SOURCE: AFP

Pakistan on Tuesday conducted “successful” training launch of surface-to-surface ballistic missile Shaheen-II, the military said. “The training launch was aimed at training of troops, validating various technical parameters and performance evaluation of different sub-systems incorporated for improved accuracy and enhanced survivability,” the Pakistani army said in a statement.

The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that today’s training launch was witnessed by Senior Officers from Strategic Plans Division, Army Strategic Forces Command, scientists and engineers of strategic organizations.

SOURCE: PTI

In an unprecedented move, the Pakistan Army on Monday announced that it has arrested former ISI chief Lt Gen (retd.) Faiz Hameed and initiated court martial proceedings against him in connection with a housing scheme scandal.

“Complying with the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, a detailed court of inquiry was undertaken by Pakistan Army, to ascertain correctness of complaints in Top City Case made against Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd),” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) – the media wing of the army- said in a statement.

SOURCE: IANS

In what could raise serious concerns in Tel Aviv and faraway Washington, certain reports have claimed that Pakistan plans to supply Tehran with its Shaheen-III medium-range ballistic missiles if Iran’s ongoing conflict with Israel escalates.

Citing several Arab sources, Israeli daily Jerusalem Post reported that Pakistan discussed its willingness to supply Iran with mid-range missiles at a recent meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

SOURCE: REUTERS

A remote Australian island close to an Indian Ocean chokepoint for Chinese oil shipments is on a list of possible locations for US military construction aimed at deterring China, with the US saying it “may or may not” support American forces.

Australia’s Cocos Islands is listed along with the Philippines, Timor Leste and Papua New Guinea for anticipated construction projects under the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, designed to enhance US force posture and infrastructure to counter China.

SOURCE: IANS

A Pakistani citizen has been charged in an elaborate plot that reads like a spy thriller to assassinate Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. US Attorney General Merrick Garland, who announced the charges against Asif Merchant on Tuesday, indicated that the target was Trump, but did not name him.

“For years, the Justice Department has been working aggressively to counter Iran’s brazen and unrelenting efforts to retaliate against American public officials for the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani,” he said.

SOURCE: IANS

China’s arms exports have significantly declined over the past decade due to issues related to poor quality, compatibility problems, and substandard operational performance. Although many countries have been compelled to purchase military imports from China because of lower costs and coercive economic influence, numerous reports highlight recurrent defects, inadequate technical support, and lack of spare parts, underscoring a serious quality issue within China’s military-industrial complex.

Major importers frequently cite hidden costs and technological incompatibility as additional factors adversely affecting China’s arms exports.

SOURCE: REUTERS

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Saturday that Palestinian militant group Hamas’ leader Ismail Haniyeh was slain in Tehran by a short-range projectile with a warhead of about 7 kg, and vowed severe revenge.
Wednesday’s assassination has aroused fears of direct conflict between Tehran and its arch-enemy Israel in a region shaken by Israel’s war in Gaza and a worsening conflict in Lebanon.

Revenge for the killing of the Hamas leader will be “severe and at an appropriate time, place, and manner”, the Guards’ statement added, blaming the “terrorist Zionist regime” of Israel for his death.

SOURCE: AP

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed by an airstrike in the Iranian capital, Iran and the militant group said early Wednesday, blaming Israel for a shock assassination that risks escalating the regional conflict on multiple fronts.

There was no immediate comment from Israel, which has vowed to kill Haniyeh and other Hamas leaders over the group’s Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. The strike came just after Haniyeh had attended the inauguration of Iran’s new president in Tehran, Iran said.

SOURCE: Xinhua

An international participant in Australia’s Exercise Pitch Black 24 has managed to survive after ejecting from an aircraft on Wednesday morning during flying operations in a remote region of Northern Territory (NT).

A spokesperson from Australia’s Department of Defence told Xinhua that the military personnel responded at 10:45 a.m. local time to an aircraft emergency in the exercise area and coordinated the recovery of the pilot with a search and rescue helicopter.

SOURCE: ANI

The USA has thrown doubts over what its future program for a sixth-generation fighter might look like, with US Air Force officials recently questioning the expense of the Next Generation Air Dominance fighter as originally envisioned. On the contrary, China is believed to be proceeding at pace with its own equivalent fighter development.

Of course, it is difficult to ascertain definitive information on China’s future sixth-generation fighter, since Beijing is extremely secretive about its top military programs. However, there is sufficient evidence that the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) will eventually field a modern fighter to succeed the current fifth-generation J-20 fighter. Firstly, what is a sixth-generation fighter? Nobody has yet developed one, but there are various efforts around the world to create them.