Latest news with #C-130EHercules
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Turkish drones: What explains Erdogan's hand behind Pakistan's aggression?
Days after the terror attack at Pahalgam when India and Pakistan were locked in a deepening crisis as India had pledged to punish the perpetrators and their backers in Pakistan, reports appeared claiming that several Turkish C-130E Hercules transport aircraft had landed in Pakistan carrying weapons, prompting speculation that the move signalled a last-minute arms delivery from one of Islamabad's closest allies, ostensibly in preparation for a response to a possible surgical strike by India. #Operation Sindoor India-Pakistan Clash Live Updates| Missiles, shelling, and attacks — here's all that's happening Pakistani Air Force jet shot down in Pathankot by Indian Air Defence: Sources India on high alert: What's shut, who's on leave, and state-wise emergency measures But the Turkish government refuted the claim. 'A cargo plane from Turkiye landed in Pakistan for refuelling. It then continued on its route. Speculative news made outside of statements of authorised persons and institutions should not be relied upon,' said a government statement. Pakistan was isolated in the wake of the Pahalgam attack, even its close Arab allies refraining from siding with it. China , its closest ally, too was circumspect. It was assumed that Turkey too would not dare back Pakistan against India. However, it appears Turkey is actively helping Pakistan in combat against India. The Indian government on Friday said that on the night of May 7 and 8, the Pakistani army fired Turkey's SONGAR drones at 36 locations in India. Also, a Turkish naval warship, TCG BÜYÜKADA, arrived at Karachi port last Sunday, just days after a Turkish Air Force C-130 aircraft landed in the city. Turkish authorities described the visit as a usual port visit after a similar visit to Oman, but the timing was suspicious. 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Unleash Your Creativity with Adobe - The Ultimate Design Partner Undo Though Turkey and Pakistan have a history of military collaboration and Turkey has also been selling weapons to Pakistan, supply of weapons and a warship visit during conflict with India point at Turkey's active support to Pakistan against India. Also Read: Pakistan Army deploys Chinese artillery closer to LoC & IB, indicate reports Live Events Why does Erdogan back Pakistan against India? Under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan , who has been a dominant figure in Turkish politics since 2003 (first as Prime Minister, then President from 2014), India–Turkey relations have experienced periodic tensions punctuated by attempts at engagement. Turkey was among the first countries to recognize India after its independence in 1947, and diplomatic ties were established in 1948. Relations remained largely neutral through the Cold War period, as India aligned with the Non-Aligned Movement and Turkey stood firmly in the Western bloc as a NATO member. The relationship gained momentum in the post-Cold War period, particularly through economic and cultural exchanges. However, with Erdogan's ascent to power and his increasing emphasis on a neo-Ottoman foreign policy model — one that seeks to expand Turkish influence across the Muslim world — Turkey's approach towards India began reflecting ideological and geopolitical recalibrations, especially on issues concerning Pakistan and Kashmir. Erdogan's 'Asia Anew' initiative, announced in 2019 and aimed at deepening economic, diplomatic, and cultural ties with Asian countries, is actually a part of Erdogan's broader ideological project: recasting Turkey as the spiritual and political leader of the global Muslim ummah. A defining sore point in India–Turkey relations under Erdogan has been Turkey's consistent support for Pakistan's position on Kashmir. Erdogan has repeatedly raised the Kashmir issue at international platforms, notably at the UN General Assembly , including during and after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. Turkey's growing defense partnership with Pakistan — including drone technology transfer and naval cooperation — directly concerns India. Turkish defense firms have become more active in South Asia, while India remains cautious about Turkish military ambitions in the region. On the other hand, Turkey's growing ties with China, especially under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), contrast with India's opposition to the BRI due to sovereignty concerns related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Also Read: What are the Turkish Asisguard SONGAR drones used by Pakistan on India last night? How Turkey is arming Pakistan Under Erdogan's pan-Islamist foreign policy vision, Turkey-Pakistan ties have transformed into structured military cooperation, encompassing defense production, training, joint operations, and strategic alignment. Turkey and Pakistan increasingly see themselves as part of a broader Islamic geopolitical bloc, often positioning themselves in contrast to traditional Middle Eastern power centers like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, or regional rivals such as India and Greece. Erdogan's ambition to lead the Muslim ummah aligns well with Pakistan's long-standing desire for leadership in the Islamic world. One of the most visible areas of growth has been in defense industrial collaboration, with Turkey emerging as a key defense supplier for Pakistan. In 2018, Pakistan signed a major deal with Turkish state-owned defense contractor ASFAT for four MILGEM-class stealth corvettes, part of Turkey's flagship indigenous naval program. The deal was valued at around $1.5 billion and includes technology transfer, with two corvettes being built in Pakistan's Karachi Shipyard . Pakistan ordered 30 Turkish T129 ATAK helicopters in 2018 for approximately $1.5 billion, to upgrade its attack helicopter fleet. The deal has been stalled due to US export licence issues, as the engines used are American-made. However, both Turkey and Pakistan continue to explore workarounds, including engine replacement or indigenous development. Turkey has provided Super Mushshak trainer aircraft support and has expressed willingness to collaborate on drone technology — an area where Turkey has gained significant global recognition with platforms like the Bayraktar TB2. What is India doing to counter Turkish moves? The deepening Turkey–Pakistan defense partnership is being closely watched by India, especially given Erdogan's vocal support for Kashmir and military cooperation with Pakistan. India has also pursued strategic countermeasures to offset Turkish pressure and build leverage in the Eastern Mediterranean and South Caucasus — regions of geopolitical interest to Turkey. India has significantly deepened diplomatic ties with Greece, a historic rival of Turkey. In 2021, India and Greece held their first-ever joint naval exercises in the Mediterranean Sea. High-level visits between the two nations have intensified, and India has reaffirmed its support for Cyprus's territorial integrity, directly countering Turkey's support for the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. These moves are widely seen as deliberate signaling to Turkey: that interference in Kashmir could invite reciprocal activism in Turkey's own areas of sensitivity. In another striking move, India has entered into defense cooperation with Armenia, a country in conflict with Azerbaijan, Turkey's close ally. In 2022 and 2023, India signed multiple arms deals with Armenia, supplying Pinaka rocket systems, anti-tank missiles, and surveillance radars — implicitly balancing Turkish and Azeri military assertiveness in the South Caucasus. These deals are not just commercial; they represent a geostrategic alignment against a Turkish-backed axis. India has also developed strategic relations with Israel, UAE, and France — countries that also see Turkey's regional activism with suspicion.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Turkiye denies sending weapons to Pakistan amid rising cross border tensions with India
Turkiye has denied reports that it sent military supplies to Pakistan amid soaring tensions with India following the Pahalgam terror attack. Claims on social media had suggested that six Turkish C-130E aircraft delivered weapons, sparking alarm in India. However, Turkiye's Directorate of Communications dismissed the reports as "speculative." While no confirmed arms delivery has occurred, Turkiye and Pakistan maintain close defence ties, including drone sales and joint fighter development. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tensions surge after Pahalgam terror attack Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Turkiye and Pakistan: A longstanding defence relationship Naval collaboration and submarine upgrades Missiles, munitions and military innovation Turkey's political support to Pakistan Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Clouds Over South Asia Turkiye has firmly rejected claims that it sent military equipment to Pakistan amid escalating tensions with India. The reports, which emerged on social media and some Indian news platforms, alleged that up to six Turkish C-130E Hercules transport aircraft had landed in Pakistan carrying combat the Turkish government refuted the claim on Monday. 'A cargo plane from Turkiye landed in Pakistan for refuelling. It then continued on its route. Speculative news made outside of statements of authorised persons and institutions should not be relied upon,' said the Presidency's Directorate of Communications, as reported by the Daily aircraft in question was observed flying over the Arabian Sea on 28 April, prompting speculation that the move signalled a last-minute arms delivery from one of Islamabad's closest allies. Flight tracking data from open-source intelligence (OSINT) sources had been used to support the theory. But Ankara insists the landing was denials come at a tense time. India and Pakistan are locked in a deepening crisis following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 people. History shows that India has responded militarily to such incidents, notably after the 2016 Uri and 2019 Pulwama attacks. Fearing a possible repeat, Pakistan's military has reportedly moved equipment into Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and activated key air bases at Pensi, Skardu, and regional atmosphere is on edge. It's this context that gave the claims of Turkish arms deliveries particular traction—and prompted sharp reactions online, especially from Indian analysts and geopolitical Turkiye denies any fresh deliveries, it shares a well-documented and deep defence relationship with Pakistan. According to a March 2025 SIPRI report, 10% of Turkiye's total arms exports between 2020 and 2024 went to cooperation includes joint arms production, technology sharing, and a growing list of hardware exchanges. One of the most high-profile sales has been Turkish Bayraktar TB2 and Akinci drones to Pakistan. The Akinci, meaning 'Raider,' is a high-altitude, long-endurance combat drone. Pakistan received its first batch in parallel, the two countries have also worked on the KAAN fifth-generation stealth fighter. Earlier this year, they discussed setting up a joint facility for its production in Pakistan. Talks have even explored co-developing helicopters and advanced air-to-air missile systems, such as the FAZ-2 and Turkey's Gökdoğ collaboration extends into the naval domain. Pakistan has acquired four MILGEM-class corvettes from Turkiye, with the final one, PNS Tariq, delivered in August 2023. Turkiye also modernised Pakistan's ageing Agosta 90B submarines, upgrading sonar, radar, and control largest naval ship, the fleet tanker PNS Moawin, was co-designed by Turkiye's STM and constructed in Karachi. Discussions around co-developing submarines, possibly including nuclear-powered ones, have been platforms, munitions sales have also played a role. In 2023, reports indicated that Pakistan purchased anti-tank guided weapons from Turkish firm Rokestan and Kemankeş AI-powered cruise missiles from Baykar. These are believed to be integrated into Pakistan's drone countries are also exploring deeper missile technology exchange, particularly in the air-to-air segment, aiming to jointly produce short-range and beyond-visual-range weapons, Ankara has offered diplomatic support to Islamabad—especially on Kashmir. After his February 2025 meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan publicly called for a UN-led dialogue to resolve the Kashmir hours after the Pahalgam attack, Shehbaz Sharif thanked Erdoğan for Turkiye's 'unwavering support' on Kashmir, further underlining the closeness of their the Turkish government has denied making a fresh delivery of arms to Pakistan, the speculation has drawn attention to how close the two countries have become in recent China also reportedly arming Pakistan—particularly with the PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile—the broader picture suggests a shifting security dynamic in South the meantime, Turkiye's denial puts a pause on the speculation. But the underlying alliances remain.
India Today
23-04-2025
- India Today
Flight data shows Pakistan deploying military assets to bases near J-K
After a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, a series of alleged asset movements by Pakistan has surfaced on the microblogging site X has been flooded with claims which show screenshots from flight tracking website Flightradar24 that seem to show major aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) departing from the Southern Air Command in Karachi for bases in the north near Lahore and are the Pakistan Air Force's nearest airbases to Indian boarders in the northern region. Two specific flights were highlighted in the posts:PAF198, a Lockheed C-130E Hercules transport a smaller Embraer Phenom 100 jet, often used for VIP transport or intelligence operations THE PAHALGAM ATTACK: WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED?On April 22, 2025, armed terrorists opened fire on tourists in Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam in Jammu & Kashmir. The attack claimed 26 lives, including two foreigners and two locals, sources terror attack -- one of the worst in Jammu and Kashmir -- took place at around 2:30 pm on Tuesday afternoon when a group of terrorists, dressed in fatigues, opened fire on tourists in Pahalgam's Baisaran Resistance Front (TRF) claimed responsibility for the attack. Notably, TRF is the proxy outfit of Lashkar-e-Taiba. The group said it acted in protest against India issuing tens of thousands of domicile certificates to non-locals in Jammu & Kashmir, which it called a move to change the region's the claims on the X are unverified and no official confirmation has been issued from the Pakistan Air Force or Indian authorities on the READ: 26, including 2 foreigners, feared dead in Pahalgam terror attack: SourcesTune InMust Watch
Sydney Morning Herald
22-04-2025
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
The untold story of the last Australian plane out of Saigon
The din of war was growing louder and the North Vietnamese Army was getting closer when the last Royal Australian Air Force plane out of Saigon experienced a delay. The hitch had nothing to do with the ordnance exploding at the perimeter of Tan Son Nhut Air Base, nor a fault with the C-130E Hercules that had landed hours earlier to serve as the backstop for two evacuation flights that had whisked Australian embassy staff, journalists and others to safety in Bangkok. It was personnel: all on board understood the significance of leaving on Anzac Day, 1975, and two in particular were jostling to claim a place in history. 'Each of them wanted to be the last person with boots on the ground,' the plane's captain, John 'Jack' Fanderlinden, said. The loadmaster, Sergeant Halary Ashman 'Sam' Sims, and one of four Airfield Defence Guards left behind from the embassy both tried to claim bragging rights from opposite ends of the plane. For Sims, it was his job to be last on board. In the cockpit, Flying Officer Fanderlinden could not see the stand-off but worked out what was happening when Sims told him he was going to 'jump out and make sure the undercarriage is OK'. 'Sam hopped out [the back door] so they could see that he was the last Aussie on the ground. He apparently walked around, stomped on the ground and made it perfectly obvious to everybody, then leapt back on board, shut the door and we were off.' After nearly 13 years of Australian involvement in the decades-long Vietnam War, in which more than 60,000 Defence personnel had served, 523 were killed and about 2400 wounded, Fanderlinden lifted A97-178 into the air in the afternoon of April 25, 1975. Australia's combat role had ended three years earlier, and the RAAF planes were assigned to United Nations evacuations, but Fanderlinden's crew and passengers were the last Australian Defence Force members to leave. Saigon fell five days later. The end of the war on April 30, known as a day of liberation and reunification in Vietnam but considered a day of shame for the vanquished, spawned a refugee crisis and led to a wave of migration that forever altered Australian society. There are more than 300,000 people of Vietnamese heritage in Australia, and Vietnamese is the fourth most spoken language. There are an estimated 35,000 surviving Australian veterans of the war. A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said the relationship between the two countries has 'never been stronger' and described Vietnam as 'an active player in regional and global affairs, and a key partner for Australia'. On Anzac Day, a dawn service will be held on the grounds of the Australian embassy in Hanoi, while another will be held in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) on the grounds of the British consulate, hosted by the New Zealand consulate. Fifty years ago, Australia had two parallel diplomatic missions. The embassy in the southern capital, which occupied the seventh floor of the Caravelle Hotel, was evacuated on April 25. Fanderlinden remembers the day differently than other accounts. In his research, he found a 'blatantly wrong' description of the four Airfield Defence Guards being left behind to fend for themselves. Rather, he had already landed and shut down while the second of the evacuation flights was 'buttoning up' for departure. 'My orders were, I was to be the backstop for those two aeroplanes. If either of them broke down, their load was going to come on to my aeroplane, including the ambassador and whoever else on whichever aeroplane broke down, and [I would] destroy the Herc that couldn't get airborne,' Fanderlinden said. 'The second order was to pick up these four Airfield Defence Guards because they were part of the embassy mob and they were at the airfield when the ambassador and everyone was leaving on the second Herc.' There are reports of the four men having no clue when a rescue might come as they were waiting for a Hercules that was off the Vietnamese coast. 'My recollection is totally different,' Fanderlinden said. 'Now that's me. I didn't do any circling over the coast. The most dangerous place to be is actually in the air. I wanted to be on the ground and minimal time in the air.' He and his crew were on the ground for a couple of hours, waiting not only for the four guards but also nuns and nurses; between 30 and 40 people were on the last flight. He spent part of the time near base ops, where he got updated intelligence from the CIA and had to refile his flight plan, and watched South Vietnamese fighters and bombers depart for short, sharp attack runs as fighting neared. 'We could see the war going on around us. We could see fighter aeroplanes from the South getting bombed up and everything, flying to the perimeter … bombing and strafing, 10 minutes, very quick missions. It was noisy because all of this ordnance was going off,' he said. 'Interestingly enough, with all this destruction going on around us, I was watching normal activity taking place like construction work and repairing stuff.' He wandered over and made friends with some workmen, who offered to share their lunch. 'It looked a bit dodgy,' Fanderlinden recalled, but it tasted fine. 'They were looking forward to the end of the war when stability would return to the country. I thought they could have been Viet Cong even. 'No backstop for me, so if my aeroplane broke down, bad luck. I needed someone on my side.' With the call sign Black Jack, Fanderlinden flew 28 sorties in the last month of the war and encountered some 'excitement'. He helped in the chaos of the evacuation from Phan Rang on Vietnam's south central coast, with an average of 250 passengers in the back, to the Can Tho airfield in the Mekong Delta, the only place he felt uncomfortable as he did not know who the enemy was. He was airborne in the Hercules when the US C-5A Galaxy crashed outside Tan Son Nhut Air Base on April 4, killing 138 people including the last two Australians to die in the war: nun Margaret Moses and nurse Lee Makk. Fanderlinden circled above the site while the fighters returned to base and survivors were rescued. While it was later revealed maintenance failures caused the crash, at the time rumours of surface-to-air missiles abounded. The air base was kept dark at night and Fanderlinden had his lights off while taxiing. By intuition, he slammed on the brakes: his loadmaster jumped out to discover they had come close to crashing into helicopters parked at the base and exploding. Loading Fanderlinden spent his life looking forward. He rose through the RAAF's ranks, had a second high-flying career at BAE Systems and had a family. The anniversary gave him a reason to reflect. After an Anzac Day visit to Gallipoli, he will speak about his Vietnam experiences at Fighter World in Williamtown on April 30. He regrets losing touch with his plane, which was traded to the US and later sold to a contractor, and wishes it had a place in a museum.
The Age
22-04-2025
- General
- The Age
The untold story of the last Australian plane out of Saigon
The din of war was growing louder and the North Vietnamese Army was getting closer when the last Royal Australian Air Force plane out of Saigon experienced a delay. The hitch had nothing to do with the ordnance exploding at the perimeter of Tan Son Nhut Air Base, nor a fault with the C-130E Hercules that had landed hours earlier to serve as the backstop for two evacuation flights that had whisked Australian embassy staff, journalists and others to safety in Bangkok. It was personnel: all on board understood the significance of leaving on Anzac Day, 1975, and two in particular were jostling to claim a place in history. 'Each of them wanted to be the last person with boots on the ground,' the plane's captain, John 'Jack' Fanderlinden, said. The loadmaster, Sergeant Halary Ashman 'Sam' Sims, and one of four Airfield Defence Guards left behind from the embassy both tried to claim bragging rights from opposite ends of the plane. For Sims, it was his job to be last on board. In the cockpit, Flying Officer Fanderlinden could not see the stand-off but worked out what was happening when Sims told him he was going to 'jump out and make sure the undercarriage is OK'. 'Sam hopped out [the back door] so they could see that he was the last Aussie on the ground. He apparently walked around, stomped on the ground and made it perfectly obvious to everybody, then leapt back on board, shut the door and we were off.' After nearly 13 years of Australian involvement in the decades-long Vietnam War, in which more than 60,000 Defence personnel had served, 523 were killed and about 2400 wounded, Fanderlinden lifted A97-178 into the air in the afternoon of April 25, 1975. Australia's combat role had ended three years earlier, and the RAAF planes were assigned to United Nations evacuations, but Fanderlinden's crew and passengers were the last Australian Defence Force members to leave. Saigon fell five days later. The end of the war on April 30, known as a day of liberation and reunification in Vietnam but considered a day of shame for the vanquished, spawned a refugee crisis and led to a wave of migration that forever altered Australian society. There are more than 300,000 people of Vietnamese heritage in Australia, and Vietnamese is the fourth most spoken language. There are an estimated 35,000 surviving Australian veterans of the war. A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said the relationship between the two countries has 'never been stronger' and described Vietnam as 'an active player in regional and global affairs, and a key partner for Australia'. On Anzac Day, a dawn service will be held on the grounds of the Australian embassy in Hanoi, while another will be held in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) on the grounds of the British consulate, hosted by the New Zealand consulate. Fifty years ago, Australia had two parallel diplomatic missions. The embassy in the southern capital, which occupied the seventh floor of the Caravelle Hotel, was evacuated on April 25. Fanderlinden remembers the day differently than other accounts. In his research, he found a 'blatantly wrong' description of the four Airfield Defence Guards being left behind to fend for themselves. Rather, he had already landed and shut down while the second of the evacuation flights was 'buttoning up' for departure. 'My orders were, I was to be the backstop for those two aeroplanes. If either of them broke down, their load was going to come on to my aeroplane, including the ambassador and whoever else on whichever aeroplane broke down, and [I would] destroy the Herc that couldn't get airborne,' Fanderlinden said. 'The second order was to pick up these four Airfield Defence Guards because they were part of the embassy mob and they were at the airfield when the ambassador and everyone was leaving on the second Herc.' There are reports of the four men having no clue when a rescue might come as they were waiting for a Hercules that was off the Vietnamese coast. 'My recollection is totally different,' Fanderlinden said. 'Now that's me. I didn't do any circling over the coast. The most dangerous place to be is actually in the air. I wanted to be on the ground and minimal time in the air.' He and his crew were on the ground for a couple of hours, waiting not only for the four guards but also nuns and nurses; between 30 and 40 people were on the last flight. He spent part of the time near base ops, where he got updated intelligence from the CIA and had to refile his flight plan, and watched South Vietnamese fighters and bombers depart for short, sharp attack runs as fighting neared. 'We could see the war going on around us. We could see fighter aeroplanes from the South getting bombed up and everything, flying to the perimeter … bombing and strafing, 10 minutes, very quick missions. It was noisy because all of this ordnance was going off,' he said. 'Interestingly enough, with all this destruction going on around us, I was watching normal activity taking place like construction work and repairing stuff.' He wandered over and made friends with some workmen, who offered to share their lunch. 'It looked a bit dodgy,' Fanderlinden recalled, but it tasted fine. 'They were looking forward to the end of the war when stability would return to the country. I thought they could have been Viet Cong even. 'No backstop for me, so if my aeroplane broke down, bad luck. I needed someone on my side.' With the call sign Black Jack, Fanderlinden flew 28 sorties in the last month of the war and encountered some 'excitement'. He helped in the chaos of the evacuation from Phan Rang on Vietnam's south central coast, with an average of 250 passengers in the back, to the Can Tho airfield in the Mekong Delta, the only place he felt uncomfortable as he did not know who the enemy was. He was airborne in the Hercules when the US C-5A Galaxy crashed outside Tan Son Nhut Air Base on April 4, killing 138 people including the last two Australians to die in the war: nun Margaret Moses and nurse Lee Makk. Fanderlinden circled above the site while the fighters returned to base and survivors were rescued. While it was later revealed maintenance failures caused the crash, at the time rumours of surface-to-air missiles abounded. The air base was kept dark at night and Fanderlinden had his lights off while taxiing. By intuition, he slammed on the brakes: his loadmaster jumped out to discover they had come close to crashing into helicopters parked at the base and exploding. Loading Fanderlinden spent his life looking forward. He rose through the RAAF's ranks, had a second high-flying career at BAE Systems and had a family. The anniversary gave him a reason to reflect. After an Anzac Day visit to Gallipoli, he will speak about his Vietnam experiences at Fighter World in Williamtown on April 30. He regrets losing touch with his plane, which was traded to the US and later sold to a contractor, and wishes it had a place in a museum.
