Latest news with #Awacs
South China Morning Post
21-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
China's robot-made missiles, new bacteria strain found on Tiangong: 7 science highlights
We have put together stories from our coverage on science from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing China's state broadcaster has re-released footage from last year of a cutting-edge robotic production line for its advanced PL-15E air-to-air missiles, hours after Pakistan claimed that it used the Chinese-made weapon to shoot down five Indian fighter jets. Pakistan integrated Awacs aircraft into its air combat system. Photo: AFP An advanced 'ABC' data sharing system made all the difference in Pakistan's hostilities against Indian forces last week, upending combat conventions, according to a Chinese defence industry newspaper. In a report, China Space News said the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) deployed a 'locked by A, launched by B, guided by C' combat system, integrating ground radars with fighter jets, and airborne warning aircraft.
Express Tribune
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
ABC warfare: Pakistan's unified Radar-Jet-Awacs strategy exposes India's defence gaps
Pakistan's integration of advanced warfare systems has set a new benchmark in South Asian aerial defence, with China hailing Islamabad's tactical edge during the latest India-Pakistan border flare-up. A detailed report by China Space News, an outlet backed by China's top aerospace agencies, praised Pakistan's 'ABC' combat structurem locked by A, launched by B, guided by C as a turning point in intelligent warfare. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) leveraged a seamless network of ground radars, fighter jets, and airborne warning and control systems (Awacs) to intercept and shoot down five Indian jets, according to official claims. The report credited this data-driven, decentralised approach for outperforming India's outdated, fragmented defence protocols. While the report didn't directly name Chinese weapons, Pakistan's recent acquisitions including the HQ-9P air defence system, ZDK-03 Awacs, and J-10CE fighter jets equipped with PL-15E missiles are all Chinese-made. The use of this integrated ecosystem exemplifies a new phase in Pak-China defence cooperation, rooted in precision, real-time intelligence sharing, and cost-effective deterrence. India, by contrast, has faced ongoing issues with interoperability between its imported systems an Achilles' heel that, analysts warn, could continue to hamper response time and coordination in future conflicts. With battlefield dynamics shifting from brute firepower to networked agility, Pakistan's success is being seen as a wake-up call. The report concluded that the country's intelligent, asymmetric strategy has not only neutralised India's numerical airpower advantage but also offered a model for how future warfare will be fought and potentially won. As geopolitical tensions persist, this episode reaffirms the strategic depth of the Pak-China partnership, positioning it at the forefront of next-generation military coordination
Daily Mail
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Ring of steel for Pope Francis' funeral with drone-busting troops part of huge security operation at the Vatican as the world's VIPs join 500,000 mourners
A massive security operation was under way last night as 500,000 mourners began to descend on Rome for Pope Francis 's funeral on Saturday. Officials are putting a ring of steel around the Vatican, with VIPs from 170 countries arriving in the Italian capital. They include Prince William, Sir Keir Starmer, Donald Trump and his wife Melania, as well as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and Italian premier Giorgia Meloni. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has not been invited and will be represented by Olga Ljubimova, Russia 's culture minister. Army anti-drone units will join machine-gun toting police patrolling the route of the funeral procession and the site of the main service – St Peter's Basilica. The operation also includes special forces sharp-shooters on rooftops, undercover units, security teams on horseback, helicopter patrols and boats on the nearby River Tiber. A source said: 'We have heads of state from all over the world, members of several royal families and a host of other dignitaries, so it's huge security operation but we are prepared for anything.' Security is also being stepped up in and around the city's airports at Fiumicino and Ciampino. A military airbase at Pratica di Mare is also on standby. An Airborne Warning and Control System, or Awacs, plane will be circling above Rome – while down below drains and sewers are being checked. As mourners continued to line up to pay tribute to Pope Francis yesterday, at least three army air defence units were visible. Each consists of two servicemen – one anti-drone operator and a spotter using binoculars. They are armed with Italian-made CPM weapons which work by jamming the radio frequencies used by drones to communicate and navigate. One operator told the Daily Mail: 'I can't go into too much detail but … we can direct it away or make it land.' The Vatican has a small ceremonial army of Swiss Guards and there is also the Vatican Security Service, the Pope's bodyguards. But the main security will be provided by the Italian government and there will be thousands of police and soldiers in and around the Vatican and along the four-mile route from St Peter's to the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica where Francis will be buried. Pilgrims continued to flock to the Vatican yesterday to pay their last respects to Pope Francis as he lay in state at the Altar of the Confessor inside the Basilica of St Peter's. Doors are due to close at 7pm on Friday so the coffin can be closed at 8pm and the Basilica prepared for Saturday's ceremony. In a break with tradition, Pope Francis asked to be buried at Santa Maria Maggiore instead of in the papal cemetery under St Peter's. This has added to the security headache and the route will have to be locked down, with the cortege moving slowly to enable the crowd to see it. ■ Visitors at St Peter's Basilica have been told to stop taking selfies near Pope Francis's open coffin. There had been an outcry after images of people holding up phones, smiling and giving peace signs appeared on social media. Yesterday it became evident a clampdown had been ordered. One man said: 'A guard told us that if we took photos, we would have to delete them or our phones would be confiscated.'
