Latest news with #F-35s
The Diplomat
a day ago
- Politics
- The Diplomat
Exercise Cope Thunder 2025: Boosting Philippines-US Defense Cooperation
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the United States Pacific Air Force (PACAF) held the second part of this year's Cope Thunder exercise from July 7 to July 18 at Clark Air Base in Pampanga. Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura, the PAF commanding general, and Lt. Col. Bryan Mussler, the commander of the 421st Fighter Squadron, PACAF, led the opening ceremony. Cope Thunder, which was founded in the Philippines in 1976, moved to Eielson Air Force Base in the U.S. state of Alaska in 1992 and changed its name to Red Flag Alaska. It then moved back to the Philippines, taking the Cope Thunder name, in 2023. From its inception, the exercise was created to provide aircrews experience with combat in a realistic training setting. The drill swiftly developed into the 'premier simulated combat airpower employment exercise' for the PACAF. Cope Thunder's objective was to improve the aircrews' chances of surviving in war situations. Cope Thunder provides a unique opportunity to strengthen interoperability and integrate troops between the U.S. and Philippine air forces. The goal of the contemporary Cope Thunder exercises is to improve alliance preparedness and joint interoperability among participating units by facilitating bilateral fighter training with the Philippine Air Force. The July exercises expanded on the first portion of Cope Thunder held held from April 7-April 18, 2025. The latest iteration involved a greater number of PAF personnel and more realistic drills to prepare the allied partners for greater security challenges. With a focus on improving alliance interoperability and bilateral fighter integration, the exercise involved over 2,500 people, including 2,300 from the PAF and 225 from the PACAF. As part of the aerial combat exercises between Washington and Manila, U.S. Air Force F-35s conducted their first flight over Philippine land. The F-35 is capable of gathering and sharing real-time battlefield intelligence through advanced sensors and data links, further allowing it to coordinate with other forces and direct operations across land, air, and sea. Two years ago, the Air Force sent its other fifth-generation fighter, the F-22 Raptor, to the Philippines for the initial Cope Thunder exercises. Embedding fifth‑gen U.S. aircraft within Philippine drills advances a forward‑deployed deterrence posture, reinforcing Philippine-U.S. alliance commitments in the face of regional security pressures. Furthermore, particularly under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which permits the U.S. military to access and use designated Philippine military bases for joint training, exercises, and humanitarian assistance, the F-35 deployment seems to validate the Philippines' growing role as a crucial frontline state in containing China. Notably, in spite of Beijing's opposition, Manila allowed the U.S. access to four more EDCA sites in 2023, increasing the total to nine. The Philippines and the United States signed a treaty on mutual defense in 1951. An attack on either side would force the Philippines-U.S. alliance to respond and 'meet the common dangers' – a provision that may come into play in the South China Sea, where Beijing and Manila have conflicting claims to islands and reefs. The 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty commitments are reflected in their joint exercises and military training, highlighting common objectives of increasing preparedness, bolstering deterrence, and promoting peace and stability throughout the Indo-Pacific region. The deployment of F-35s to the Philippines is a significant development in U.S. strategy in Southeast Asia. The Philippines and other U.S. allies are being actively integrated into a larger nodal defense network. In addition to enhancing Manila's defense capabilities to support the U.S. in a potential conflict in the South China Sea or Taiwan, the Cope Thunder exercise provided an opportunity to test the cooperation between U.S. F-35s and Philippine FA-50s. The exercise involved comprehensive training across air and ground domains, which further reinforces the Philippine-U.S. defense bond and signals forward regional deterrence. The exercise would perhaps enhance the PAF's tactical evolution and readiness benchmarks, paving the way for future aircraft acquisitions and deeper strategic operations. Given its geographic location, the Philippines is an essential ally for the U.S. defense of Taiwan. General Romeo Brawner, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, issued a warning in April that China was attempting to infiltrate the Philippine military and other institutions and that, in the event that Taiwan was invaded, the Philippines would 'inevitably' be engaged. China is the biggest threat to U.S. security, according to the Trump administration. Furthermore, more than any other region, Washington's long-term objectives are rooted in the United States' relative position in the Indo-Pacific. Therefore, to counter China's aggression, the United States has been investing in its security alliances with allies who have the political will to go above and beyond. Amid the Trump administration's halt on foreign aid, the United States exempted $336 million on February 21 for the modernization of the Philippine security forces. Cope Thunder 2025 also contributes to the Philippine military's modernization and capability development efforts to maintain regional security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The exercise also marks another important milestone in the advancement of joint interoperability and mutual defense readiness between the PAF and PACAF. Given the Philippines' ongoing strategic significance, the Philippines-U.S. alliance is expected to continue to play a significant role in the Indo-Pacific region. Both the Philippines and the United States are hopeful that their partnership will continue to grow and that security cooperation will continue in the years to come.
The National
3 days ago
- Health
- The National
'Call it genocide': MSF paediatrician on UK's Gaza inaction
During an MSF event in Glasgow, titled Hope: An Evening of Storytelling, Dr Prudence Jarrett recounted her time working as a paediatrician on assignment in the Central African Republic (CAR). Dr Jarrett, who has worked in both CAR and Afghanistan with MSF, spoke of a case where she and her Central African colleagues treated a child with severe malaria with an emergency blood transfusion. Despite the severe lack of resources, she said watching the young girl wake up filled her with hope. READ MORE: John Swinney addresses Scottish absence at Israel 'collective action' conference Speaking exclusively with The National, Dr Jarrett discussed the mental toll of working as a paediatrician with MSF, what brings her hope as she works on the frontlines, and what the UK Government should be doing to stop the genocide in Gaza. 'I think the mental toll was harder in Central African Republic because in Afghanistan, you're working with people who are really skilled in a healthcare system that is at least semi-functional, even if it's not got what it should have', the paediatrician explained. 'In CAR, you're working with people who don't have the training they need, who work in a healthcare system which is absolutely not functioning to a level which is adequate for what patients require. 'Every tiny thing that you're trying to do is a struggle. Getting something stapled is a struggle. Getting something printed is a struggle, let alone getting medication at the right time to the right person.' With high temperatures, intermittent electricity and little time for recuperation, Dr Jarrett noted that the combination of factors made her work in CAR 'much harder' than in Afghanistan. The crisis in CAR is largely fuelled by a civil war which broke out in 2013, as well as the lasting effects of colonialism. Despite the baseline level of mortality being well above the emergency threshold for humanitarian response, the crisis often receives little to no media attention. 'There has to be a curiosity about places not in the spotlight or which are not of geopolitical significance to the country you're reporting from', Dr Jarrett said. The triage center at Bambari's hospital, Central African Republic (Image: Adrienne Surprenant/Collectif Item) On Gaza, where 12 MSF doctors have been killed amidst the genocide, she said there are 'different levels which [the UK Government] should and are not' responding. 'One is that you have to call this a genocide. MSF's calling it a genocide, and I think we all need to recognise that this is what is going on there and that means we have obligations legally to respond and prevent that from continuing', she explained. 'There was a court case recently in the UK which concluded that it was okay for the UK to sell parts of F-35s to Israel and I hope that is going to be overturned 'We should not be sending arms to a state that is committing genocide. Stopping arms sales is a basic way of demonstrating that you're not supporting what is happening.' 'From a healthcare oriented point of view, it's clear that there are breaches of international humanitarian law that are affecting the provision of healthcare in Gaza – the bombing of hospitals, targeted killing of healthcare workers, ambulances, and so on. 'This absolutely should not be allowed to continue.' Dr Jarrett said she wants to see the UK Government accepting more Gazan children for medical treatment. At present, only two cases have been allowed. Neither received care through the NHS, but rather through private healthcare facilities funded by charity organisations. MSF called on the UK to accept more Palestinians earlier this week as other European nations have increased the number of ill and injured admitted for treatment from the enclave. She said: 'We must put pressure on the UK Government to extend their benevolence which they offer to other people coming from other countries to children of Palestine who need proper treatment for their war related injuries or treatment for chronic disease or life threatening disease. 'They cannot get this in Gaza and they cannot get in Israel because they're not allowed to go there. 'I think we have an obligation to open this channel for people to come and receive healthcare in our country.' READ MORE: Israeli defence minister presents 'cheaper and quicker' Gaza concentration camp plan Despite having worked in conditions which seem bleak, Dr Jarrett said being surrounded by compassionate people who are willing to put the work in and help those living through dire humanitarian crises fills her with hope. The paediatrician, who said she originally went into the field because it's a 'joy' to work with 'unbelievably resilient' children, explained that seeing her patients returned to their families was a 'great privilege'. She continued: 'What I get hope from is the fact that not only in MSF, within MSF, but also outside in other spaces in the UK, there are a lot of people who care about people in other parts of the world. 'They're prepared to get organised, get active, and do things about it, and it might feel that that doesn't work a lot of the time, but the more that we connect with each other and work together on these things, the more we can do and the more hope and solidarity that we build between each other.'
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
UK audit reveals shocking flaws in F-35 stealth jet fleet - they can't fight, fly, or fire weapons
The UK's F-35 stealth jets aren't performing well — they're struggling to fly, fight, or fire weapons. The NAO found serious issues with availability, engineering staff shortages, and weapon delays. The UK currently owns 37 F-35B jets, meant for short take-off and vertical landing like the old Harriers. The jets have amazing technology like low radar visibility and advanced sensors, but they're still underperforming, as stated by The Register. Readiness and staff shortage issues UK jets are not ready to fly as often as expected, even though the targets are lower than global standards. In 2023, the jets were only half as ready for missions compared to the target. The fully mission-ready rate was even worse — about one-third, as per the reports. There's a huge lack of trained engineers and staff to work on these jets. During a 2021 mission, one UK jet crashed because a protective cover was left inside the engine — it couldn't take off and fell into the sea. That mission also showed the US Marines had 25 people per jet, while the UK had only 14, as mentioned by The Register. ALSO READ: UnitedHealth Group stock down after Wolf Research lowers its price target to $330 from $363 Live Events Weapon problems and US delays The UK F-35s still can't use key missiles like Spear 3 or Meteor, which were supposed to be ready by Dec 2023. Now, those weapons won't be available until the early 2030s. Lockheed Martin is blamed for poor performance and delays, as per the reports. The UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD) is also blamed for bad contracts that didn't focus on getting weapons delivered in time. Right now, UK F-35s can only use limited bombs and US-made missiles like the AIM-120D, according to the report by The Register. Most of the new features were supposed to come in Block 4 software updates, but those updates are way behind. Originally, Block 4 was to arrive by 2022, but now it won't be fully ready until 2033. There's also a belief that the US doesn't prioritize European-made weapons, making UK jets rely more on American systems, as per the reports. Bigger picture and future plans Because of all these issues, the UK is working on a new fighter jet program called Tempest, with Japan and Italy, not the US. The UK originally planned to buy 138 F-35s, but progress is slow and this may hurt its status in the global program, as stated by The Register. Countries like Australia (72 jets) and Norway (52 jets) are moving faster than the UK. The UK recently announced it will buy 12 F-35A and 15 more F-35B jets, but they won't arrive until the late 2020s, as per the reports. ALSO READ: Prince Harry ready to make amends and make peace — Kate supports it, but William says 'Not So Fast' Adding a second version (F-35A) may make things worse because it needs different engineers and maintenance setups. A special testing facility to check if the jets are still stealthy was delayed for budget reasons and now won't be ready until next decade, according to the reports. The NAO gave the MoD several suggestions, like making internal changes to manage the program better. The MoD responded saying the program is still within budget, and the UK will have two squadrons ready to deploy by end of this year, as per the report by The Register. FAQs Q1. Why are UK F-35 jets not working properly? The UK F-35 jets have problems with flying, staff shortages, and can't use key weapons due to delays and poor planning. Q2. When will UK F-35 jets get full weapon capability? The UK F-35 jets are expected to get key weapons like Meteor and Spear 3 only by the early 2030s.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Next big arms race: Who can build the most drones nobody minds losing, America, Russia or China?
The Pentagon is tearing up its old drone playbook. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth wants drones treated like bullets, not aircraft. Cheap, expendable, and everywhere. His new memo kills red tape, hands buying power to frontline commanders, and backs US-made drones over imports. Every squad will get its own drone swarm by 2027. It's a bet that the next big fight will be won not by high-end jets, but by millions of low-cost flying munitions buzzing over the battlefield. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Manufacture fast, train hard, buy American Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads From theory to trenches Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The supply chain challenge Fighting with drones like ammunition US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth wants drones to be seen for what they've really become: disposable munitions, not prized aircraft. This shift, spelled out in a sweeping new Pentagon memo, could reshape how the United States fights, builds, and trains for war for decades to order tears up the old playbook that slowed drone development with paperwork, endless sign-offs, and tangled chains of command. His message is blunt: the enemy is churning out millions of cheap drones every year — Russia alone aims for four million this year, Ukraine even more. Meanwhile, US frontline units have been forced to make do with decades-old procurement systems designed for F-35s, not the Pentagon is flipping the table. Under the new rules, small drones — Group 1 and Group 2 in Pentagon-speak — are reclassified as consumables. Think hand grenades, not stealth bombers. Commanders at the O-6 level — colonels, captains, equivalents — now have the green light to buy, test, modify and deploy these drones directly, no more waiting for approval from the top brass or the distant the core of this pivot is an industrial push. 'Our overt preference is to Buy American,' Hegseth insisted. That means direct loans, advance purchase deals, and fast-track approvals for homegrown drone makers. The goal? A home-grown swarm of cheap, clever drones designed by American engineers and AI experts. Not one or two prototypes , but overhaul rests on three pillars. First, expand domestic production. Hegseth wants American drones built by American companies. The memo demands the Pentagon lean hard on domestic suppliers, using direct loans, advance purchases and private capital to flood the force with cheap, expendable drones.'Our overt preference is to Buy American,' Hegseth writes. 'We will power a technological leapfrog, arming our combat units with a variety of low-cost drones made by America's world-leading engineers and AI experts.'Second, he wants process reform. Building drone dominance isn't just about tech — it's about speed. Past rules treated small drones like fighter jets, bogging them down with the same airworthiness certifications and NATO standards meant for billion-dollar aircraft. From now on, small drones won't need the same testing. They'll be made, modified and lost in combat — and replaced just as fast.'Drone dominance is a process race as much as a technological race,' Hegseth writes. The new approach fuses frontline needs with the factory floor. Prototypes, 3D printing, battlefield tweaks — all wants the entire procurement model flipped. 'Drone dominance is a process race as much as a technological race,' he wrote. New drones will skip heavy NATO standards when they make no sense for cheap flying bombs. No more forcing small drones to meet the same paperwork as big third pillar is training. By the end of 2026, every US Army squad must have one-way attack drones in its kit. By 2027, major training events must include drones, swarm scenarios, live-fire tests, drone-vs-drone battles. Senior officers are under orders to strip away range restrictions, expand testing grounds, and make drone use second nature.'Lethality will not be hindered by self-imposed restrictions,' Hegseth said last week. 'Drone technology is advancing so rapidly, our major risk is risk-avoidance. The Department's bureaucratic gloves are coming off.'This pivot isn't academic. In Ukraine, drones have turned trench warfare into a tech race. Cheap first-person-view (FPV) kamikaze drones drop grenades through tank hatches. Commercial quadcopters spot artillery targets. More than 70 percent of Ukraine's battlefield casualties this year are linked to in the Pacific, the US faces China's vast manufacturing might. Chinese drone makers dominate the global civilian market — and parts of the military supply chain too. That's a vulnerability Washington wants closed memo spells this out. Every military branch must stand up new units, dedicated to getting drones out of PowerPoint slides and into soldiers' hands. These units will test designs, tweak them with 3D printers, feed lessons back to manufacturers and scale up production. Indo-Pacific Command gets first dibs — the clear signal is that the US is preparing to counter China's also a nod to the Replicator Initiative, launched in 2023 to push thousands of cheap, smart drones to the front lines. Progress has been slow. Hegseth's memo basically tells everyone: move this ambition depends on supply. Ukraine's small shops now churn out 200,000 drones a month. The US doesn't yet have that kind of industrial muscle for disposable drones. The memo leans heavily on private capital and domestic startups. Executive Order 14307, signed by Trump in June, aims to open more funding getting from high-level memo to warehouse shelves won't be easy. American drone makers will need parts, batteries, secure supply chains — and they'll need to do it without relying on Chinese subcomponents. The Pentagon has been burned before by drones carrying suspect Chinese new policy also blows open the way for improvisation. Frontline troops will be free to mod small drones on site, even build them from scratch if they have the right parts. The memo specifically allows military-made drones that meet the 'Blue List' of trusted components to skip lengthy bigger shift is cultural. For decades, the Pentagon treated UAVs as scarce, expensive assets. This new vision says drones are bullets with wings — use them, lose them, risk in that mindset. Small drones are easy to jam, easy to shoot down. But the point isn't perfection. The point is mass. If each squad has eyes in the sky, one drone shot down doesn't matter — another is bet is that the Pentagon can out-innovate and out-build its rivals if it gets out of its own way. Time will tell if the factory floor, the training ranges and the dusty frontlines can keep pace with the now, the message is clear: stop treating drones like prized possessions. Treat them like ammo. Build them cheap, fly them hard, lose them fast — and always have another ready to launch.
Toronto Sun
4 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
DND to start construction on F-35 hangars despite review
Officials confirmed that building new infrastructure for the F-35s will cost more than $2 billion. A U.S. airman directs a F-35 stealth fighter out of a hangar in Alaska in January 2022. Photo by U.S. AIR FORCE The Department of National Defence is proceeding to spend an initial $500 million for two new F-35 hangars even as the Liberal government continues to weigh the decision to purchase of the stealth fighter jet. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account But ultimately the new infrastructure that will be needed for the U.S.-built F-35s will cost at least $2 billion, the department confirmed. Construction of the first hangar will begin in Cold Lake, Alta., in the coming months, while work on a similar installation at Bagotville, Que., will start in the fall, DND noted. 'Site preparation has already begun at both locations,' DND spokesperson Kened Sadiku stated in an email.'Construction of the Fighter Squadron Facility is estimated to begin late Summer — early Fall 2025 for Cold Lake and a few months later in Bagotville.' DND did not provide more specific details on the timings for construction. Specifics on the final cost are still unknown, according to the department. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'It is too early to confirm the full cost of FFCP (Future Fighter Capability Project) infrastructure at this time,' Sadiku said. 'However, these costs are part of the overall project cost and are evaluated at over $2 billion.' The current plan is for 36 of the 88 incoming CF-35As to be stationed at Bagotville and the remaining 52 at Cold Lake, the DND statement said. 'This new infrastructure will help ensure our personnel have the facilities they need to support the long-term operation and maintenance of the new aircraft,' Sadiku added. The new hangars are specially constructed for the stealth F-35 and must meet requirements set out by the United States government. The new construction comes in the midst of a review ordered by the Liberal government. Prime Minister Mark Carney ordered a review of Canada's F-35 purchase in mid-March in the wake of threats against Canadian sovereignty by U.S. President Donald Trump. The U.S. has become increasingly hostile to Canada, with Trump continuing with his economic efforts to punish Canada and push for this country to become the 51st state. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The review is being conducted by officials with the Royal Canadian Air Force and DND, both organizations that originally played roles in selecting and advocating for the purchase of the F-35. The Liberal government announced in January 2023 it was spending $19 billion to acquire 88 F-35s from the U.S., but at this point Canada has only financially committed to purchasing the first 16 jets which are being built by Lockheed Martin in the U.S. Defence Minister David McGuinty has said the F-35 review is expected to be completed by the end of the summer and will be made public. 'We'll be taking possession of those 16 F-35 fighter jets in the next several months, by the new year at the latest,' McGuinty told journalists on June 10. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. That, however, isn't true. The DND statement to the Ottawa Citizen noted that Canada would receive its first four jets in 2026, followed by four in 2027 and four in 2028. The first eight will go to Luke Air Force Base in the United States to enable the training of Canadian pilots, and the first aircraft will come to Canada in 2028, according to the statement. Auditor General Karen Hogan revealed June 10 that the cost of Canada's F-35 purchase had skyrocketed by nearly 50 per cent from $19 billion to $27.7 billion. Another $5.5 billion will be needed to achieve full operation capability for the planes, Hogan added. Part of the increase was because of U.S. concerns over the original design of hangars and other facilities for the stealth fighters to be built at Cold Lake and Bagotville. Those facilities had to be redesigned. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Some retired military officers as well as defence analysts from DND-funded think tanks have argued that Canada should proceed with its entire F-35 purchase because it needs to remain a strong ally of the U.S. But retired Lt.-Gen. Yvan Blondin, the air force general who recommended Canada buy the F-35 fighter jet, now says the purchase should no longer go forward as planned because the U.S. has become so untrustworthy. Critics have pointed out that the U.S. also controls all aspects of software upgrades needed for the F-35 to continue flying. That, in turn, could pose a security risk because of the U.S. shift to a more hostile relationship with Canada. David Pugliese is an award-winning journalist covering Canadian Forces and military issues in Canada. To support his work, including exclusive content for subscribers only, sign up here: Read More Uncategorized NHL NFL Editorials Editorial Cartoons
