His eyes glazed and his step heavy, former Ukrainian soldier Sergei walks out of a naval office in Sevastopol after switching allegiance to the Russian army. He is one of the making the alternative to remain on in Crimea where the Ukrainian army stood by helplessly as Russia seized its military facilities in a question of days after the peninsula voted to secede. “I’ve decided to remain. I actually have my parents here, my wife’s parents and my children,” the grizzled soldier says softly. He describes how he and his colleagues waited in vain for 17 days for orders from... Read More »
Two US B-52 bombers flew over a disputed area of the East China Sea without informing Beijing, US officials said Tuesday, challenging China’s bid to create an expanded “air defense zone.” The unarmed aircraft took off from Guam on Monday and the flight was previously scheduled as a part of a routine exercise inside the area, the defense officials said. “Last night we conducted a coaching exercise that was long-planned. It involved two aircraft flying from Guam and returning to Guam,” Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steven Warren told reporters. No flight plan was submitted beforehand to the Chinese and the mission... Read More »
Marine Corps Light Armored Vehicle Anti-Tank prototypes are in the middle of developmental tests of upgrades which may extend their lives for many years to come back. The modernization program is taking shape at various sites during the country. Development of the LAV-ATs has already successfully met threshold testing as four of the prototypes have fired 14 missiles at government facilities. In mid-March, the vehicles were put through a swim test and landing craft air cushion tests on the Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch at Camp Pendleton, Calif. “The LAV-AT modernization program is designed to enhance mission effectiveness and supportability for... Read More »