MILITARY FIREPOWER COMPARISON OF COUNTRIES
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Like Global Firepower The GFP Top 10: 2.Russia 3.China 4.India 6.France 7.Germany 9.Italy 10.Brazil Simply select a country from the two available dropdown lists below to begin your comparison of national firepowers. A total of 68 countries currently make up the GFP ranked list. Popular Comparions: India vs Pakistan, North Korea vs South Korea, US vs China,Japan vs China, UK vs Argentina, US vs Russia, France vs Germany
| Confident China unveils its secretive nuclear submarine fleet for the first time in four decades
For more than 40 years, its fleet of nuclear submarines has been shrouded in mystery. But now, China has unveiled the older generation of vessels, which can fire destructive rockets from under the sea. The country disclosed the fleet - one of its most secretive military programs - for the first time in four decades as a sign of its growing strength and confidence.
Revelation: China has unveiled its fleet of nuclear submarines for the first time in four decades
Demonstration: Sailors line up along the deck of one of the Chinese navy's powerful submarines
Confident: China disclosed the fleet in a ceremony yesterday as a sign of its growing strength and confidence
Powerful: A black and white photo of China's Long March 2 nuclear submarine, taken in 1977 In a ceremony yesterday, seamen performed a number of displays on the nuclear-armed submarines off the coast of Qingdao in east China's Shandong province. They took part in safety drills, simulated military combat and carried out a series of training exercises. They could also be seen transporting specialist equipment on the vessels, including China's Long March 2 nuclear submarine.
Event: The submarines were joined by Chinese naval ships and helicopters during the open-air ceremony off the coast of Qingdao in east China's Shandong province
Impressive: The older generation of vessels can fire destructive rockets from under the sea. The submarines were joined by Chinese naval ships and helicopters during the open-air ceremony. The country's PLA (People's Liberation Army) is devoting increasing resources to its naval forces to safeguard its maritime interests and assert its territorial claims. However, the US has expressed concern over China's military developments - particularly since the country started operating within America's exclusive economic zone in June.
Performance: Seamen performed a number of displays on the nuclear-armed submarines, including transporting specialist equipment on the vessels
Action: They also took part in safety drills, simulated military combat and carried out training exercises
Concern: The US has expressed concern over China's military developments - particularly since the country started operating within America's exclusive economic zone in June. And earlier this year, a Chinese naval fleet was spotted sailing through an international strait between northern Japan and Russian's far east. The two missile destroyers, joined by three other vessels, sparked concern after passing through the Soya Strait, which separates the Sakhalin Islands in Russia from the island of Hokkaido in Japan. At the time, local reports deemed it 'unclear' why the five-strong fleet was travelling through that particular area. The Chinese government has revealed for the first time that it has nuclear submarines capable of attacking cities throughout the United States. Last week, state-run Chinese news agencies - such as China Central TV, the People’s Daily, the Global Times, the PLA Daily, the China Youth Daily and the Guangmin Daily - ran identical reports about the 'awesomeness' of the People's Liberation Army's submarine force. 'This is the first time in 42 years since the establishment of our navy’s strategic submarine force that we reveal on such a large scale the secrets of our first-generation underwater nuclear force,' the Global Times said in a lengthy article titled 'China for the First Time Possesses Effective Underwater Nuclear Deterrence against the United States.'
Deterrent: China's state-run media has reported that it now has subs capable of launching nuclear weapons at the United States Chinese news agencies also reported on the Army's lethal intentions should it ever use the nuclear weapons the submarines are capable of launching. 'Because the Midwest states of the U.S. are sparsely populated, in order to increase the lethality, [our] nuclear attacks should mainly target the key cities on the West Coast of the United States, such as Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego,' the Global Times said. 'The 12 JL-2 nuclear warheads carried by one single Type 094 SSBN can kill and wound 5 million to 12 million Americans. But West Coast cities aren't the only metropolitan areas in the U.S. that face the threat of a nuclear attack from the Chinese, according to the country's state-run media.
Patrol: The Chinese media says that the country's submarine fleet currently is on routine patrol 'If we launch our DF 31A ICBMs over the North Pole, we can easily destroy a whole list of metropolises on the East Coast and the New England region of the U.S., including Annapolis, Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Portland, Baltimore and Norfolk, whose population accounts for about one-eighth of America’s total residents,' the Global Times said. The JL-2 missiles have a range of about 8,700 miles and could hit almost the entire continental U.S. with independently targetable re-entry vehicle warheads. The Type 094 Jin Class submarine was developed in 2010 and is capable of launching 12 to 16 JL-2 missiles. The Chinese submarine fleet reportedly is the the second-largest in the world. According to Chinese media, the fleet includes 70 subs, 10 of which are nuclear powered. At least four of those subs are capable of launching the JL-2 missiles.
Range: Missiles launched from the subs are capable of hitting cities throughout the United States. Each of the reports from China's state-run media stressed that the PLA's submarine fleet currently is on routine strategic patrol, 'which means that China for the first time has acquired the strategic deterrence and second strike capability against the United States.'
The fight against Assad’s brutal regime has taken an unexpected turn late Thursday afternoon when a large weapons cache belonging to the so-called national protection force in Homs city, an arm of Assad’s Shabeeha, was destroyed. The explosion was reminiscent of the attack on Qasyoon mountain, a stronghold for the Syrian army and a location said to house missiles targeting Israel. It was first reported that the missile fueling station had blown up which seemed like a reasonable proposition especially since an ammunition depot was targeted.
But sure, Greg, wouldn’t this mean a nuclear holocaust? Not so he says. “Tactical nuclear weapons lower the threshold on use of a nuclear bomb as their modern incarnation can be tuned in yield in order to target military sites using stand off weapons without escalating by destroy surrounding civilian infrastructure.”
The likely assailant in both cases is Israel he claims: “Israel is the only nation that can deploy these sorts of weapons with impunity without fear of a counter-attack. Syria has shown no appetite to get into a shooting fight even over the deployment of such weapons”. This all presented a remarkably delicious possibility of removing the tyrant Assad using all tools available. “The army can be gradually destroyed with these sort of strikes, or destroyed all in one go in a devastating nuclear attack. Should Assad attempt to counter-attack, the cities can be destroyed by larger nuclear bombs with ease, since the insurgents have done the job of deteriorating Assad’s command on the ground”, an anonymous military strategist added. What about the coast, I asked him? “The coast does present a problem for suppression of air defense missions by NATO due to Russian missiles stationed there, but as I speak hordes of Muslims are throwing themselves on coastal cities in the hopes of destroying these weapons to allow Israel and NATO to intervene.”.
I concluded with him that it is awfully ironic that an inhuman weapon such as nuclear weapons and chemical weapons could be used to promote human rights and freedom in the world. But the Syrian people, or at least who will remain of them after these attacks, deserve to enjoy the same freedoms enjoyed today by Iraqis. “Don’t be so sure”, another anonymous strategist disagreed, “We are now playing with nuclear fire and the use of all these weapons of mass destruction will definitely attract a counterattack with massive force. We are now on a slippery slope, there is no such thing as a limited nuclear strike, the retaliation will be delayed, but it is coming and god save us all when the nuclear fire spreads to our backyards.” India took a vital step towards completing its nuclear triad in the early hours of Saturday when the reactor on board nuclear-powered submarine INS Arihant achieved criticality, a feat which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh termed as a "giant stride" in developing indigenous technological capabilities. The 6,000 tonne submarine's pressurised light water nuclear reactor achieved criticality four years after it was launched by Singh's wife Gursharan Kaur in July 2009 in Vishakhapatnam. "Today's development represents a giant stride in the progress of our indigenous technological capabilities. It is testimony to the ability of our scientists, technologists and defence personnel to work together for mastering complex technologies in the service of our nation's security. I look forward to the early commissioning of INS Arihant," the Prime Minister said in his congratulatory message. The reactor on board nuclear-powered submarine INS Arihant is now active INS Arihant will be armed with the DRDO-developed medium-range K15 ballistic missile. The last development trial of the 750 km range ballistic missile had taken place earlier this year. Currently, the Indian Navy has 16 conventional diesel/electrical powered submarines. The success of Arihant project is crucial as it will provide India the third leg of the nuclear triad – the ability to launch nuclear weapons from sea. New Delhi has already acquired the first two capabilities, with the induction of Sukhoi-30 MKIs fighter jets capable of delivering nuclear warheads (air) and Agni series of missiles (land). Vice Admiral (retd) A. K. Singh said the criticality of the reactor was a crucial part of the harbour trial phase. After completion of harbour trials, the submarine is preparing for sea trials for extensive test of various systems on board and its weapon firing ability. Commencement of sea trials would be the third major milestone, Singh said, on the way for the submarine to become fully operational. There was still a long way to go before INS Arihant becomes part of the Navy's arsenal. The entire process from the completion of harbour and sea trials till the submarine is ready for operational deployment will take another 18-19 months, Navy officials said. Last year, the Navy leadership had claimed that INS Arihant would be out on deterrent patrol in 2014. The delay in the nuclear reactor gaining criticality had further pushed back the schedule. Incidentally, INS Arihant's reactor achieved criticality ahead of the launch of the second phase of the construction of indigenous aircraft carrier, Vikrant on Monday.
The USS Gonzalez is 505 feet long and can turn on a dime. Perhaps just as impressive - its Navy crew can maintain perfect balance on deck as the 9,000-ton vessel performs its remarkable maneuverability. A spectator in Norfolk, Virginia, filmed the guided missile destroyer's prowess at sea as it put on a show outside its home port in 2007.
Remarkable: The USS Gonzalez demonstrated its maneuverability by making a hair-pin 180-degree turn for spectators in Norfolk, Virginia Stand to: Dozens of sailors stand calmly at parade rest as the destroyer performs its incredible maneuvers Dozens of sailors stand still, arms at their side at 'parade rest,' as the destroyer makes a hair pin 180-degree turn at high speed. The destroyer is capable of speeds of 30 knots, about 35mph. It's an achievement that is even more significant considering that the craft is bigger than one and a half football fields. The USS Gonzalez is just one of 62 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers that the Navy currently has in service around the world. The destroyers, which are built to be fast and maneuverable, were designed around the Aegis Combat System, a complex radar and fire control system that is able to track targets at sea, on land and in the air. Their speed and size have makes them easily deployable - which has given them a large role in the U.S. Navy's recent movements. Navy ship makes high speed left turn This shot from a similar maneuver about the USS Bulkeley - the same class of ship as the USS Gonzalez - shows just how much the deck shifts when the destroyer turns The USS Gonzalez's nautical acrobatics are even more impressive considering that it weighs 9,000 tons and is longer than one and a half football fields. President Obama ordered four Arleigh Burke destroyers to the eastern Mediterranean to show he was serious about striking Syrian government positions. Each one is capable of showering land targets with up to 90 cruise missiles from 1,500 miles away. An Arleigh Burke-class destroyer was similarly sent to the Korean peninsula this spring to deter the North from launching missiles at the South or Japan. Since she was commissioned in 1996, the Gonzalez has been deployed to fire cruise missiles on Serbia, twice tangled with Somali pirates and helped evacuate American citizens from Lebanon in 2006 during the Israeli shelling of the country.
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Navy's $7bn stealth ship hits the waves: America's largest ever destroyer leaves dry dock for the first time
The USS Zumwalt, the largest stealth destroyer ever built for the U.S. Navy, was launched into the waters of the Kennebec River in Maine for the first time on Monday. The big ship touched water without fanfare after a ceremony scheduled was earlier this month was Dozens of local residents gathered to watch the hours-long process of floating the ship in a dry dock. In the water for the first time, the ship was a sight to behold. The first-in-class Zumwalt, the largest U.S. Navy destroyer ever built, floats off a submerged dry dock in the Kennebec River, on Monday The Zumwalt looks like no other U.S. warship, with an angular profile and clean carbon fiber superstructure that hides antennas and radar masts ‘It's absolutely massive. It's higher than the tree line on the other side. It's an absolutely huge ship - very imposing. It's massively dominating the waterfront,’ said Amy Lent, executive director of the Maine Maritime Museum, who watched the process from her office down river from the shipyard. The Zumwalt looks like no other U.S. warship, with an angular profile and clean carbon fiber superstructure that hides antennas and radar masts. ‘The Zumwalt is really in a league of its own,’ said defense consultant Eric Wertheim, author of the ‘The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World.’ Workers at Bath Iron Works, part of General Dynamics, will continue working on the ship throughout the winter. The shipyard hopes to hold a rescheduled christening in the spring, with sea trials following in the fall. Bath Iron Works plans to deliver the ship to the Navy in 2015. Like a giant nose, the forward hull body of the first-in-class Zumwalt, the largest U.S. Navy destroyer ever built, juts out of its dry dock in Bath, Maine In action: An artist rendering of the USS Zumwalt class destroyer which will be one of the more heavily armed and expensive ships in the U.S Navy Originally envisioned as a ‘stealth destroyer,’ the Zumwalt has a low-slung appearance and angles that deflect radar. Its wave-piercing hull aims for a smoother ride. The 610-foot ship is a behemoth that's longer and bigger than the current class of destroyers. It was originally designed for shore bombardment and features a 155mm ‘Advanced Gun System’ that fires rocket-propelled warheads that have a range of nearly 100 miles. Thanks to computers and automation, it will have only about half the complement of sailors as the current generation of destroyers. Critics, however, felt the Navy was trying to incorporate too much new technology - a new hull, computer automation, electric propulsion, new radar and new gun - into one package. At one point, the program was nearly scrapped because of growing cost. Eventually, the program was truncated to three ships, the Zumwalt being the first. The first-in-class Zumwalt features an unusual wave-piercing hull, electric drive propulsion, advanced sonar and guided missiles, and a new gun that fires rocket-propelled warheads as far as 100 miles Bath Iron Works hopes to hold a rescheduled christening in the spring and plans to deliver the ship to the Navy in 2015 With its fearsome array of weapons, radar evading silhouette and $7billion price tag, this is one of America's most deadly - and expensive - warships ever. Equipped with guns capable of firing warheads 100 miles, stealth features, and engine able to generate enough power to run 78,000 homes, the U.S. Navy is hoping it with guarantee its naval supremacy for decades to come. After embarrassing troubles with its latest class of surface warships, the Navy is hoping for a winner from a new destroyer that's ready to go into the water. So far, construction of the first-in-class Zumwalt, is on time and on budget, something that's a rarity in new defense programs, officials said. The christening of the ship bearing the name of the late Admiral Elmo 'Bud' Zumwalt was canceled earlier this month because of the federal government shutdown. Fearsome: The $7billion first-in-class Zumwalt rises from the dry docks in Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine Hulking: First-in-class USS Zumwalt is the largest U.S. Navy destroyer ever built The public christening ceremony featuring Zumwalt's two daughters will be rescheduled for the spring. Admiral Zumwalt served in destroyers during World War II and was awarded a Bronze Star for valor at the Battle of Leyte Gulf. As the nation's youngest chief of naval operations, appointed at age 49 by President Richard Nixon, he fought to end racial discrimination and allowed women to serve on ships for the first time. Like its namesake, the ship is innovative. It is so big that Bath Iron Works built a 106-foot-tall, $40 million 'Ultra Hall' to accommodate its large hull segments. The ship is 100 feet longer than the existing class of destroyers. It features an unusual wave-piercing hull, electric drive propulsion, advanced sonar and guided missiles, and a new gun that fires rocket-propelled warheads as far as 100 miles. Unlike warships with towering radar- and antenna-laden superstructures, the Zumwalt will ride low to the water to minimize its radar signature, making it stealthier than others. Deadly force: Armed with up to 80 Tomahawk cruise missiles and designed to back up Marines on amphibious missions the USS Zumwalt is so expensive only three will be built Resembling a 19th century ironclad warship the USS Zumwalt uses a 21st century version of a 'tumblehome' hull USS ZUMWALT: EQUIPPED TO DOMINATE THE SEAS FOR DECADESDisplacement: 14,564 long tons (14,798 t) Length: 600 ft (180 m) Beam: 80.7 ft (24.6 m) Draft: 27.6 ft (8.4 m) Propulsion: Two Rolls-Royce Marine Trent-30 gas turbines driving Curtiss-Wright generators and emergency diesel generators, 78 MW (105,000 shp); two propellers driven by electric motors Speed: Over 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph) Weapons: 20 × MK 57 VLS modules, with a total of 80 launch cells RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM), four per cell Tactical Tomahawk, one per cell Vertical Launch Anti-Submarine Rocket (ASROC), one per cell Two × 155 mm/62 caliber Advanced Gun System 920 × 155 mm rounds total; 600 in automated store with Auxiliary store room with up to 320 rounds (non-automatic) as of April 2005 70–100 LRLAP rounds planned as of 2005 of total Two × Mk 110 57 mm gun (CIGS) Originally envisioned for shore bombardment, the ship's size and power plant that can produce 78 megawatts of electricity - enough to power 78,000 homes - make it a potential platform for futuristic weapons like the electromagnetic rail gun, which uses a magnetic field and electric current to fire a projectile at seven times the speed of sound. There are so many computers and so much automation that it'll need fewer sailors, operating with a crew of 158, nearly half the complement aboard the current generation of destroyers. 'The concept of the Zumwalt is sort of a bridge between the traditions of the past and the new world of networked warfare and precision guided munitions,' said Loren Thompson, defense analyst at the Lexington Institute. 'It's not so much a radical concept as it is an attempt to pull off a full range of missions with a ship that has one foot in the present and one foot in the future.' The Navy once envisioned building more than 20 of the ships. But the ship has so many sophisticated features and its cost grew so high that senior Navy officials tried to kill the program. Instead, it was truncated to just three ships, the first being Zumwalt. The Zumwalt will cost more than $3.5 billion - about three times that of current destroyers - but the program has not been beset by big cost overruns or delays, officials said. The fact that construction has gone smoothly is a relief for the Navy, which has dealt with embarrassing troubles on its new class of speedy warship, dubbed the 'littoral combat ship.' Those smaller ships, designed to operate close to shore in littoral waters, have been plagued by escalating costs, production delays and mechanical problems. What you get for $7 billion dollars: A guide to the USS Zumwalt's unique features A model of the Zumwalt Class destroyer to be built by Bath Iron Works and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding is displayed during a contract signing ceremony at the Pentagon Mission modules that give them the flexibility to perform roles including anti-submarine warfare and minesweeping are not ready, even though the first ships have been commissioned. 'That ship is a total disaster,' said Norman Polmar, a naval historian, analyst and author. Against that backdrop, shipbuilders at Bath Iron Works have been toiling away on the Zumwalt, the first entirely new ship built on the banks of the Kennebec River since the original Arleigh Burke was christened more than 20 years ago. Dan Dowling, president of Local S6, which represents 3,200 shipbuilders, said it's been a challenging project with a new hull design, composite materials and new technology. 'It is a radical departure from what we've known. Whether the Navy is satisfied with the design of the ship is up to them. We can only build what they asked for,' he said, adding, 'I hope they'll be pleased with it. We'd like to build as many of them as we can.'
Special Report: Japan Buys American F-35 Stealth Fighters; China Phases Out J-7 Fighters Welcome to China vs. Japan Military Match-Ups. Relations between the two economic and military giants of East Asia are far from sanguine. Chinese attitudes towards Japan can only be described as antagonistic, and in 2010 Japan finally started reacting to that hostility and China's rising power with a defense reorganization. The future of East Asia will certainly include more ugly incidents between China and Japan akin to the 2010 Senkaku Islands fishing boat row or the 2013 Senkaku incident involving Chinese warships targeting Japanese patrol vessels, and may even lead to a full-fledged East Asian arms race. China vs. Japan Military Match-Ups offers a concise, comparative index to the fighter aircraft, tanks, warships, missiles and other weapons systems that would figure in any international incident or military build-up in East Asia. This website uses open source data, expert analysis and public domain imagery to provide unbiased, accurate comparisons of military equipment used by China's People's Liberation Army and Japan's Self-Defense Forces.China vs. Japan Military Match-Ups does not make any judgements as to who fields the best military equipment, nor does it engage in any speculation regarding which country would win in a skirmish or armed conflict. If you like China vs. Japan, visit our sister website, China vs. India Recent Updates Tanks (1/17/13)
As the United States government attempts its “Pivot to Asia” by strengthening military alliances with democratic and (contrary to the official portrayal of America as a champion of human rights) undemocratic nations alike, its leaders hope to maintain a united armed front against China. The “pivot” is a misguided attempt at preventing China from developing credible military parity in the region and is predicated on further militarizing the already hyper-militarized Asia-Pacific, much to the glee of military contractors nationwide. A major cog in the plan is for greater cohesion between the United States’ two most important allies in the region — South Korea and Japan. But the foundations of the “pivot” are proving inherently weak as, yet again, South Korea and Japan are at odds over the disputed Dokdo/Takeshima islets. This comes after Japan celebrated its annual “Takeshima Day” in recognition of Japan’s claims to the tiny rocks currently in possession of South Korea. Like in China last year, this dispute threatens to expand from a purely territorial issue to an economic concern. On March 1, a South Korean holiday commemorating the nation’s declaration of independence from Japanese colonialism, the Save Local Stores Alliance will begin a boycott of the sale of Japanese products ranging from Asahi beer to, presumably, Hello Kitty accessories. The alliance is a group comprised of over 80 different commercial organizations, 60 local business groups and boasts membership of over 6 million South Koreans. From South Korean daily the Hankyoreh, quoting an alliance spokesperson: “Japan is already subject to global censure for its distortion of the historical fact that it was a colonial aggressor,” the alliance said. “The country’s move to celebrate Takeshima Day cannot be accepted. It is not only an affront to the international community, but it is also derived from an imperialist view of history that shows no signs of contrition for its misdeeds.” The group apparently intends to keep up the boycott until Japan revokes its claims on the small islets. But this isn’t likely to happen anytime soon as Japanese politicians become increasingly dependent on vocal nationalist groups for their own political support and are all too willing to grandstand to increase their own popularity at home — just like in South Korea. It is unclear whether the boycott will have any discernible effect on Japanese business. The majority of South Koreans are adamant about their rightful claim to the islets, but at the same time Japanese products have become much less popular in the past decade because South Korean cars and electronics — represented by the likes of Hyundai, Samsung and LG — have matched, and in some cases overcome, the quality of Japanese brands. Further, it remains a question whether small business owners’ sense of nationalism is stronger than their will to make money to support their families (given time, the later is likely to trump the former). What this spat does indicate is the very tall order the U.S. has in maintaining a united front against China, especially one that involves South Korea cooperating intimately with Japan. The failed intelligence pact between the two states in June last year, abandoned at the last minute after citizen protest, and the ongoing territorial conflict are scars of the Japanese colonial era that haven’t faded after six decades. Rather than representing a sign of degenerative Asian nationalism, this is in large part because, unlike in Germany, Japan was never forced to fully account for its crimes in East Asia after it was occupied by the United States. The US considered Japan a key buffer against the Soviet Union in the Pacific and it was more convenient to integrate former leadership into the post-World War II Japanese government than seek justice. Looking at this issue in a broader sense, the United States’ presence in Asia is often portrayed as the stabilizer in a region beset with raging nationalist tendencies. The myth is that if the US withdrew the region would erupt in war — but this is something even the North Koreans would likely work to avoid (the most obvious reason being the North would lose a war against South Korea even without the US, and China wouldn’t support such instability that would destroy its own economic prosperity). What really exists in the case of South Korea and Japan are two developed nations with people capable of rational compromise, but only if they are forced to actually deal with their problems. Since they both depend on the United States for security they have never really had any impetus for meaningfully and finally settling their agonizingly drawn out dispute over history. As Ted Galen Carpenter recently wrote of America’s mythic “indispensability”: “It is a bit bizarre…that Washington should take more responsibility for developments in the Middle East than do such NATO allies as Germany, France, Italy and Turkey. Or that Washington is more concerned about troubles in South and Southeast Asia than are major powers such as India and Indonesia. But other relevant actors have not had to step forward to deal with unpleasant developments that might undermine regional stability, because the self-proclaimed indispensable nation has usually taken on the responsibility. That is not sustainable.” As it is however, Japan and South Korea are divided by a history that will vastly complicate any long-term attempts by the United States to contain China with the unity of its two major bilateral allies East Asia. Many South Koreans don’t trust Japan to this day because they believe Japan still harbours secret romanticism for bygone days of imperialist glory. Irrational as this may seem to the outside world, until the two nations are forced to address the problem by themselves, this distrust will continue to exist.
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The US and its NATO allies are preparing to launch a nuclear war directed against both Iran and North Korea with devastating consequences. This military adventure in the real sense of the word threatens the future of humanity. While one can conceptualize the loss of life and destruction resulting from present-day wars including Iraq and Afghanistan, it is impossible to fully comprehend the devastation which might result from a Third World War, using “new technologies” and advanced weapons, until it occurs and becomes a reality. The international community has endorsed nuclear war in the name of world peace. “Making the world safer” is the justification for launching a military operation which could potentially result in a nuclear holocaust. But nuclear holocausts are not front page news! In the words of Mordechai Vanunu:
Realities are turned upside down. In a twisted logic, a “humanitarian war” using tactical nuclear weapons, which according to “expert scientific opinion” are “harmless to the surrounding civilian population” is upheld as a means to protecting the Western world from a nuclear attack. The global killing machine is also sustained by an imbedded cult of killing and destruction which pervades Hollywood movies, not to mention the primetime war and crime TV series on network television. This cult of killing is endorsed by the CIA and the Pentagon which also support (finance) Hollywood productions as an instrument of war propaganda:
The killing machine is deployed at a global level, within the framework of the unified combat command structure. It is routinely upheld by the institutions of government, the corporate media, the mandarins and intellectuals of the New World Order in Washington’s think tanks and strategic studies research institutes, as an unquestioned instrument of peace and global prosperity. A culture of killing and violence has become imbedded in human consciousness. War is broadly accepted as part of a societal process: the Homeland needs to be “defended” and protected. “Legitimized violence” and extrajudicial killings directed against “terrorists” are upheld in western democracies, as necessary instruments of national security. A “huma – nitarian war” is upheld by the so-called international community. It is not condemned as a criminal act. Its main architects are rewarded for their contributions to world peace. America’s Mini-nukes With regard to Iran, what is unfolding is the outright legitimization of war in the name of an illusive notion of global security. America’s mininukes, with an explosive capacity of up to six times a Hiroshima bomb, are upheld as a humanitarian bomb, whereas Iran’s nonexistent nuclear weapons are branded as an indisputable threat to global security. When a US-sponsored nuclear war becomes an “instrument of peace”, condoned and accepted by the world’s institutions and the highest authority, including the United Nations, there is no turning back: human society has indelibly been precipitated headlong onto the path of self-destruction. We are at a dangerous crossroads: the rules and guidelines governing the use of nuclear weapons have been “liberalized” (i.e. “deregulated” in relation to those prevailing during the Cold War era). The new doctrine states that Command, Control and Coordination (CCC) regarding the use of nuclear weapons should be “flexible”, allowing geographic combat commanders to decide if and when to use nuclear weapons:
We have reached a critical turning point in our history. It is absolutely essential that people across the land, nationally and internationally, understand the gravity of the present situation and act forcefully against their governments to reverse the tide of war. The details of ongoing war preparations in relation to Iran and North Korea have been withheld from the public eye and the media is involved in acts of camouflage. The devastating impacts of a nuclear war are either trivialized or not mentioned. Instead, fake “crises” – e.g. a worldwide flu pandemic, a “false flag” nuclear attack by “Islamic terro rists” – are fabricated by the media, the governments, the intelligence apparatus and the Washington think tanks. While the real danger of nuclear war is barely acknowledged, these fake crises are invariably front page news
A Philippine sailor (C) from the BRP Ramon Alcaraz, a high-endurance Hamilton-class cutter that had been decomissioned by the US Coast Guard and acquired by Manila, is welcomed by his family shortly after the ship's arrival at the former US naval base in Subic Bay, Zambales province, northwest of Manila on August 6, 2013. The Philippines vowed intensified sea patrols on August 6 as it welcomed the arrival of its latest war ship from ally the United States amid a maritime row with China. AFP PHOTO / TED ALJIBETED # Now India joins the aircraft carrier club: New ship launched just days after Japan showed off its new destroyer
India has launched its first home-built aircraft carrier today as it continues to bolster its maritime presence. It joins the U.S., Russia, France and Britain in building its own carrier, which was launched at the Kochi shipyard in southern Kerala state. However, INS Vikrant stills needs to be outfitted and extensive trials will be held in 2016 before the carrier is inducted into the Indian navy in 2018. Britain said last November that its £280million-a-year aid programme to India would be halted in 2015, in light of the country's booming economy.
Naval milestone: Indian launched its first domestically built aircraft carrier at a shipyard in Kochi, Kerala state, on Monday
Proud day: The Indian Navy said the INS Vikrant, which dwarfs other ships, is its 'crowning glory' and the launch marks the end of the first phase of construction
Enormous: MiG-29K, Light Combat Aircraft and Kamov 31 could fly from the 37,000 tonne carrier India launches of first home-built aircraft carrier Defence Minister A.K. Antony said today that India needed a strong navy to defend itself and that the country will press ahead with developing its maritime capabilities. India has steadily built up its naval capabilities in recent years, spurred by its rivalry with neighboring China, and the aircraft carrier launch marks another maritime milestone. On Saturday, India activated an atomic reactor for its domestically built nuclear submarine.The carrier launch comes just six days after Japan launched a new ship capable of carrying 14 helicopters at once - although Japanese officials insisted the giant vessel is an aircraft carrier and said it will not be used to launch military jets. The launch marked the end of the first phase of construction. The 37,000 tonne INS Vikrant will now be moved to another dock for further construction. MiG-29K, Light Combat Aircraft and Kamov 31 will be able to fly from the vessel when it is complete. Vice-Admiral R.K. Dhowan, the vice-chief of Naval Staff said the vessel is the 'crowning glory' of the Indian Navy's construction programme.
Maritime giant: INS Vikrant docked at the Cochin Shipyard will be more than 850ft long and have a breadth of 196ft when it is complete
Elite list: India now joins a group of just four other countries - the U.S., Russia, France and Britain - capable of building an air craft carrier
Next step: Tugboats guide the carrier as it leaves the dock of the Cochin. It will be re-docked where it will be outfitted and undergo trials
Spurred on: India's rivalry with neighbouring China has seen it build up its naval capabilities in recent years It is more than five times larger than any other ship built in India. Once complete the ship will be more than 850ft (260m) long, with a breadth of 196ft (60m). The ship's production work began in November 2006. It has been designed by the Directorate of Naval Design. Vice Admiral K. Nair, Controller Warship Production and Acquisition, said: 'We have built 6,000 to 7,000 tonnage capacity ships so far. This is 37,500 tonnes.' He said they had encountered a number of issues during the first phase of construction. Vice Admiral Nair said: 'Availability of steel, problems with acquisition of machines were some of them. 'Most of the equipment has gone on board while the weapons have to be inducted. It has got ski jump from where aircraft will take off.' Commodore K. Subramaniam, Cochin Shipyard chairman and managing director, said the next phase will include laying of electric cables, ventilation systems and setting up about 2,300 compartments and will take about four years to complete. Diesel generators and gas turbines, capable of lighting up the whole of Kochi, have already been installed. The Indian naval milestone comes amid rising tensions in the region between China and Japan.
Warship: Japan's new destroyer 'Izumo', which has a flight deck 820ft long (250m), was unveiled in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, last week
Izumo: Japan's naval authorities insist the flat-top destroyer is not an aircraft carrier despite bearing a strong resemblance to the vessel The Japanese launched its destroyer last week after calls in the country for beefed-up naval and air forces to enable it to enforce its territorial claims against China. The 250m vessel, named 'Izumo', is officially labelled a destroyer, although it has a flat top which functions as a flight deck like that on an aircraft carrier. The unveiling of the new destroyer - which has been under development since 2009 - also coincides with a dispute between Japan and China over a chain of tiny islands in the South China Sea. The two countries conduct regular patrols of the waters around the islands, which are called the Senkakus in Japan and the Diaoyus in China. In November, China took a step towards achieving its ambition of becoming a leading naval power after successfully landing a fighter jet on an aircraft carrier for the first time. The carrier is China's first and was bought from the Ukraine but the country is planning to build its own. China spent ten years refurbishing the carrier, named Liaoning, after buying the unfinished former Soviet navy ship in 1998. Britain's Royal Navy has four ships which form the core of its amphibious fleet - helicopter carriers HMS Illustrious and Ocean, and assault ships HMS Albion and Bulwark.
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Iran – Sayyad2 Hunter Missiles Iran to surprise enemies with new missile: Cmdr.
Highly mobile – easy to disperse. And with satellite targeting, very effective A high-ranking Iranian military commander says the Islamic Republic is developing a new version of the powerful and high-precision Sayyad (Hunter) missile to be mounted on indigenous S-200 missile defense systems. Commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili said on Friday that Iranian defense experts are working on the development of Sayyad-3 missile. He added that the mid-range, high altitude and solid-fuel Sayyad-2 missile has proven successful in locating and hitting even small aerial targets. Sayyad-2 surface-to-air missile is said to have a maximum range of between 200 and 350 kilometers. It has been designed based on state-of-the-art technology, which can destroy different types of helicopters, drones and targets with small radar cross-section, high speed and maneuverability within its operational range. It was first tested in April 2011, and is currently in the Iranian Armed Forces’ inventory. In November 2010, Iran successfully test-fired its domestically designed and manufactured S-200 missile defense system. It is a very long-range, medium-to-high altitude surface-to-air missile (SAM) system designed to defend large areas from bomber attacks or other strategic aircraft. Each battalion has 6 single-rail missile launchers and fire control radars. It can be linked to other, longer-range radar systems. Each missile is launched by 4 solid-fueled strap-on rocket boosters. Maximum ranges are between 200 and 350 kilometers depending on the model.
The state-of-the-art technology used in Mersad links it to other anti-aircraft batteries and provides it with the unique ability to combat electronic warfare. In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in its defense sector and has attained self-sufficiency in producing essential military equipment and systems. Tehran has repeatedly assured other nations that its military might poses no threat to other countries since the Islamic Republic’s defense doctrine is based entirely on deterrence. |
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