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President Trump Will Permit Citizens to Buy Military Surplus 1911 Pistols

President Trump is set to sign the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act, which contains an amendment that allows U.S. citizens to acquire military surplus 1911 pistols. The sales will occur under the auspices of the Civilian Marksmanship Program, which has been selling approved military surplus weapons to citizens for more than 100 years. According to the International Business Times, it currently costs the U.S. military approximately $2 a day to store one pistol, and there are an estimated 100,000 1911s that are being stored. So that is a $200,000 expenditure the military can erase and replace with a profit, or at least of a recoup of costs, by selling the firearms. The 1911 is one of the most popular handguns ever developed. It is valued for military use, home defense, self-defense, and concealed carry. Although the military’s 1911s were made by Colt, citizens have long been purchasing civilian models from Colt as well. These range from the basic government model t
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Mi-24K reconnaissance spotter.

After lengthy preparations, an Mi-24K testbed equipped with a new main rotor flew for the first time on December 23 last year at Tomolino near Moscow, which is Mil’s flight-test base. The Russian government is funding the development of a high-speed helicopter (Russian acronym PSV). Although the Russian defense ministry is interested in such a machine, Mil parent company Russian Helicopters is downplaying its commercial prospects. The Mi-24 PSV demonstrator features two Klimov VK-2500 turboshafts, which are slightly more powerful than the two TV3-117s found on standard Mi-24s. The new blades have curved ends to avoid flutter. Cruise speeds of up to 215 knots are expected, according to Mil. The company describes some hardware elements installed on it as “specimens for improving in-service helicopters” of the current Mi-24/35 and Mi-8/17 series. This might be a reference to new avionics that have reportedly been developed by KRET, as well as the new blades. Tentatively, the Ru
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Taiwan Launches Its Largest-Ever Missile Ship

Taiwan on Tuesday launched its largest ever missile ship Tuesday as the island strives to modernize its armed forces in response to a perceived threat from China. The 500-ton corvette named "Tuo Chiang" — Tuo River — is the first of its kind ever produced by Taiwan and was touted by defense minister Yen Ming as "the fastest and most powerful" in Asia. Armed with 16 missiles including eight supersonic Hsiung-feng III (Brave Wind) anti-ship missiles, it will boost Taiwan's defense capabilities against its giant neighbor, which considers the island part of China's territory awaiting to be reunited by force if necessary. "From now on, the navy's combat capabilities will reach a crucial milestone, Yen said at a launch ceremony held in the port of Suao, in northeastern Yilan county. "The completion of the new generation of naval warship is expected to ensure security in the Taiwan Strait and protect shipping lanes,&q
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Germany Picks CH-53K , CH-47F as Options for New Helo

The German armed forces has shortlisted the CH-53K from Sikorsky and the CH-47F Chinook from Boeing  ​as potential successors to its aging fleet of CH-53 heavy-lift helicopters, a spokesman for the German Air Force confirmed. ​A selection  ​should be made by the end of this year,  ​the spokesman said, but added there is currently no favorite.  A military aviation strategy paper published by the German Defense Ministry last week stated  ​that the conclusion of a contract is expected for 2018 and helicopter deliveries  ​should start in 2022. According to the paper, the multirole helicopter should increase the air mobility of the ground forces and contribute to medical evacuation,  ​the support of special forces and to personnel recovery missions. The Air Force spokesman said he expected  ​40 to 70 helicopters to be procured.  According to a status report of the Bundeswehr in December, the Air Force had  ​75 CH-53s in stock. This number is to be reduced to 64, and  ​ 40 of these
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Boeing joint venture preps to overhaul Saudi Apache helicopter fleet

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A joint venture established in Saudi Arabia as part of a economic offset agreement willl provide rotorcraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) to support the Saudi rotorcraft fleet, The Saudi Rotorcraft Support Company CEO, Neil Bevan, confirmed the contract for the company, which opened its first rotorcraft maintenance facility in Riyadh at the Industrial Zone of King Khalid International Airport in June. “We suspect our first aircraft to be the Apache platform,” Bevan said. “We’re due to bring it into our rotorcraft maintenance facility in the upcoming few weeks and we are expecting to work on it for approximately two years.” In 2015, Alsalam Aircraft Company, Boeing and Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries (SAEI) signed an agreement to create the Saudi Rotorcraft Support Company. The joint combines core strengths and disciplines to create a unique offering in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, while delivering the objectives of S
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Futuristic Combat Helmets Move Beyond Protection

Helmets for pilots and ground troops do much more than stopping bullets. Night vision, data display and secure communication are among the features incorporated in specialist helmets which have evolved to become the most technologically advanced and expensive personal gear. From the US JHMCS (Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems) which have has been adopted by US Air Force and Navy F-16, F-18 and F-15 pilots  and more recently F-22 and F-35 pilots to the Russian pilot helmet that uses “bones” to transmit voice communication instead of earphones, helmets of today are a technological marvel. JHMCS allows a pilot to see displayed on his visor, critical flight and navigation information. Sort of like a see-through computer monitor or Head Up Display. Most importantly, the pilot can turn his head towards a target, get an enemy aircraft into the crosshairs displayed on the visor, and fire a missile that will promptly go after target the pilot was looking at. There is an additional a
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Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier formally join the fleet on 7 December.

The UK Royal Navy’s first Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier is to complete its contractors’ sea trials and formally join the fleet on 7 December. UK defence secretary Gavin Williamson made the announcement on 16 November during his first visit to the carrier, while it was at sea sailing around the southwest of England. He said the commission ceremony would be conducted by Queen Elizabeth II in Portsmouth Naval Base after the ship completes its contractors’ trials, run by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance. After the ceremony, the ship will be formally titled HMS  Queen Elizabeth. The ship left Portsmouth on 30 October to begin the second phase of its contractors’ trials, which are focused on proving the performance of its communications, radar, and other sensors. Open-source AIS transponder tracks indicate that the carrier operated around Land’s End and the north coast of Cornwall during the first two weeks of the trials.
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