Latest news with #S-400
Qatar Tribune
10 hours ago
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Turkey to receive Eurofighter jets after Germany, UK agreements
dpa Berlin/Istanbul The German government has cleared the way for the export of Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Turkey, removing a key obstacle to a major arms deal involving the United Kingdom. German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius confirmed in Berlin on Wednesday that the Defence Ministry has sent written authorization to Ankara. The Turkish government must now decide whether to proceed with the order, he said. The move follows an earlier announcement on Wednesday by the UK and Turkey, which signed a letter of intent to advance a potential deal for the sale of 40 Eurofighters. The jets are assembled in Britain as part of a multinational consortium involving Germany, Italy and Spain, meaning all four countries must approve any export deal. The British Defence Ministry called the agreement a 'significant step forward,' saying it would bolster NATO's deterrence capabilities and support thousands of defence jobs. British Defence Secretary John Healey described the potentially multibillion-pound deal as a 'major milestone.' Turkey seeks to modernize air defence Turkey, which was ejected from the US-led F-35 fighter jet programme in 2019 after acquiring Russia's S-400 missile defence system, is seeking to diversify its defence procurement. US officials argued at the time that the S-400 could compromise sensitive F-35 stealth data and pose a security risk. The Turkish Defence Ministry told dpa on Wednesday that the planned Eurofighter purchase is not linked to the F-35 dispute, but is part of a broader strategy to modernize its air force. Analysts have noted that Ankara will need to invest in new infrastructure and training before the jets can be delivered and become operational. Export policy shift in Berlin Germany's involvement in the Eurofighter consortium had previously stalled the deal, as Berlin had not signed off on the necessary export licences. Arms deliveries to NATO partner Turkey have long been politically sensitive in Germany, due to concerns over Ankara's human rights record and foreign interventions. After Turkey's 2016 military operation in Syria, Berlin significantly scaled back arms exports.
Daily Mirror
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Russia and Ukraine trade worst blows after peace talks fail in Battle of Black Sea
Ukrainian drones pummelled the Russian Black Sea city of Sochi - where Vladimir Putin is building his own palace - as Russia's bombs rocked the Ukrainian resort of Odesa Ukraine and Russia struck each other's most popular seaside resorts in major attacks as peace talks broke up in Istanbul. Major city Sochi - where Vladimir Putin is building a new palace after tearing down his old one - was hit by massive explosions striking oil depots, railway warehouses, and damaging a key road link. Footage shows the dramatic drone attacks which hit Kremlin-run Sirius Federal Territory, in Sochi, where discussions were reportedly held on sending Putin's young children, aged ten and five, to an elite school. One woman was killed and several wounded as a Russian S-400 air defence missile misfired and hit a residential building in the country's premier resort. Russia suffered around 100 flight delays as Sochi's airport was closed due to the drones. Tourists were seen huddling in the underground car park of elite five star hotels in the city in the first major Ukrainian strike on Sochi in almost two years, which involved Lyutyi‑196 long range drones. The Lukoil-Yugnefteprodukt oil depot exploded in flames in Sirius Federal Territory where head of administration Dmitry Plishkin urged people not to go out. Meanwhile, Odesa faced Russia's latest Putin strikes on civilians with a nine-storey residential building destroyed, and the city's iconic Privoz Market engulfed in flames. At least three people were injured in Odesa but the casualties were expected to rise. Apartments from the 5th to the 8th floors of the residential building were destroyed, with fires on the stairwells, as dozens of terrorised residents were evacuated. 'Odesa experienced another hellish night,' said Ukraine 's state emergency service. 'The Russians massively attacked the city with strike drones.' The obliterated landmark market dates from 1827, and locals say of it: 'Odesa begins from Privoz.' It is considered the city's heart - the soul and hub of humour, gossip, and local colour. 'There is damage to architectural monuments in the historic centre of Odesa, which is under UNESCO protection,' said the head of the regional administration, Oleh Kiper. Russia also hit Mykolaiv, with drones striking two enterprises overnight, causing major fires. And seven people, including a child, were injured in a Russian missile attack on Cherkasy. The Black Sea strikes came after perfunctory peace talks in Istanbul in which Russia's chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said the two sides were 'quite far from each other'. There was agreement on future exchanges of prisoners, including civilians, but little sign of a breakthrough towards ending the war. The Ukrainians demanded Putin agree to a ceasefire and face to face talks with Zelensky to end the war. Kyiv's leading negotiator Rustem Umerov said: 'We are now waiting for the ceasefire and the start of substantive peace negotiations. And it is up to the other side to take this basic step on the path to peace. We emphasise that the ceasefire must be real. It must include a complete halt to strikes on civilian and critically important infrastructure.'
The Irish Sun
19 hours ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Battle of Black Sea erupts as Russia and Ukraine strike biggest resorts after peace talks fail to deliver ceasefire
A NEW front in Vladimir Putin's bloody war erupted as Ukraine and Russia traded deadly Black Sea strikes after peace talks collapsed. The tit-for-tat attacks were the fiercest in months and marked a chilling escalation in a war showing no signs of ending. Advertisement 11 Russia launched a terrifying assault on Ukrainian Black Sea city Odesa Credit: East2West 11 The strike destroyed the iconic Privoz Market, which has existed since 1827 Credit: East2West 11 Ukraine also staged a giant drone attack on Russian Black Sea resort Sochi, hitting oil depots in the city where Vladimir Putin is rebuilding an official palace Credit: East2West 11 Giant plumes of smoke could be seen rising into the night sky in Sochi Credit: East2West In the Russian resort city of Sochi - Putin's glittering showcase to the world and personal playground - massive Ukrainian drones tore through vital infrastructure. Explosions rocked oil depots, ignited railway warehouses, and tore apart road links in Sirius Federal Territory, where elite schools, luxury developments, and whispers of Putin's own children echo. In an embarrassing blow to the Kremlin, a Russian S-400 missile system misfired during the chaos, smashing into a residential block and killing at least two civilians. One woman was among the dead, and another 11 people were wounded. Advertisement Read more on Ukraine war Tourists at Sochi's five-star beachside hotels were seen cowering in underground car parks as their luxury summer breaks were shattered by war. This was the first major Ukrainian strike on Sochi in almost two years - and the symbolism couldn't be clearer. The city is home to Russia's most elite gymnastics academy run by Alina Kabaeva, Putin's long-time secret lover. It's also just a stone's throw from the palace Mad Vlad is building after razing his last one - and only a mile from the Sirius school where he once held private talks with Donald Trump. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun Ukraine used Lyutyi‑196 long-range drones in the daring raid that lit up the night sky with fireballs. The Lukoil-Yugnefteprodukt oil depot exploded in flames as local officials scrambled to control the chaos. Warped Russian state TV parades 'drone death factory' packed with kamikaze killing machines after Ukraine blitzes Moscow Sochi airport was also shut down, delaying more than 100 flights. While Sochi burned, the heart of Odesa bled. Advertisement The historic Ukrainian port city, often described as the soul of the nation, suffered yet another hellish night under a hail of Russian drones. A nine-storey residential building was torn apart from the fifth to eighth floors, and the city's beloved Privoz Market - a cultural landmark since 1827 - was engulfed in flames. Regional governor Oleh Kiper said: "There is damage to architectural monuments in the historic centre of Odesa, which is under UNESCO protection." Russia also launched drone strikes on Mykolaiv and a missile assault on Cherkasy, injuring seven people and a child. Advertisement Fires raged across Ukrainian industrial sites as sirens screamed through the night. All this, just hours after peace talks in Istanbul collapsed into bitter recriminations. 11 Flames completely ripped through Odesas's historic market Credit: East2West 11 Russian drones also hit a nine-floor residential building in Odesa Credit: EPA Advertisement 11 People walk past damages from the drone strike at Pryvoz Market Credit: EPA Kremlin negotiator Vladimir Medinsky admitted the two sides were "quite far from each other". Ukraine's Rustem Umerov demanded an immediate ceasefire and face-to-face negotiations. He warned: "We emphasise that the ceasefire must be real. Advertisement "It must include a complete halt to strikes on civilian and critically important infrastructure." 'Prepping for nuclear war' As the bloodshed on the ground escalates, Putin's propaganda machine turns even more apocalyptic. Leading Russian media outlets - or Kremlin mouthpieces - have begun Newspapers such as Komsomolskaya Pravda ran chilling features warning that war with the West could come before the end of the decade, fuelled by what they claim is Nato aggression. Advertisement Accusing the West of wanting to "dismember" Russia to access its resources, Russian military analyst Andrei Klintsevich warned: "The aim is to provoke Russia… and launch direct confrontation." He called for a nuclear test in the Arctic - the first since the Cold War - in a move meant to terrify Western powers. The warnings coincided with threats from Putin's infamous crony Dmitry Medvedev, who claimed Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, raged that Nato and the West are effectively already at war with Russia as he pushed the Kremlin's view that his country is the victim. Advertisement That's despite it being 11 Firefighters tackle the blaze after a Russian attack that hit a residential area in Kharkiv, Ukraine on Thursday Credit: AP 11 A resident with her dogs leaves the site of a Russian air strike in Kharkiv Credit: Reuters The Kremlin's fury was further stoked after US General Christopher Donahue declared Nato could capture Kalinigrad - the strategic fortress Russia clings to in the heart of Europe - "faster than we've ever done before." Advertisement It comes after Trump threw his own firepower to the mix. He pledged to arm Ukraine with advanced defence systems and Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelensky has found himself facing a new kind of battle - not with Putin, but with his own people. The Ukrainian leader is under intense fire after signing a controversial anti-corruption bill that critics say hands him near-absolute power over previously independent watchdogs. Advertisement "We chose Europe, not autocracy," read one handmade placard. Another one read: "My father did not die for this." Zelensky insisted the law was needed to purge Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies of Russian infiltration, claiming: "We all share a common enemy: the Russian occupiers… Advertisement "Those who work against Ukraine must not feel comfortable or immune to the inevitability of punishment." But his assurances did little to calm protesters, which included Kyiv's mayor and former heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, who said bluntly: 'Sapo and Nabu must remain independent institutions.' The protests have now spread to Lviv, Dnipro and even battle-hardened Odesa, adding political turmoil to an already exhausted nation. 11 Ukrainians protest in the first wartime rally in Lviv Credit: Reuters Advertisement 11 The protests are against a newly passed law, which curbs the independence of anti-corruption institutions, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine Credit: Reuters
Scottish Sun
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Battle of Black Sea erupts as Russia and Ukraine strike biggest resorts after peace talks fail to deliver ceasefire
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A NEW front in Vladimir Putin's bloody war erupted as Ukraine and Russia traded deadly Black Sea strikes after peace talks collapsed. The tit-for-tat attacks were the fiercest in months and marked a chilling escalation in a war showing no signs of ending. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 11 Russia launched a terrifying assault on Ukrainian Black Sea city Odesa Credit: East2West 11 The strike destroyed the iconic Privoz Market, which has existed since 1827 Credit: East2West 11 Ukraine also staged a giant drone attack on Russian Black Sea resort Sochi, hitting oil depots in the city where Vladimir Putin is rebuilding an official palace Credit: East2West 11 Giant plumes of smoke could be seen rising into the night sky in Sochi Credit: East2West In the Russian resort city of Sochi - Putin's glittering showcase to the world and personal playground - massive Ukrainian drones tore through vital infrastructure. Explosions rocked oil depots, ignited railway warehouses, and tore apart road links in Sirius Federal Territory, where elite schools, luxury developments, and whispers of Putin's own children echo. In an embarrassing blow to the Kremlin, a Russian S-400 missile system misfired during the chaos, smashing into a residential block and killing at least two civilians. One woman was among the dead, and another 11 people were wounded. Tourists at Sochi's five-star beachside hotels were seen cowering in underground car parks as their luxury summer breaks were shattered by war. This was the first major Ukrainian strike on Sochi in almost two years - and the symbolism couldn't be clearer. The city is home to Russia's most elite gymnastics academy run by Alina Kabaeva, Putin's long-time secret lover. It's also just a stone's throw from the palace Mad Vlad is building after razing his last one - and only a mile from the Sirius school where he once held private talks with Donald Trump. Ukraine used Lyutyi‑196 long-range drones in the daring raid that lit up the night sky with fireballs. The Lukoil-Yugnefteprodukt oil depot exploded in flames as local officials scrambled to control the chaos. Warped Russian state TV parades 'drone death factory' packed with kamikaze killing machines after Ukraine blitzes Moscow Sochi airport was also shut down, delaying more than 100 flights. While Sochi burned, the heart of Odesa bled. The historic Ukrainian port city, often described as the soul of the nation, suffered yet another hellish night under a hail of Russian drones. A nine-storey residential building was torn apart from the fifth to eighth floors, and the city's beloved Privoz Market - a cultural landmark since 1827 - was engulfed in flames. Regional governor Oleh Kiper said: "There is damage to architectural monuments in the historic centre of Odesa, which is under UNESCO protection." Russia also launched drone strikes on Mykolaiv and a missile assault on Cherkasy, injuring seven people and a child. Fires raged across Ukrainian industrial sites as sirens screamed through the night. All this, just hours after peace talks in Istanbul collapsed into bitter recriminations. 11 Flames completely ripped through Odesas's historic market Credit: East2West 11 Russian drones also hit a nine-floor residential building in Odesa Credit: EPA 11 People walk past damages from the drone strike at Pryvoz Market Credit: EPA Kremlin negotiator Vladimir Medinsky admitted the two sides were "quite far from each other". Ukraine's Rustem Umerov demanded an immediate ceasefire and face-to-face negotiations. He warned: "We emphasise that the ceasefire must be real. "It must include a complete halt to strikes on civilian and critically important infrastructure." 'Prepping for nuclear war' As the bloodshed on the ground escalates, Putin's propaganda machine turns even more apocalyptic. Leading Russian media outlets - or Kremlin mouthpieces - have begun preparing their citizens for nuclear war. Newspapers such as Komsomolskaya Pravda ran chilling features warning that war with the West could come before the end of the decade, fuelled by what they claim is Nato aggression. Accusing the West of wanting to "dismember" Russia to access its resources, Russian military analyst Andrei Klintsevich warned: "The aim is to provoke Russia… and launch direct confrontation." He called for a nuclear test in the Arctic - the first since the Cold War - in a move meant to terrify Western powers. The warnings coincided with threats from Putin's infamous crony Dmitry Medvedev, who claimed World War Three has already begun, and urged Russia to bomb the West. Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, raged that Nato and the West are effectively already at war with Russia as he pushed the Kremlin's view that his country is the victim. That's despite it being Russia who invaded Ukraine and is continuing to wage a bloody war. 11 Firefighters tackle the blaze after a Russian attack that hit a residential area in Kharkiv, Ukraine on Thursday Credit: AP 11 A resident with her dogs leaves the site of a Russian air strike in Kharkiv Credit: Reuters The Kremlin's fury was further stoked after US General Christopher Donahue declared Nato could capture Kalinigrad - the strategic fortress Russia clings to in the heart of Europe - "faster than we've ever done before." It comes after Trump threw his own firepower to the mix. He pledged to arm Ukraine with advanced defence systems and slap Russia with brutal 100 per cent tariffs - unless Putin strikes a peace deal within 50 days. Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelensky has found himself facing a new kind of battle - not with Putin, but with his own people. The Ukrainian leader is under intense fire after signing a controversial anti-corruption bill that critics say hands him near-absolute power over previously independent watchdogs. Thousands poured into the streets of Kyiv in the biggest anti-government protest since the war began. "We chose Europe, not autocracy," read one handmade placard. Another one read: "My father did not die for this." Zelensky insisted the law was needed to purge Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies of Russian infiltration, claiming: "We all share a common enemy: the Russian occupiers… "Those who work against Ukraine must not feel comfortable or immune to the inevitability of punishment." But his assurances did little to calm protesters, which included Kyiv's mayor and former heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, who said bluntly: 'Sapo and Nabu must remain independent institutions.' The protests have now spread to Lviv, Dnipro and even battle-hardened Odesa, adding political turmoil to an already exhausted nation. 11 Ukrainians protest in the first wartime rally in Lviv Credit: Reuters
India.com
5 days ago
- Science
- India.com
Not just Akash, S-400, or Barak-8, India also has THIS laser defense shield that can destroy missiles within..., it can track...
DRDO DEW System: During 'Operation Sindoor', the world witnessed the efficiency of air defense systems like 'Akash' and S-400. India's defense technology isn't limited to just rockets and missiles. The country also possesses Directed Energy Weapons (DEW), a laser defense shield. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) recently announced the successful trial of a Mk-II(A) Laser– Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) system 'mastering the technology of disabling missiles, drones and smaller projectiles.' This is the kind of technology seen in the Star Wars movie series — capable of turning enemy drones, helicopters, and even missiles into ashes mid-air. 'Indigenously designed and developed Mk-II(A) DEW system was demonstrated in its entire spectrum of capability by engaging the fixed wing drones at long range, thwarting a multiple drone attack and destroying enemy surveillance sensors and antennae,' the statement said. 'The lightning speed of engagement, the precision and the lethality delivered at the target within few seconds made it the most potent counter drone system.' Here are some of the key details: In April 2025, DRDO successfully tested a 30-kilowatt laser-based weapon system. This technology promises to play a decisive role in future warfare. While systems like Akash, S-400, and Barak-8 are already serving as defense shields, the laser shield makes India virtually invincible. This laser defense system can track and destroy any aerial threat within a range of 5 kilometers. It is equipped with 360-degree Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensors that can detect and neutralize targets approaching from any direction. It can be deployed not only on land but also on warships, and it can be easily transported and stationed via air, rail, road, or sea routes. This laser system can destroy drones, helicopters, and missiles within a 5 km range in seconds. During testing, it successfully shot down fixed-wing aircraft and swarm drones mid-air. It also has the capability to jam enemy communications and satellite signals. It doesn't use any explosives or missiles — it operates solely with laser light, making it a 'massless' weapon. Star War Capabilities: DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir V. Kamat described it as the first step towards a 'Star Wars capability'. He said, 'So far, only the US, Russia, and China have demonstrated such technology. Israel is also working in this direction. We are the fourth or fifth country to have demonstrated this capability.' This means India has now joined the elite club of nations that possess advanced Directed-Energy Weapon (DEW) systems. The trial was carried at the National Open Air Range, Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh. The system was developed by DRDO's Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS), Hyderabad along with other labs, academic institutions and Indian industries.
