maitrise de cérémonie et en animation radio. Il etait, en son temps, trés sollicité comme présentateur de grands évènements et d'autres prestigieuses cérémonies au Burkina Faso.

C'est d'ailleurs lui qui a fait decouvrir au président rwandais, la parenté à plaisanterie au Burkina Faso. C'était lors d'une cérémoniebau cours de laquelle il a ouvert une parenthèse sur la parenté à plaisenterie et le président rwandais a démandé à son homologue burkinabè de quoi l'animateur parlait en taquinant de cette manière une autorité. Après les explications, le président rwandais était fier de cette pratique ancestrale qui n'est qu'une source de non conflit dans et entre les communautés qui la pratiquent.

Des témoignages

"Homme jovial, affable et humble, Gnama Pako Drabo cultivait la fraternité au quotidien et était très attaché à ses relations amicales. Il m'honorait chaque matin d'un gentil message, juste pour prendre de mes nouvelles et garder le contact. Il était mon aîné et pourtant c'est lui qui, le premier, était toujours fidèle à ce rendez-vous matinal.

J'ai fait la connaissance de Gnama Pako Drabo dans les années 1990, lorsqu'il dirigeait le service des programmes de Radio Canal Arc-en-ciel. Et je l'ai côtoyé de plus près alors qu'il animait, en 2004-2005, l'émission « Promo-Vision » produite par Média 2000, l'Agence de communication audiovisuelle créée par Valérie Kaboré au sein de laquelle je travaillais à cette époque.

Plus tard, Gnama Pako Drabo m'a fait l'honneur de partager le plateau de mon émission « Périscope » avec Ben Ahmed Ouédraogo alias Big Ben, pour un hommage au défunt artiste Black So Man. C'était le jeudi 16 juin 2022 et ce féru de musique, bien au fait du parcours de cet artiste hors pair, n'a pas manqué d'enrichir le N°168 de Périscope de ses éloquents éclairages, comme on peut s'en rendre compte dans la vidéo que je partage à nouveau ici pour le rappeler, toujours, à nos mémoires… ", raconte Mathias Tomondji, un ancien collaborateur du défunt.

"Il était un modèle pour de nombreux maitres de cérémonies. C'est le bon exemple même du maître de cérémonie : une voix captivante et posée, un langage soigné et accessible. Il sait se mettre en retrait pour faire briller les autres. Pas volubile. C'était une école. J'ai eu la chance de le connaitre. Un doyen ouvert. Paix à son ame" a posté Marius Diésongo sur sa page Facebook.

Obissa Juste Mien
Lefaso.net