SOURCE: AFI

In a historic moment, Croatia officially received its first Rafale multirole combat aircraft from France at the Mont-de-Marsan Air Base. The handover ceremony marked a significant exchange of ownership between the French Republic and the Republic of Croatia, signifying a major milestone in Croatia’s air force capabilities.

The acquisition of these NATO-compatible aircraft is not just a short-term decision; it is a strategic move designed to meet Croatia’s air force needs for the next three decades or more. Expert usage predictions within the Croatian Air Force have indicated that this fleet of Rafale aircraft is well-suited to serve the country’s defence interests for an extended period.

SOURCE: AFI

China’s upcoming lunar expedition, the Chang’e 6 mission, scheduled for next year, has reached an agreement to carry Pakistan’s ICUBE-Q cubesat satellite, as announced in a government statement released on Friday. The mission aims to collect samples from the far side of the Moon, marking a significant milestone in lunar exploration.

Following a series of selection processes and negotiations, it has been confirmed that the Chang’e 6 mission will collaborate with several international partners. The lander of the mission will carry scientific instruments contributed by France, Italy, and the European Space Agency. Additionally, a Pakistani payload will be mounted on the orbiter component of the spacecraft.

SOURCE: AFI

Taiwan has marked a significant achievement with the unveiling of its first domestically built submarine, sending a clear message of resilience against the mounting military pressure from China. This remarkable vessel, crafted over nearly seven years at a cost of NT$49.4bn ($1.5bn), symbolizes Taiwan’s determination to secure its maritime defenses. Taiwan has long struggled to acquire submarines due to international pressure, particularly from Beijing, which has dissuaded other nations from supplying them.

President Tsai Ing-wen expressed her pride during the unveiling ceremony at the state-owned shipbuilder CSBC in Kaohsiung. She emphasized that this submarine would embody Taiwan’s spirit of courage and tenacity as it silently safeguards the nation’s freedom and democracy beneath the ocean’s depths.

SOURCE: TOI

The Defense Ministry and Israel Defense Forces on Tuesday revealed the military’s new main battle tank, the Barak, following five years of development. The first models of what the ministry called “5th generation Merkava battle tanks” were delivered to the 52nd Armored Battalion of the 401st Brigade.

The Barak tank was developed jointly by the Defense Ministry’s Armored Vehicles Directorate and the IDF’s Ground Forces and Armored Corps, and includes systems developed by several Israeli defense firms, including Elbit Systems, Rafael, and the Israel Aerospace Industries’ Elta subsidiary, among other companies.

SOURCE: ANI

A secret Pakistani arms sales to the United States helped facilitate a controversial bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) earlier this year, as per two sources aware of the arrangement, with confirmation from internal Pakistani and American government documents, The Intercept reported. The Intercept is an online American non-profit news organization. The arms sales were made for the purpose of supplying the Ukrainian military. This signals Pakistani involvement in a conflict it had faced US pressure to take sides on.

As per The Intercept, the revelation is a window into the kind of behind-the-scenes manoeuvring between financial and political elites that rarely is exposed to the public, even as the public pays the price. Pakistan faced major protests in face of harsh structural policy reforms demanded by the IMF as terms for its recent bailout.

SOURCE : PTI

Speculation about the missing Chinese Defence Minister Gen. Li Shangfu may have been removed and detained became rife after he was conspicuously absent at the meeting of the Central Military Commission (CMC) here on Friday.

Regarded as a close confidante of President Xi Jinping, Gen. Li has not been seen in public since early this month, and also had not attended the meeting with senior Vietnamese defence officials on September 7 and 8.

SOURCE: AFI

Husain Haqqani, the former Pakistani Ambassador to the US, has urged Pakistan to reassess its approach to global affairs and prioritize pragmatism. In an article for The News, Haqqani emphasized the need for Pakistan to adapt to the changing global landscape.

Over the years, elements within Pakistan’s government and military have faced accusations of supporting jihadist groups in India and Afghanistan, allegations that Pakistan vehemently denies. Haqqani argued that Pakistan’s focus on internal power struggles and regional conflicts, particularly concerning jihad in neighboring countries, has hindered its ability to comprehend the significant global changes that have occurred since the end of the Cold War.