🇩🇪Germans vote in historic election, with Angela Merkel set to step down after 16 years in power

The election is the first in nearly 16 years not to feature Germany’s biggest political heavyweight, Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has served as chancellor since 2005.

#Germany

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force will showcase the WZ-7 high-altitude reconnaissance drone for the first time at the 2021 China Air Show in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province

This development is a copy of the American RQ-4A Global Hawk reconnaissance aircraft. Chinese engineers did not develop a new aircraft, but simply repeated the reliable American design. In the early 2000s, several of these UAVs crashed in Pakistan and could become a source of technology for China.

Pilots of MiG-29K carrier-based fighters of the Northern Fleet conducted training flights over the Kola Peninsula and the Barents Sea in complex meteorological conditions.

The flights took place in low cloud cover and gusty winds.

Young pilots took to the skies under the supervision of experienced instructors.

Video of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

🇷🇺🇺🇸🇨🇳 Naryshkin: US intelligence report on the origin of the coronavirus looks unprofessional.

“Quite a while ago, the US intelligence community published its report on this subject, which contained such very vague, I would say, politicized assessments, which, of course, is uncharacteristic for intelligence, and for intelligence it looks very unprofessional,” he said.

“As for our knowledge, we, of course, are trying to keep track of this issue. But we did not receive any evidence that this virus was created in a laboratory. And therefore, we adhere, of course, to the version that ... The version that the majority, in my opinion, from the scientific community also adhere to, that this virus, of course, was born in nature, "Naryshkin noted.

The United States completed the withdrawal of 17 B-1B Lancer bombers. The last of the withdrawn arrived at the "cemetery" in Arizona, arriving from there from Edwards AFB in California.

The withdrawal of 17 aircraft took place from February to September, and thus 45 of the 62 bombers of this type remained in the US Air Force. At the same time, out of 17 aircraft, 4 are in the "cemetery", where they will be maintained in such a state that will quickly allow them to return to service.

All this was done in order to maintain the remaining B-1Bs in a state of readiness, as well as "pave" the way for a replacement - the B-21 Raider.

🇮🇷Combat combat helicopters Cobra aviation army of the Islamic Republic of Iran

The main striking power of the Iranian army aviation is the Bell AH-1J Sea Cobra International attack helicopters, which are the export version of the American Bell AH-1J Sea Cobra,

A few years before the 1979 revolution, the Shah's army received 202 of these Cobras from the United States, 62 of which were also equipped with a guided anti-tank weapon system with Tow ATGM, which the conventional AH-1J Sea Cobra also did not have.

Armament built-in: a three-barreled 20-mm M197 Vulcan cannon in an M97 turret with 750 rounds
Armament possible for installation on 4 hardpoints:

- blocks of unguided missiles LAU-68 \ LAU-61 with 7x70 mm \ 19x70 mm Mk 40 or Hydra 70 missiles

- 4x2 anti-tank guided missiles BGM-71 TOW

- air-to-air missiles AIM-9 Sidewinder

- cannon and machine gun containers, etc.

🇨🇳⚓️ 39th detachment of warships (OBK) of the naval forces of the Northern Fleet of the PLA, consisting of: destroyer (EM) with guided weapons (URO) "Urumqi" (tail number: 118) Type 052D, frigate URO "Yantai "(tail number: 538), replenishment transport of the Taihu ships (tail number 889) Type 903, departed from the port of Qingdao (Shandong province) to the water area of ​​the Gulf of Aden on September 26 to replace the 38 OBK and perform anti-piracy missions and escorting ships. EM URO "Urumqi" is involved in this mission for the first time.

#China

According to a number of sources, the 🇷🇺 Russian Aerospace Forces launched an airstrike on the 🇹🇷 pro-Turkish Hamza Division (SNA) militant camp located in Barad settlement in the Aleppo countryside in 🇸🇾 Syria.

🇷🇸🇪🇺 #Breaking| Kosovo | Serbia

EU urged Belgrade and Pristina to immediately withdraw special forces from North Kosovo and eliminate checkpoints in the region - head of European diplomacy Borrell

#Serbia #EU

🇷🇺 🇺🇸 ❗️Three Su-35s fighters escorted the US Air Force B-52H strategic bomber, which was approaching the borders of the Russian Federation in the Pacific Ocean - Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

🇦🇱 🇷🇸 Albania demanded to remove Serbian troops from the borders and is ready to join the conflict in northern Kosovo.
The press release notes that Albania is particularly concerned about "the deployment of Serb military forces near the border with Kosovo and military aircraft flying near and over Kosovo airspace, which encourages people to provoke unrest and violence and destabilize Kosovo.

These actions are contrary to international agreements aimed at ensuring order and stability in this part of the region. We call on Serbia to withdraw its military forces aimed at the border with Kosovo and to work to urgently de-escalate the situation. We call on all participants to show restraint and immediately return to dialogue as the only way to move forward and address open issues in the spirit of cooperation to which Albania is unconditionally committed in its bilateral and multilateral efforts, ”the ministry said.

Rafael Israel
TROPHY active protection system for combat vehicles
The ability to integrate into any platform

The system can neutralize several attacks from different directions at the same time, while maintaining a relatively low risk of hitting friendly infantry.
The system neutralizes all types of RPGs and anti-tank missiles, which excludes damage from both a cumulative jet and a kinetic strike.

The Aspro also exists in a lightweight version that can be installed to protect armored personnel carriers, as well as an ultra-light version designed for light armored vehicles such as the JLTV.
In total, RAFAEL has created 3 varieties of this active protection system.

The Trophy active protection complex includes a radar that detects and identifies projectiles flying towards the protected object. On a signal from the radar, launchers are activated, throwing interceptor projectiles towards them, which must destroy the warhead, at the maximum possible distance from the vehicle.

🇨🇳The novelty Airshow China -2021 from NORINCO Group is a ground-based version of the famous Chinese 30-mm shipborne anti-aircraft artillery system Type 1130 (30-caliber in mm, 11-number of barrels)

#China

🇮🇹 Proposed by the CIO concern a preliminary design of a new BMP for a tender for the Italian army

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has unveiled the latest Rex MK II unmanned ground platform.

It is a multipurpose vehicle that can support infantry at various stages of the battle, including transporting ammunition and medical equipment.

The Rex MK II is not only distinguished by its high payload (1.3 tonnes), it can also be operated with the engine switched off.
The new car is a hybrid - it runs on both diesel and electricity.

The Rex MK II is equipped with all-wheel drive and overcomes any obstacle.
It can be operated remotely and requires one operator.

The Rex MK II also comes with remotely controlled weapon systems, including a 7.62mm machine gun and a 0.50 caliber heavy machine gun. According to company representatives, the car performs certain tasks without starting the engine. For example, it evaluates the environment even when turned off. This allows him to go unnoticed.

🇹🇷Acceptance tests of the Turkish HISAR O + air defense system have begun. Serial deliveries are scheduled for 2024

🇷🇸 🇷🇺 ⚡️🇽🇰The Serbian Minister of Defense and the head of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, together with the Russian Ambassador and the Russian military attaché, visited the units stationed in the Raska region on the administrative border with Kosovo
#Kosovo #Serbia

🇹🇼 Taiwan has set production timelines for domestically produced missiles and ships to strengthen the country's defense.

Missile production

1⃣ Wan Chien air-launched cruise missile with a declared range of 200 km. Production time: 2022-2024
2⃣ Hsiung Sheng cruise missile. Production time: 2022-2025
3⃣ Chien Hsiang loitering ammunition, entered into mass production. Production time: 2022-2025
4⃣ Hsiung Feng III supersonic anti-ship and ground missile with a declared firing range of 400 km. Production time: 2023-2026

5⃣ Hsiung Feng I and Hsiung Feng II missiles and mobile launchers for them. Production time: 2022-2026
6⃣ Hsiung Feng III Rocket. Production time: 2023-2026

Ship building

☑️ Two stages of production of Tuo Jiang-class corvettes are planned. Stage 1 will start in 2022, and stage 2 in 2023. Both stages will end in 2026.

☑️ Anping-class Coast Guard patrol ships will be equipped with missiles and command and control facilities between 2023 and 2026.

☑️ It is planned to purchase a variant of the Tien Chien II missile for anti-aircraft missile systems and the Tien Kung III missile defense system. Production time: 2022-2026

The USA promotes the idea of ​​a permanent military presence in the Baltics

After America's withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Pentagon intends to change the plans for the US military presence abroad, and in this regard, the idea of ​​making a permanent American military presence in the Baltic countries began to be actively promoted. In particular, such an appeal was made by John R. Denny, professor at the Institute for Strategic Studies at the US Army War College and an expert on the influential Atlantic Council. His article fell into the category of "main materials" Defense News.

Maintaining only intermittent US ground forces in the Baltics, especially when a more permanent US presence in neighboring Poland is being formed, sends the wrong message at the wrong time to NATO's most vulnerable allies and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The hasty, chaotic withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan has led some American allies in Europe to question Washington's commitment to NATO, and now only a permanent US military presence in each of the Baltic states can best convince allies that Washington is supporting them.
This is especially true today in Lithuania, which is literally and figuratively at the forefront of Western efforts against Russian and Chinese authoritarianism. Sandwiched between the Baltic Sea, neighboring Belarus, and Russian territory of Kaliningrad - the most militarized piece of land in Europe - this relatively small ally faces formidable threats.
Over the past few years, Russia has significantly increased the number of offensive conventional and nuclear weapons in its Kaliningrad exclave, which borders Lithuania for about 185 miles [300 km]. The recently concluded Zapad military exercise involved up to 200,000 Russian and Belarusian soldiers, sailors and pilots, as well as hundreds of tanks and artillery pieces that first defended themselves in an imaginary invasion and then imitated a counterattack on Lithuanian (and Polish) territory. It is alarming that the exercise could lead to a permanent Russian military presence in Belarus.
China imposed a trade embargo against Lithuania and recalled its ambassador from Vilnius. These moves were in response to Lithuania's seemingly harmless decision to allow Taiwan to open a diplomatic mission in Vilnius.
In addition, Lithuania has been subject to extensive cyberattacks attributed to both Russia and China.

A small but permanent US presence in Lithuania will strengthen the security of the US and its allies in northeastern Europe in three ways. First, it will clearly indicate to allies and adversaries that Lithuania's sovereignty and territorial integrity are vital American interests. Secondly, it can be used to fill gaps in Lithuania's defense capabilities today, especially with regard to anti-tank, artillery, UAV and electronic warfare. Finally, it will give Vilnius the confidence to invest more in advanced offensive electronic warfare and information operations, which will enable it to better respond to the most likely attacks from Russia and China.

The main objections to a long-term US presence are that it could somehow violate the terms of the 1997 NATO-Russia agreement, or it could intimidate Putin, which would generate mounting backlash. Based on a carefully calibrated presence that fits into NATO's already sustained commitment to the region, these fears are exaggerated when compared to the broad security benefits.
For example, as part of NATO's Forward Presence Initiative, Germany has since 2017 led a multinational combat group of about 1,100 troops in Lithuania.

🇷🇸🇽🇰 Serbian President Vucic said that the army would react if the Serbian people were persecuted by Albania. If NATO does not respond within 24 hours. "Serbia will use force"
He also added that Rosu (KLA) scared the people with safari vehicles in Jarinje.

•"In the event of a pogrom, we wait 24 hours for NATO to react, otherwise Serbia will react on its own" - Vucic

•Speaking on TV tonight, the Serbian leader explained that Belgrade is not sending troops into Kosovo because it is contrary to the Kumanov Accords and is simply trying to keep the peace. Until the pogrom began, the president stated, and Belgrade not only closely monitors the situation, but also supplies the Serbian people in Kosovo.

•Vucic noted that the visit of the Ambassador of the Russian Federation Alexander Botan-Kharchenko at the Yarinje checkpoint shows Russia's support for the territorial integrity of Serbia.

•The Serbian leader drew special attention to the hypocrisy of the West, which turned a blind eye to sending special forces with armored vehicles to administrative border crossings - but was outraged when Serbia redeployed troops on its territory or took the plane into the air.

•“Seven days in the West were not excited, but they were excited when Serbia showed that it would not allow a pogrom against its population. They thought I was joking, ”said Vucic.

🇷🇸⚡🇽🇰 Video of flights of military equipment which included SOKO J-22 Orao fighter bombers, Mi-17 helicopters, Eurocopter EC145 and Mi-35M of the Serbian Air Force on the administrative border with Kosovo.