Predator crashes in southern Turkey
An Air Force MQ-1B Predator remotely piloted aircraft crashed in an unpopulated area in southern Turkey at approximately 1:40 a.m. local time, Feb. 3.
The initial assessment is that the aircraft experienced mechanical failure. An investigation is underway to determine the specific cause of the crash.
No military members or civilians were injured. The U.S. military and Turkish officials have positive control of the crash site.
Generals say women should have to register for draft
The top Army and Marine Corps generals say they believe all women should have to register for the draft now that combat jobs are open to them.
The military service leaders say they will not lower standards to bring women into the more grueling jobs. They told the Senate Armed Services Committee that it will take up to three years before the combat posts are fully integrated.
Army Gen. Mark Milley and Marine Gen. Robert Neller said women should be included in the requirement to register for the selective service at age 18. But Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and Army Acting Secretary Patrick Murphy would say only that the issue should be discussed.
Political leaders have so far been reluctant to endorse the draft requirement. AP
Russia beefs up air group in Syria with advanced fighters
The Russian military has beefed up its air group in Syria with state-of-the art fighter jets amid tensions with Turkey.
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said Feb. 1 that Su-35 fighters have been deployed to Hemeimeem air base in Syria. Konashenkov on Monday didn’t say how many Su-35s had been sent to Syria, but Russian media reports said there were four of them and state television showed them parked in Hemeimeem.
Russian warplanes so far have flown about 6,000 missions since Moscow launched its air campaign four months ago.
The Kremlin says its planes have struck the Islamic State group and other extremists, but the U.S. and its allies have accused Russia of also targeting moderate opposition groups.
Russian air strikes have helped Syrian President Bashar Assad’s army win more ground in recent weeks. They have strengthened Assad’s hand just as Syrian peace talks have got underway in Geneva. The negotiations are intended to pave the way for a new constitution and new elections in a year and half.
Konashenkov said Russian warplanes flew 468 combat missions last week alone.
He said that all Russian strike aircraft are now being accompanied by Russian or Syrian fighter jets.
Russia added fighter escorts after a Turkish fighter jet downed a Russian bomber at the border with Syria on Nov. 24. The Russian military has vowed to fend off any future threats to its warplanes with fighters and long-range air defense missiles at Hemeimeem.
The downing of the Russian jet was the first time in more than half a century that a NATO member had shot down a Russian plane. The incident badly strained previously close ties between the two countries, with Moscow slamming Turkey with an array of economic sanctions.
Turkey said another Russian warplane violated its airspace Friday, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Moscow that it would be forced to “endure the consequences” if its jets continue to violate Turkish airspace.
Konashenkov Feb. 1 denied the Turkish claim, adding that Ankara has failed to provide any proof. In his turn, he accused Turkey of using its artillery to shell villages in Syria near the border. AP
More U.S., coalition forces likely to fight IS
The commander of military operations against the Islamic State group says there is a “good potential” he will need more U.S. and coalition forces to ramp up the fight as it extends across Iraq and Syria.
Army Lt. Gen. Sean MacFarland is telling Pentagon reporters that he is working on ways to increase pressure on the Islamic State militants, and some options may require more troops on the ground to assist local Iraqi or Syrian forces. He would not detail whether those would be trainers or combat troops.
He says that while Iraqi leaders didn’t accept the offer of U.S. Apache helicopters during the ultimately successful fight for Ramadi, they may decide to use the aircraft in a later battle. AP
China sets up new military regions as part of reorganization
Chinese President Xi Jinping presided Feb. 1 over the creation of five new military regions, part of the streamlining of the 2.3 million-member People’s Liberation Army while also signaling his firm control over the armed forces.
The north, south, east, west and central regions replace the seven previous regions. The new districts are being touted as better suited to command joint operations.
Xi presided at a ceremony at the Defense Ministry in his capacity as head of the Communist Party and government commissions overseeing the military. Wearing a high-collared olive green jacket, he presented PLA flags to each of the new region’s commanders and political commissars.
“Each military region must be ready to command troops and fight at any time,” Xi said. Reinforcing that the military is ultimately loyal to the party, rather than the Chinese state, Xi called on commanders to “unshakably listen to the party’s command and hold fast to the party’s absolute leadership over the armed forces.”
Xi’s overhaul aims to make the PLA more effective as a modern fighting force by transforming it from one structured around the ground forces to one of joint command in which the army, navy, air and missile forces all have equal representation.
Last month, Xi ordered the elimination of four headquarters responsible for staff, politics, logistics and armaments and their replacement with 15 new agencies under the direct authority of the party’s Central Military Commission.
China also plans to cut 300,000 personnel from the PLA’s ranks.
In its ongoing modernization drive, the military has benefited from near annual double-digit percentage increases in its budget, now the world’s second largest after that of the United States. AP
Iran signs deal to buy 20 more airplanes
Iran’s national carrier has signed an agreement to buy 20 new passenger airplanes with an option for 20 more from French-Italian aircraft manufacturer ATR, Iranian media reported Feb. 2.
The purchase comes a week after Iran Air signed a deal to buy 118 planes from the European consortium Airbus, signaling a major effort to develop the civilian aviation sector now that international sanctions have been lifted under a landmark nuclear deal.
ATR said the deal signed with Iran Air includes a firm order for 20 ATR 72-600 planes. Iran’s private Donya-e Eghtesad daily says the deal is worth $1.089 billion.
Iranian Transport Minister Abbas Akhoundi said Feb. 2 that the planes will be delivered over 3 years, beginning in 2016, according to the official IRNA news agency.
He said that under a separate agreement, a French company will build a new terminal in Tehran International Airport within a year, without elaborating. He said the government hopes to expand the airport’s capacity from 8 million passengers to 40 million over the next four years by adding two other new terminals as well as renovating an existing one.
He added that Iran hopes to become a hub for long-haul flights. More than 1,000 international flights fly over the country every week.
Iran has also expressed interest in buying passenger aircraft from American manufacturer Boeing.
The historic nuclear deal with world powers was implemented last month after the U.N. verified that Iran had fulfilled all its obligations to curb its nuclear activities. Tehran said Feb. 1 that it now has access to more than $100 billion worth of previously frozen overseas assets. AP