Australia ahead of time received a batch of American aircraft electronic warfare EA-18G Growler Australia ahead of time received a batch of American aircraft electronic warfare. July 7, defenseworld.net reported that Boeing Corporation supplied the Australian Air Force with the latest pair of EA-18G Growler aircraft.

The contract for the supply of electronic warfare aircraft EA-18G Growler was signed between the Australian Ministry of Defense and Boeing Corporation in 2014. According to the contract, the delivery was to be completed no later than 2020, but yesterday it became known that the last two "Grumblers" from the twelve ordered arrived in Australia.

Australia became the first country after the US, whose army was armed with aircraft fighters EA-18G Growler. The first "Grumbling" was delivered to Australia in February this year and demonstrated at the international air show AVALON.

The EA-18G Growler is based on the F / A-18F Super Hornet deck fighter - externally they are almost identical (the difference is only in the modified shape of the wing and the presence of external pylons with radio electronic equipment). However, internally this is fundamentally different in terms of capabilities and designation of aircraft, although the "Grumbling" has retained the ability to carry and apply various types of missile and bomb weapons. The E / A-18G aircraft are equipped with AN / APG-79 radars, as well as electronic intelligence and suppression equipment from the American company Northrop Grumman.

Ukrainian-American Sea Breeze training will be held July 10-22 This year, in the maneuvers on the Black Sea, in addition to the organizers of the United States and Ukraine, the military units of the 15 states will be involved. The Ukrainian-American military training Sea Breeze will be held on July 10-22 in the Black Sea. They will take part in the armed forces of a total of 17 states. This is stated in a statement by the US Forces Command Europe (EUCOM). This year in the maneuvers, besides the organizers of the USA and Ukraine, military units of Belgium, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Greece, Georgia, Canada, France, Italy, Lithuania, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Turkey and Sweden will be involved. The training will be conducted with the participation of subdivisions of the land, naval forces, and also parts of the naval landing. The purpose of the maneuvers was announced to improve the interaction and flexibility of the use of armed forces of the participating countries, strengthening the means of joint strike. Will be conducting the development of naval operations to isolate the battlefield, the use of air defense, measures to combat the survivability of ships, search and rescue operations. Organizers of Sea Breeze claim that their conduct is aimed at ensuring stability in the Black Sea region. From the American side in Sea Breeze will be involved two missile-equipped ships - Hue City type Ticonderoga cruiser and Carney-type Arleigh Burke, one patrol boat attack aircraft Boeing P-8 Poseidon. In total, almost 800 military sailors and US marines will take part in the maneuvers. Sea Breeze training has been conducted regularly since 1997. In 2016, they were held July 18-30, with the participation of military seamen, observers and instructors from 16 countries. Then the doctrine covered the north-western part of the Black Sea, south of Odesa and part of the Mykolaiv regions.

The US plans to test the anti-missile complex. THAAD interceptor missiles will be launched from Alaska. In the US, they plan to test the operation of the THAAD system against medium-range ballistic missiles in the coming days, Reuters reports citing US officials. According to the agency, the tests will be the first test of the action of the THAAD system against this type of missiles. Interceptor missiles are scheduled to launch from Alaska. It is noted that the US also has interceptors THAAD on Guam. They are designed to protect against a missile attack by the DPRK. A spokesman for the Pentagon's anti-missile defense committee, Chris Johnson, confirmed that the tests are scheduled to take place "in early July." According to him, the complex located in Alaska will have to "detect, track and hit the target with the help of the THAAD interceptor missile." THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) is designed for high-altitude over-atmospheric interception of missiles, as claimed, of small and medium range. Recall that in early May, the US military completed the deployment of the THAAD anti-missile system, the dispatch of which to South Korea caused protests from China, Russia and the DPRK.

The British Ministry of Defense signed a contract with BAE Systems for the construction of new Type 26 frigates.

Under the first contract, BAE Systems will build for the needs of the Royal Navy three Type 26 frigates, also known as the Global Combat Ship (GCS). The deal amounted to £ 3.7 billion ($ 4.9 billion), which includes costs for the development of the project and the preliminary purchase of equipment (it is known that the first engine for the Type 26 frigate is already ready).

Solemn cutting of metal for the construction of a new frigate should take place in July this year. The construction of the Type 26 frigates behind the original schedule for two years, which is why the British fleet will face the problem of shortage of ships. So, the Type 23 frigates will start to write off in 2023, while the first Type 26 will go into the fleet only by 2025.

BAE Systems introduced the final concept of the Type 26 frigates two years ago, but because of disagreements in the cost of construction, the British Defense Ministry reduced the program from 13 to 8 ships and postponed the decision to sign the contract. It is known that the military department did not agree with the total cost of £ 11.5 billion for the development and construction of eight ships, wanting to reduce them by £ 500 million, while BAE Systems offered a discount of £ 250 million. What will be the final sum of the construction of all Eight ships, remains unknown.

The length of each of the Type 26 frigates will be almost 150 m, displacement - 6800 tons. The ships will be able to reach speeds of up to 26 knots (48 km / h) and overcome up to 7000 miles (13,000 km) without refueling. Crew frigate will consist of 108 people, with the ship will be able to accommodate up to 208 people.

The Polish army officially adopted the first mortars of Rak On June 30, 2017, a transfer ceremony was held to the 17th Wielkopolska Mechanized Brigade named after Gen. Joseph Dowbor-Musnicki (17 Wielkopolska Brygada Zmechanizowana im. Geni broni Józefa Dowbor-Muśnickiego), stationed in Miedzyzhece 11 Lubskoy armored cavalry division named after King Jan Sobieski (11 Lubuska Dywizja Kawalerii Pancernej im Króla Jana III Sobieskiego) Troops of the Polish first battery of serial 120-mm self-propelled mortars Rak. The program was timed to coincide with the 21st anniversary of the formation of the 17th mechanized brigade.

The 120 mm Rak (SMK 120) self-propelled mortar has been developed and manufactured by Huta Stalowa Wolya SA (HSW), part of the Polish state-owned defense holding PGZ (Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa). Structurally, Rak is made on the chassis of the Rosomak armored personnel carrier with a wheel formula of 8x8 (the licensed armored personnel carrier Patria AMV, manufactured by Rosomak SA, the former armored convoy WZM, also part of PGZ). The installation is a revolving tower with a 120mm / 24mm MAHSW smooth-bore smooth-bore turret equipped with a 20-min loading machine in the turrets of the turrets at the rear of the tower. Another 26 minutes are in the body of the machine and are reloaded into the automatic loader manually. Shooting is carried out by conventional 120-mm mines for a maximum range of up to 7,000 m, although a new generation of mines with a range of up to 12 km is claimed. The rate of fire reaches 8 rounds per minute, direct-fire shooting is possible.

The mortar is equipped with an automated fire control system for joint development of Polish enterprises WB Electronics, Etronika and Arex, and inertial-satellite navigation system TALIN.

In total, the Polish army hopes to obtain in the future up to 180 self-propelled mortars Rak (20-21 standard battery).

CROATIA WATERED UP NEW PATRICUM SHIP In early June, a new patrol ship was launched in Split from the Bradosplit shipyard of the Croatian shipbuilding campaign. The new ship is the first of five custom-made units built for Coast Guard of Croatia. The contract, signed in December 2014, is about $ 58.5 million. The main ship was laid on the harbor in September 2015 and launched on June 3, 2017. The transfer of the ship to the customer is scheduled for the end of 2017, while he must get the official name. Speed ​​- 28 knots, autonomy - 10 days. The ship's arsenal will consist of a 30-mm automatic gun, two 12.7-mm machine guns and four MANPADS. Crew - 14 sailors and officers. In early June, a new patrol ship was launched in Split from the Belfry shipyard of the Croatian shipbuilding campaign in Split. The new ship is the first of five custom-made units built for Coast Guard of Croatia. The contract, signed in December 2014, is about $ 58.5 million. The main ship was laid on the harbor in September 2015 and launched on June 3, 2017. The transfer of the ship to the customer is scheduled for the end of 2017, while he must get the official name. Speed ​​- 28 knots, autonomy - 10 days. The ship's arsenal will consist of a 30-mm automatic gun, two 12.7-mm machine guns and four MANPADS. Crew - 14 sailors and officers

The US Air Force submitted to Congress a report on the restart of production of F-22 stealth fighters June 20 it became known that the US Air Force submitted to Congress a report on the restart of the production of the fifth-generation F-22 Raptor fighter.

The Senate Committee of the US Congress on Armed Services received a report two days ago and is now under consideration. It is reported that last year studies were being conducted on how much the government could do to resume production of these fifth generation aircraft.

The main purpose of the F-22 aircraft is to gain air supremacy and fight against strategic bombers of a potential enemy. The military's interest in the possible restart of the production line of the F-22 aircraft is caused by the growing tension in relations with the Russian Federation and the growing power of the Chinese armed forces.

In 2009, Congress voted to end the production of the F-22 after the release of 187 fighters.