DTN News: Israel Says Foiled Libyan Bid To Break Gaza Blockade....NSI News Source Info # 740

(NSI News Source Info) JERUSALEM, Israel - July 10, 2010: Intense diplomatic efforts have likely prevented a Libyan aid ship from trying to breach Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip, the foreign ministry said on Saturday."

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman spoke several times in recent days with the foreign ministers of Greece and Moldova and reached understandings with them about dealing with the Libyan ship," a ministry statement said.
"The foreign ministry believes that due to these talks, the ship will not reach Gaza," the statement added.A charity headed by Seif al-Islam Kadhafi, the son of Libyan leader Moamar Kadhafi who is widely seen as heir apparent, said on Friday it was sending an aid boat from Greece to Gaza.Agents for the Moldova-flagged cargo ship Amalthea said the boat was expected to set sail from Lavrio, some 60 kilometres (37 miles) southeast of Athens.The 92-metre (302-foot) freighter has a 12-man crew and will carry up to nine passengers, a representative of Piraeus-based agents Alpha Shipping said on Friday.

DTN News: Pakistan TODAY July 10, 2010 - Pakistan Bomb Attacks Claim 102 Lives....NSI News Source Info # 739

(NSI News Source Info) YAKAGHUND, Pakistan- July 10, 2010: The death toll from a suicide bombing and car bomb blast that devastated a Pakistani tribal town has soared to 102 in one of the country's deadliest attacks, officials said Saturday.
The explosions targeted a busy market in Yakaghund town in Pakistan's northwest tribal belt on Friday, destroying government buildings and shops and leaving victims buried under the rubble. Local administration chief Rasool Khan said the death toll had jumped to 102, after he and other officials had earlier put the number of dead at 65.

DTN News: Chinese Air Force Among The Most Capable, Analyst Says....NSI News Source Info # 738

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - July 10, 2010: The US-based The Diplomat magazine and Jane's Defence Weekly in the UK published stories this month expressing concerns about the buildup of China's air force, respectively titled "China Air Force Steps it Up" and "Chinese military aircraft: up and coming."
So why the growing interest abroad in China's air force? Where do the concerns stem from? The Global Times' correspondent, Sun Wei, conducted a question-and-answer session by e-mail Wednesday with Craig Caffrey (Caffrey), the author of "Chinese military aircraft: Up and coming."
GT: Why are you concerned about the Chinese air force in particular? The Diplomat magazine said China is "building a force that will be without rival in the Asia-Pacific." What do you think of such a comment?
Caffrey: China's emergence as a global power is one of the most important geo-political issues at present, and this process has a number of significant implications in the defense and security sector. The modernization of the Chinese air force is a key aspect of an ongoing improvement in the capabilities of the Chinese military.

DTN News: Boeing F-15 Silent Eagle Demonstrator Makes 1st Flight....NSI News Source Info # 737

(NSI News Source Info) ST. LOUIS, - July 10, 2010: The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] Silent Eagle flight demonstrator aircraft F-15E1 completed a successful first flight on July 8 from Lambert St. Louis International Airport. During the 80-minute flight, F-15E1 opened and closed its left-side Conformal Weapons Bay, which contained an AIM-120 Instrumented Test Vehicle (ITV) missile. The ITV was not launched.
"The Silent Eagle demonstration flight validated our initial engineering design approach," said Boeing F-15 Development Programs Director Brad Jones.
"Our intent was to verify all systems are operational in a flight environment. This flawless flight allows us to move into the next phase. In the next couple of weeks, we will ferry F-15E1 to the test range and launch an AIM-120.""Everything about the flight went according to plan," said Boeing F-15 Chief Test Pilot Dan Draeger. "We saw nothing unusual during the flight, and we cleared the desired flight envelope needed to fire the missile at the test range; that is pretty much unheard of on a first flight."

DTN News: Lockheed Martin F-35A Becomes Second Variant To Fly With Mission Systems....NSI News Source Info # 736

(NSI News Source Info) FORT WORTH, Texas, - July 10, 2010: The ninth Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter entered flight testing on Tuesday, becoming the second test jet to fly with the next-generation avionics package that will populate all operational F-35s. The F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant, known as AF-3, flew for 42 minutes during its first flight.
F-35 Test Pilot Bill Gigliotti took off at 6:20 p.m. and initiated a series of flying-qualities tests in a flight focused on propulsion and vehicle systems operation. Some mission systems data were collected before the flight was curtailed by storms in the area.

DTN News: EADS North America To Submit KC-X Tanker Proposal One Day Early....NSI News Source Info # 735

(NSI News Source Info) ARLINGTON, VA - July 9, 2010: EADS North America today will submit its proposal in the United States Air Force KC-X aerial refueling tanker competition, a day ahead of the July 9 deadline. The 8,800+ page proposal details the unequalled capabilities of the EADS North America KC-45, which is fully responsive to the U.S. Air Force Request for Proposal (RFP), and will be built in the U.S. by 48,000 Americans.
"We're proud of our offering, which is the only one in this competition that is flying and refuelling today, including a full array of receiver aircraft," said EADS North America Chairman Ralph Crosby. "The Air Force will select the tanker that best meets the American warfighters' requirements. We are anxious to conclude the acquisition process and are confident in the superior capabilities of the KC-45."

DTN News: Boeing Plans To Debut 787 Dreamliner And New Unmanned Systems At Farnborough....NSI News Source Info # 734

(NSI News Source Info) CHICAGO, - July 9, 2010: The Boeing 787 Dreamliner will make its international debut this month when the doors open on the Farnborough International Airshow outside London. Boeing also will feature an extensive display of new, advanced unmanned systems and technologies.
"We've chosen Farnborough as a venue for spotlighting the breakthrough capabilities and innovations of both our commercial airplanes and our defense, space and security businesses," said Tom Downey, senior vice president, Boeing Communications. "We look forward to an optimistic mood this year as industry leaders meet amid signs of economic recovery."

DTN News: Al-Qaeda - Poor Yemeni Town Cursed By Its Name....NSI News Source Info # 733

(NSI News Source Info) AL-QAEDA, Yemen - July 9, 2010: Surrounded by mountains and weighed down by poverty, a Yemeni town bears the dubious honour of carrying the same name as Al-Qaeda.
The residents of Al-Qaeda, 220 kilometres (135 miles) northwest of the capital Sanaa, say the name has brought shame on the town.Al-Qaeda (Arabic for 'the base') was once a commercial hub where custom duties on trade between north and south Yemen were collected decades ago, according to older residents."The name of the town of Al-Qaeda has nothing to do with the organisation headed by (Osama) bin Laden," Colonel Abdullah al-Shaddadi, the local security chief, told AFP

DTN News: Pakistan TODAY July 9, 2010 - Suicide Attack Kills 47 In Pakistan Tribal Belt....NSI News Source Info # 732

(NSI News Source Info) PESHAWAR, Pakistan - July 9, 2010: A suicide bomber drove a motorbike into a crowd of Pakistanis in a busy market outside a local goverment office in the lawless northwest Friday, killing 47 people and flattening rows of shops.
The attacker struck in Yakaghund town in the district of Mohmand, one of seven that make up Pakistan's tribal belt that Washington has branded a global headquarters of Al-Qaeda and the most dangerous place on Earth.It was the deadliest attack in nuclear-armed Pakistan since gunmen wearing suicide vests stormed prayer halls belonging to the minority Ahmadi community in the city of Lahore in May, killing at least 82 people.

DTN News: Northrop Grumman To Provide Infrared Missile Warning Systems And Processors To The U.S. Navy Helicopter Fleets....NSI # 731

DTN News: Northrop Grumman To Provide Infrared Missile Warning Systems And Processors To The U.S. Navy For Heavy Lift Helicopter Fleets....NSI News Source Info # 731

(NSI News Source Info) ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill.,- July 9, 2010: Northrop Grumman Corporation has been selected to provide infrared missile warning systems (IRMWS) and processors to the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in support of medium and heavy lift helicopter fleets. This equipment enables theater operations in areas previously denied due to threat conditions.

Under the terms of the $80 million contract, Northrop Grumman will deliver more than 450 IRMWS and 90 processors to NAVAIR beginning in May 2011 and concluding in the second quarter of 2013. This hardware, in conjunction with Northrop Grumman's Guardian laser transmitter assemblies and control indicator units delivered under the same U.S. Air Force indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract, will complete the initial Department of Navy Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (DoN LAIRCM) installation requirements on 156 aircraft to provide infrared threat protection for U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E, CH-46E and CH-53D platforms.

DTN News: Boeing Anticipates Approval To Export F-15 Silent Eagle....NSI News Source Info # 730

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - July 9, 2010: Boeing expects to receive an export license for its new F-15SE Silent Eagle within the month, a development that brings the company to openly pitch the jet to South Korea as a potential launch customer.
The Chicago-based defense giant has been in tentative talks with Seoul about the aircraft over the last year. However, it has not been able to openly market the semi-stealthy jet to international customers until it received clearance from the U.S. Government to sell low-observable technology abroad.
Boeing now expects to receive a government license to market the jet to foreign countries this month following a review of the jet's stealth technology by the U.S. Government, according to Brad Jones, Boeing's F-15SE program manager.

DTN News: Boeing NewGen Tanker Win Would Bring $339 Million To Connecticut....NSI News Source Info # 729

(NSI News Source Info) ST. LOUIS, - July 9, 2010: The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] July 8, announced that Connecticut will benefit from an estimated $339 million in annual economic impact if the Boeing NewGen Tanker is selected as the U.S. Air Force's next aerial refueling aircraft.

DTN News: U.S. Aerospace, Inc. And Antonov To Bid On U.S. Air Force Tanker Program....NSI News Source Info # 728

(NSI News Source Info) LOS ANGELES, U.S. - July 9, 2010: An aerospace and defense contractor, today announced that it has entered into a Strategic cooperation agreement with Antonov to bid on the request for proposal to supply 179 aerial refueling tankers to the U.S. Air Force.
The airframes will be built in Ukraine by Antonov, with final assembly at a new U.S. Aerospace, Inc. facility in the United States. The KC-X Tanker Modernization Program, expected to be the largest contract in Pentagon history, represents the first step of the strategic cooperation between Antonov and U.S. Aerospace, Inc. to supply and service aircraft to the U.S. military and commercial aircraft markets.

DTN News: Oshkosh Defense Responds To U.S. Army’s Need For Tactical Vehicles; U.S. Army Program Maintains Original FMTV Contract Timeline....NSI # 727

DTN News: Oshkosh Defense Responds To U.S. Army’s Need For Tactical Vehicles; U.S. Army Program Maintains Original FMTV Contract Timeline....NSI News Source Info # 727

(NSI News Source Info) OSHKOSH, Wis. - July 9, 2010: Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), announced today it has received two orders from the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC) to supply 950 U.S. Army Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) trucks and trailers. Oshkosh continues to hold fast to the Army’s original FMTV delivery schedule and expects to complete deliveries for these latest awards by December 2011.

DTN News: Israel Images 'Show Hezbollah Hiding Arms'....NSI News Source Info # 726

(NSI News Source Info) JERUSALEM, Israel - July 8, 2010: The Israeli military has published a series of aerial photographs of south Lebanon showing what it says is evidence of Hezbollah stockpiling weapons in towns and villages near the border.
Israel declassified the intelligence just days ahead of the fourth anniversary of the Lebanon war, in what a military official said was a move to expose the Lebanese militia's "use of civilians as human shields."Declassified images and intelligence maps show what the military says are bunkers and arms caches located in the middle of Al-Khiam village just four kilometres (two miles) north of the Israeli border.

DTN News: U.S. President Barack Obama Sees Turkey Turning Eastward If Snubbed By EU....NSI News Source Info # 725

(NSI News Source Info) MILAN, Italy - July 8, 2010: Turkey could end up seeking alliances outside the West if the European Union keeps it dangling over its bid for membership, U.S. President Barack Obama said in a newspaper interview on Thursday.
Obama told Italy's Corriere della Sera the United States believed it would be wise for the European Union to accept Turkey, and saw reluctance to let Turkey in as a factor behind changes seen in its traditionally West-facing foreign policy."I recognise that this raises strong feelings in Europe and I do not think the slow pace or European reluctance is the only or predominant factor at the root of some changes in the orientation recently observed in the Turkish attitude.

DTN News: Singapore And US Conduct Annual Maritime Exercise....NSI News Source Info # 724

(NSI News Source Info) SINGAPORE - July 8, 2010: The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), the United States Navy (USN) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) are participating in the 16th Singapore-US Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise from 5 to 19 Jul 2010.
The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) Fleet Commander, Rear Admiral (RADM) Joseph Leong, and the USN Commander Logistics Group Western Pacific, RADM Nora Tyson, officiated at the opening ceremony of the exercise at Changi Naval Base this morning.

DTN News: Singapore Selected Aermacchi M-346 Jet Trainer Aircrafts For RSAF....NSI News Source Info # 723

(NSI News Source Info) SEOUL, South Korea - July 8, 2010: Singapore has reportedly shot down Korea Aerospace Industries and chosen Alenia Aermacchi for military jet trainer aircraft, DefenseNews reports from Seoul.

The report, quoting anonymous industry sources, said the decision to buy Italian M-346 trainers was the second major loss to the Italians for KIA. Last year the United Arab Emirates also chose the Italian planes over KIA's T-50 Golden Eagle, which are built in partnership with Lockheed Martin.

DTN News: 6 New Boeing Super Hornets Join Royal Australian Air Force Fleet....NSI News Source Info # 722

(NSI News Source Info) RAAF BASE AMBERLEY, Queensland, - July 7, 2010: Six new Boeing [NYSE: BA] F/A-18F Super Hornets arrived at Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Amberley on July 6, expanding the RAAF's fleet to 11 next-generation, multi-role air combat aircraft.

DTN News: Lockheed Martin Delivers 100,000th Paveway II Enhanced Laser Guided Training Round To the U.S. Navy....NSI News Source Info # 721

(NSI News Source Info) ARCHBALD, PA, - July 7, 2010: Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] celebrated a production milestone recently with the delivery of the 100,000th Paveway II Enhanced Laser Guided Training Round (ELGTR) to the U.S. Navy. Lockheed Martin has produced ELGTRs for the U.S. Navy and international customers since 1992. Current production is part of a five year, $114 million contract awarded in April 2005.

The ELGTR is recognized worldwide as the only live-fire training solution for Warfighters, and is compatible with F/A-18, AV-8B, F-16 and multiple international aircraft. ELGTR provides cost-effective training for all Paveway II laser guided weapons, maintaining aircrew proficiency without depleting the Paveway II Laser Guided Bomb (LGB) tactical inventory.

DTN News: Pakistan TODAY July 7, 2010-Former President Pervez Musharraf Will Lead Pakistan Against ‘Tsunami Of Corruption’.NSI News Source Info # 720

(NSI News Source Info) LONDON, U.K. - July 7, 2010: A key aide of former president Pervez Musharraf has said that the masses across the length and breadth of Pakistan have welcomed the launch of All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) and the party’s membership drive had received a tremendous response.
In an interview with Jang/The News here, General (R) Rashid Qureshi, who is Musharraf’s spokesperson and a key strategist, revealed that parliamentarians from all parties including Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League (N) had welcomed the launch of Pervez Musharraf’s party and had assured of their support.

DTN News: Afghanistan TODAY July 7, 2010 - British Troops To Leave Deadly Sangin....NSI News Source Info # 719

Source: DTN News - compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources including Sky News
(NSI News Source Info) KABUL, Afghanistan - July 7, 2010: British troops are to be pulled out of the Sangin area of Afghanistan - where nearly a third of UK deaths have occurred.
It is understood the Government has decided the notoriously volatile district in northern Helmand province will be handed over to US forces, possibly later this year.The move - set to be announced later by Defence Secretary Liam Fox - comes after Britain handed over command in Helmand to an American general last month.Mr Fox is expected to say that Britain will concentrate on Helmand's populous central belt, leaving the north and south of the province to the US.Sangin, currently home to 40 Commando Royal Marines, is particularly dangerous because it contains a patchwork of rival tribes.

DTN News: US President Barack Obama Denies Any Israel, US Rift....NSI News Source Info # 718

(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - July 7, 2010: US President Barack Obama said he hoped for direct Middle East peace talks to start before the end of September, as he and visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied reports of a rift.
The leaders sat close together in the Oval Office Tuesday and staged a prolonged handshake for the cameras, seeking to put to rest a tense, closed-door encounter at the White House in March."I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu wants peace. I think he's willing to take risks for peace," Obama said, and strongly disputed a question which suggested he had distanced the United States from Israel.

DTN News: Netherlands Into World Cup Final, 3-2 Over Uruguay....NSI News Source Info # 717

(NSI News Source Info) CAPE TOWN, South Africa - July 6, 2010: Long wasteful with its soccer talent, the Netherlands sure has found the right touch in this tournament.

Dutch stars Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben scored three minutes apart in the second half as the Netherlands beat Uruguay 3-2 Tuesday night to advance to its first championship match since losing in 1978 to Argentina.

“We are so close,” Sneijder said. “There is nothing bigger than the World Cup.”

DTN News: Russian Combat Aircraft Makers Fear Competition With China....NSI News Source Info # 716

(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - July 6, 2010: Russian aircraft makers MiG and Sukhoi have spoken against the sale of RD-93 jet engines to China citing the threat of strong competition from cheaper Chinese models of fighter aircraft.
Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport planned to sign a contract with China on the delivery of 100 RD-93 engines for FC-1 fighters, which are direct competitors of the famed MiG-29 Fulcrum aircraft.
Mikhail Pogosyan, the head of the MiG and Sukhoi corporations, said the re-export of technologies must be approved by the original manufacturers to avoid unfair competition.
The FC-1 Xiaolong (Fierce Dragon) is a single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft developed jointly by China and Pakistan. It is designated as JF-17 Thunder by Pakistan.

DTN News: Russia's Purchase Of French Mistral-Class Warship....NSI News Source Info # 715

(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - July 6, 2010: Russia will buy French Mistral class helicopter carriers with the complete set of navigational equipment and technical documentation, but equip the ships with its own weaponry and helicopters, a defense industry source said Monday.

Russia is negotiating the purchase of at least one French-built Mistral class amphibious assault ship and plans to build two or three more vessels of the same class in partnership with the French naval shipbuilder DCNS.

DTN News: Airbus Showcases The A400M, A380 And A330 Freighter At Farnborough....NSI News Source Info # 714

The world’s most modern and eco-efficient passenger aircraft in service today, the A380, will fly every day whilst the A400M will demonstrate its versatility and manoeuvrability from Monday to Thursday.

DTN News: Force Protection Meets With Potential Suppliers For Australia’s $1 Billion Vehicle....NSI News Source Info # 713

The Australian Government in May announced that Force Protection was one of three Australian-based solutions to be given the opportunity to win the contract to manufacture up to 1300 next-generation protected mobility vehicles, under the ‘Land 121 Phase 4’ program.

DTN News: US To Blame Iran For Afghanistan Failure....NSI News Source Info # 712

TEHRAN, Iran - July 6, 2010: U.S. and British intelligence services are working on a fake video clip aimed at diverting blame for failures in Afghanistan to Iran, an informed U.S. military source says.
A source at the U.S. base in Bagram, told Press TV on condition of anonymity that the U.S. and British spies have employed renowned American film editors to produce the video.

DTN News: Iran Says Planes Denied Fuel In Germany, UK, UAE.....NSI News Source Info # 711

Pressure is mounting on Iran over its nuclear programme and the United States has stepped up its push to isolate Tehran economically. On Thursday, President Barack Obama signed into law far-reaching sanctions that aim to squeeze the Islamic Republic's fuel imports and deepen its international isolation.

DTN News: Turkey May Cut Diplomatic Ties With Israel - Turkish FM ....NSI News Source Info # 710

(NSI News Source Info) ANKARA, Turkey - July 5, 2010: Turkey has said it may break diplomatic relations with Israel because of Tel Aviv's refusal to apologize for its deadly attack on a Gaza-bound humanitarian convoy, Turkey's Hurriyet daily said.

"The Israelis have three options: they will either apologize or acknowledge an international-impartial inquiry and its conclusion. Otherwise, our diplomatic ties will be cut off," Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told the paper on Sunday.

DTN News: Russia's Medvedev Oversees Naval Phase Of Vostok-2010 Military Drills....NSI News Source Info # 709

(NSI News Source Info) PYOTR VELIKY MISSILE CRUISER, - July 5, 2010: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is overseeing on Sunday the naval phase of Russia's Vostok 2010 military drills in the Sea of Okhotsk in the Russian Far East on board the heavy nuclear-powered cruiser Pyotr Veliky.

The drills began on June 29 in Russia's Far East training areas and involved some 10,000 troops and around 1,000 items of military hardware. The first phase of the drills ended on Saturday. The second, naval phase will see the involvement of several times more service personnel and military equipment. The exercises continue until July 8.

Apart from the Pyotr Veliky cruiser of the Russian Northern Fleet, the drills also involve the Guards guided missile cruiser Moskva of the Black Sea Fleet.

DTN News: Pakistan Army Finds Taliban Tough To Root Out....NSI News Source Info # 708

(NSI News Source Info) RAZMAK, Pakistan - July 5, 2010: On an operating table at a makeshift trauma center at this military base in North Waziristan, a Pakistani soldier lay anesthetized, blood-soaked bandages applied in the field just an hour earlier a testament to a near-fatal wound.

A Pakistani Frontier Corps soldier in South Waziristan, where the army is fighting militants.The bullet through his neck from aTaliban militant had narrowly missed an artery, and after some minor surgery, the army medics declared the patient, Sepoy Aziz, out of danger.

DTN News: U.S., Poland Sign New Missile Defence Pact....NSI News Source Info # 707

(NSI News Source Info) KRAKOW, Poland - July 5, 2010: The United States and Poland have signed an agreement updating an existing deal on basing U.S. missile interceptors on Polish soil.U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton attended the signing Saturday during a visit to the southern Polish city of Krakow.

With the agreement signed two years ago, the Bush administration had focused on protecting the U.S. against long-range intercontinental missiles with stationary interceptor rockets.

DTN News: Afghanistan Drug Sweep Leaves 63 Dead....NSI News Source Info # 706

(NSI News Source Info) KABUL, Afghanistan - July 5, 2010: The Afghan government says 63 drug smugglers and militants have been killed and 14.5 tonnes of drugs and drug-making chemicals have been destroyed in southern Afghanistan.

The Ministry of Interior said Sunday that 10 other men involved in the drug trade, including some foreigners, were arrested in a two-day operation conducted by a counternarcotics unit assisted by coalition forces along Afghanistan's border with Pakistan.

DTN News: Israel's Barak To Meet Palestinian Premier On Monday....NSI News Source Info # 705

(NSI News Source Info) JERUSALEM, Israel - July 5, 2010: Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak will meet with Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad on Monday, the minister's office said.
"A meeting between Mr. Barak and Fayyad will be held on Monday," the defence ministry said without providing any details on the venue of the meeting or its agenda.Israeli public radio said the two would "discuss the peace process shortly before the departure of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the United States, where he will meet on Tuesday with President Barack Obama."

DTN News: Chinese Navy Air Force - Maintain Strong Impact With 400 Combat Aircraft Mostly Vintage....NSI News Source Info # 704

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - July 4, 2010: The Chinese Navy has its own air force, with over 400 combat aircraft. Most of these are elderly, but still dangerous under the right conditions. These aircraft operate from 24 air bases along the 18,000 kilometer long coastline.

There are about 120 H-6s, a Chinese built Russian Tu-16. Although the Tu-16 design is over fifty years old, China has continued to rely on their H-6s as one of their principal bombers. The H-6 is a 78 ton bomber with a crew of four, a 6,000 kilometer range. It can carry nine tons of bombs and missiles.

There are about 45 J-7s, a Chinese built copy of the MiG-21. Many are being equipped with Western (or Western class) electronics and engines. This makes it a considerably improved MiG-21. Can carry 1.5 tons of bombs.There are about 60 J-8s, a Chinese two engine variant of the MiG-21. China's first attempt at building their own aircraft. But it was not a very original or successful effort. Can carry about three tons of bombs and is mainly used by the navy.

There are nearly a hundred JH-7s. These are Chinese designed and built fighter-bombers that entered service in the 1990s. They were meant to replace the retired H-5s (Russian Il-28 copies).