Digital Globe imagery shows Iran making progress assembling ship modules brought out to the dry dock in January. According to measurements taken on imagery, Iran appears to be constructing another Moudge class frigate. The incomplete boat was located adjacent to the Sahand, another vessel in the series, which is still in the process of being […]
Digital Globe satellite imagery of the U.S. military base at Camp Lemmonier in Djibouti, dated Sept. 20, depicts NASA’s WB-57 high-altitude aircraft on the recently-expanded auxiliary operations apron. The question is—why? What purpose does a scientific research plane have in visiting America’s main military outpost in Africa? One possible answer is … making maps for […]
Recent imagery from early 2014 continues to show China’s BZK-005 MALE UAV operating out of Shahezhen airfield just to the north of Beijing. The Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (BUAA) has built one of China’s more impressive UAVs, the BZK-005. Already in service with the PLA, the UAV has a reported flight ceiling of 8,000 […]
According to Chinese press reports a family of inflatable UAVs were unveiled at the 29-31 August 2014 Tianjin International UAV and Model Aircraft Technology Exhibition. The UAVs were designated SF-1, SF-2 and SF-3 with wingspans of 2.5 m, 3 m and 4.3 m respectively. Chief designer Zhang Bing Yan explained the UAVs have a load of 25 […]
James Hardy of IHS Jane’s briefly discuses a potential arms race in Northeast Asia, a reoccurring narrative that initially emerged in the 1990s and faded with the Asian financial crisis. This argument has been bolstered recently with the revival of maritime territorial disputes and large defense expenditures. Though as Hardy notes, the latter tracks very well with GDP growth and may […]
Recent satellite imagery from 04APR14 acquired by Astrium shows the former Indian Su-30K still at the Baranovichi-based 558th Aircraft Repair Plant. It’s been a rollercoaster ride. The sale of 18 x Su-30K from the Indian Air Force have bounced back and forth in the press with various countries being offered the aircraft at discounted rates. However, they […]
