Latest news with #dogfight
The Sun
23-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Watch hero puppy Duke defend street from pack of bloodthirsty coyotes fighting off beasts for 45 agonizing minutes
THIS is the courageous moment a heroic puppy battles a pack of savage coyotes for nearly an hour to defend its local street. The neck-and-neck dog fight was captured on home security footage - and showed five bloodthirsty animals take on the one-year-old stray. 3 3 Now named Duke, the Labrador Retriever-German shepherd mix fought off the ravenous canines in suburban Los Angeles. The epic battle took place earlier this month in the early morning hours in Brea, California. Incredible footage shows the hostile pack of sinister coyotes surround the floppy-eared dog. They take nips at its heels, sides and face, before the fearless pup starts to fend off the attacks. The scheming coyotes back off slightly when the lionhearted dog starts to bark and bite back. Duke employs a range of techniques as he growls, bobs and swivels in response to the group assault. Displaying his primal instincts, the pup eventually stands with his back against shrubs to prevent any more flank attacks. The feral scavengers appear to struggle to land a proper hit on the pup as it defends itself effectively They then start to back off when they realise it is not the best idea to get within biting distance of their larger counterpart. The homeowners who caught the warring factions on camera only saw the standoff when they woke up and scared the whole gang off, according to KTLA. Forget 'Feed the Bear' - Celtic icon Roy Aitken is a dog whisperer now as he makes refuge appeal Homeowner Melissa Shatynski told the outlet: "He knew how to protect himself, and fight them off and kind of back into a corner against that little area there." She added: 'He was able to fight them off unbelievably.' Two days after the taking on the formidable foes, the brave stray pup was seen still wandering the neighbourhood alone. This compelled Shatynski to call Orange County Animal Care to get him taken to a shelter. Duke was up for adoption as of Thursday morning, but online records show he may already have found a new home. His description wrote: "Duke is a shy but friendly boy who loves hanging out with other dogs. "Once he warms up, he enjoys doing zoomies, playing in the pool, and engaging with his handlers." Cute footage posted by Orange County Animal Care showed Duke jumping around in a small pool and happily roughhousing with another dog. They excluded footage of the movie-like battle between courageous Duke and the five coyotes. Wildlife experts said that it is currently breeding season for coyotes - which means adults can become more aggressive while finding food for their young pups. This food can reportedly include dogs.
South China Morning Post
12-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
How did China's J-10C match up to French Rafale in India-Pakistan aerial clash?
Reports that France's advanced Rafale fighter jet came off second best against the China-made J-10C Vigorous Dragon in a dogfight between the Indian and Pakistan air forces on May 7 attracted global attention. Advertisement The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) claimed to have shot down multiple Indian Rafale jets during the aerial clash. If confirmed, it would be the first combat loss for the Dassault-made aircraft. More significantly, it would signal a victory for the Chinese military asset over the Nato-standard mainstay Western fighter in its first battlefield encounter. While Chinese maker Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group has put the J-10C on the international market at an estimated price of US$50 million each, so far Pakistan is the only operator of the jet outside China. In contrast, the Rafale's customers include Greece, Croatia, Egypt, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Last month, India signed a US$7.4 billion contract with France to add 26 more Rafales to its fleet. Advertisement Both the Rafale and J-10C are 4.5-generation fighters, which means they feature significant improvements on less-advanced aircraft but do not fully reach fifth-generation standard. The French fighter is widely considered to be one of the world's most capable aircraft in this class, but how does the J-10C compare?
The Sun
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
More than 100 Indian & Pakistani fighter jets ‘battled in massive dogfight in one biggest battles in modern warfare'
MORE than 100 Indian and Pakistani fighter jets reportedly clashed in a ferocious dogfight, marking one of the biggest aerial battles since World War Two. The hour-long showdown in the skies on Wednesday saw advanced Chinese and Western weapons go head-to-head for the first time. 11 The high-stakes engagement reportedly involved a staggering 125 warplanes as both sides hurled long-range missiles at each other from within their own airspace, according to CNN. Pakistani officials claimed five Indian jets were shot down using Chinese-made PL-15 missiles — though New Delhi has yet to confirm any losses. Salman Ali Bettani, an international relations scholar at Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad, told CNN: '(It) is now being characterized as the most intense air-to-air combat engagement between two nuclear-armed nations. 'The engagement represented a milestone in the operational use of advanced Chinese-origin systems.' If verified, the battle would eclipse any air combat seen in decades and lay bare the raw military might of the nuclear-armed neighbours— both now armed with some of the most advanced aircraft in the world. Pakistan reportedly deployed its Chinese-built J-10C jets, boasting that they had downed Indian Rafale fighters, while Indian pilots made repeated passes at targets. Neither side crossed the border, apparently wary of triggering a repeat of the 2019 incident where an Indian pilot was captured and paraded on Pakistani TV. But the fight is only part of a spiralling conflict between the two nations following a massacre in the Indian resort town of Pahalgam, where 26 civilians were gunned down last month. India blames Pakistan for the attack — a charge Islamabad denies. In response, India launched 'Operation Sindoor' on Wednesday, blitzing nine targets across Pakistan and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir. India 'launches airstrikes on Pakistan' in escalation between countries Among them was the headquarters of terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), where India claims to have killed Abdul Rauf Azhar — a top JeM commander and the man linked to the beheading of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in 2002. 'India has killed the brutal terrorist assassin Abdul Rauf Azhar, whose psychopathic beheading of Wall Street Journal journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002 we all remember,' said former US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad. 'Justice has been served.' Pakistan has yet to confirm his death. 11 11 Meanwhile, India accused Pakistan of using civilian planes as 'shields' during its air assault. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said: 'Pakistan launched an unprovoked aerial assault, targeting Indian territory with drones and missiles. 'But Pakistan did not close its civilian airspace, so that commercial flights would become shields against any counterstrike.' Indian officials also say they 'repulsed' a wave of Pakistani drone attacks overnight, and blasts were reported in Jammu as air raid sirens blared in several cities. Pakistan's army claims up to 50 Indian soldiers have been killed in response. Why are India and Pakistan enemies? DISPUTES between India and Pakistan over the region of Kashmir date back decades. The Muslim-majority territory was fought over in the aftermath of both countries' independence following the partition of India in 1947. War between India and Pakistan would break out again in 1965 - which ended in a ceasefire. Kashmir's control remains divided to this day, and tensions frequently flare up over the region. India also fought Pakistan wars in 1971 and 1999 - with the conflict in the 70s resulting the independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan. And the current conflict stems from how the region was split up as the two countries were gaining independence. Indian troops took two-thirds of Kashmir, while Pakistan seized the northern third. Since then, the row has developed into one of the most intense geopolitical rivalries on earth. There are about 16 million people in Kashmir, split between the Indian-controlled and Pakistani-controlled zones. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has vowed revenge, saying: 'I promise that we will take revenge for every drop of blood of these victims.' The Pakistani Defence Minister also issued a chilling nuclear warning: 'If they aggravate this then if a chance of war arises in which there is a sign of nuclear option being used on both sides, then the responsibility for that will be on India.' India struck back diplomatically, branding Pakistan the 'epicentre of global terrorism.' 11 11 11 11 Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said: 'I don't need to remind the audience where bin Laden was found.' The aerial battle has sparked alarm across the globe. US President Donald Trump said he is prepared to do 'anything to help,' while UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urged 'urgent dialogue' to avoid catastrophe. 'This isn't just a bilateral clash anymore; it's a glimpse of how Chinese defense exports are reshaping regional deterrence,' said Craig Singleton of the US-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Chinese defence stocks have surged since the battle, with shares in AVIC Chengdu Aircraft—maker of the J-10C—up 40% this week. Beijing, which supplies the bulk of Pakistan's weapons, has so far stayed quiet, saying only that it is 'not familiar with the situation.' Colonel Philip Ingram, a former British Army commander, previously told The Sun: 'Western intelligence in particular will be focused on the readiness and the outloading of nuclear stocks inside both Pakistan and India and monitoring what's happening to them very closely indeed.' The dogfight is now being compared to the most historic air battles in military history — drawing parallels with the Battle of Britain, the Battle of Kursk, and the 1973 Battle of El Mansoura. But with both sides boasting nuclear stockpiles — estimated at around 170 warheads each — the stakes today are infinitely higher. The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons said it is 'gravely concerned' by the escalation. Experts warn that if nuclear war erupts, it could kill as many as 125 million people. How nuclear war could kill 125 million? By James Halpin, Foreign News Reporter INDIA and Pakistan are being urged to step back from armageddon as a nuclear war between the two rivals could kill 125million people. The fighting neighbours traded rocket and artillery attacks in an overnight blitz leaving dozens dead and fears of all-out conflict. Now, fears are abound that fighting could escalate to the use of nuclear weapons and kill tens of millions. Peace campaigners like the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons are "gravely concerned" and have called for the two sides to step back from the brink. And Colonel Philip Ingram, a former British Army commander, said the West will be particularly nervous about a nuclear conflict. Ingram told The Sun: "Western intelligence in particular will be focused on the readiness and the outloading of nuclear stocks inside both Pakistan and India and monitoring what's happening to them very closely indeed. "The worrying thing about these two nations is that the tensions are very real. "The nuclear weapons are not there to protect them against attack from China or Russia or anyone else. It's focused purely on each other." Ingram said escalation to using nuclear weapons could happen rapidly and powers like the US would step in to try and prevent their use. He said: "The US Secretary of State, flying into India and Pakistan, would carry out shuttle diplomacy between the two." But that might not be enough to overcome the animosity between the two enemies and their desire to escalate the conflict. Xiaodon Liang, a Senior Policy Analyst, Nuclear Weapons Policy and Disarmament, at Arms Control Association also said the primary concern should be the possibility of a battlefield use escalating to "strategic nuclear exchanges". Liang said: "Pakistan has made very clear that it will use nuclear weapons to prevent a full-scale Indian invasion of its territory, and the potential for uncontrollable escalation is part of what makes every crisis between India and Pakistan particularly dangerous."
Japan Times
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Global militaries to study India-Pakistan fighter jet battle
A dogfight between Chinese-made Pakistani jets and French-made Indian Rafale fighters will be closely scrutinized by militaries seeking insights that could offer an edge in future conflicts. A Chinese-made Pakistani fighter plane shot down at least two Indian military aircraft on Wednesday, two U.S. officials said, marking a potential milestone for Beijing's advanced fighter jet. The aerial clash is a rare opportunity for militaries to study the performance of pilots, fighter jets and air-to-air missiles in active combat, and use that knowledge to prepare their own air forces for battle. Experts said the live use of advanced weapons would be analyzed across the world, including in China and the United States, which are both preparing for a potential conflict over Taiwan or in the wider Indo-Pacific region. One U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there was high confidence that Pakistan had used the Chinese-made J-10 aircraft to launch air-to-air missiles against Indian fighter jets. Social media posts focused on the performance of China's PL-15 air-to-air missile against the Meteor, a radar-guided air-to-air missile produced by European group MBDA . There has been no official confirmation these weapons were used. "Air warfare communities in China, the U.S. and a number of European countries will be extremely interested to try and get as much ground truth as they can on tactics, techniques, procedures, what kit was used, what worked and what didn't," said Douglas Barrie, senior fellow for military aerospace at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. "You have arguably China's most capable weapon against the West's most capable weapon, if indeed it was being carried; we don't know that," Barrie said. The French and Americans would likely be hoping for similar intelligence from India, Barrie said. "The PL-15 is a big problem. It is something that the U.S. military pays a lot of attention to," a defense industry executive said. Rafale manufacturer Dassault Aviation declined comment and the MBDA consortium, could not immediately be reached for comment on a French public holiday. Western analysts and industry sources said crucial details remained unclear including whether the Meteor was carried and the type and amount of training the pilots had received. Arms firms would also be anxious to separate technical performance from operational factors, analysts said. "There will be audits of what works and what doesn't work, but I think the other overlay is the proverbial fog of war," said Byron Callan, a Washington-based defense expert and managing partner of Capital Alpha Partners. U.S. arms companies are getting constant feedback about how their products are working in the war in Ukraine, he said. "So I absolutely expect the same to be the case with India's European suppliers, and Pakistan and China are probably sharing the same feedback. If the PL-15 is working as advertised or better than expected, the Chinese would like to hear that." A defense industry source from a Western country operating the Meteor said an online picture of a seeker appeared to feature the component of a missile that had missed its target. There are conflicting reports on whether Pakistan has the domestic version of the PL-15 from the PLAAF, China's air force, or the shorter-range export version publicly unveiled in 2021. Barrie, who has written extensively on the missile, said he believed that Pakistan most likely has the export version. A Western industry source dismissed claims that the rocket-powered PL-15 had longer range than the air-breathing Meteor but acknowledged that its capability "may be greater than was thought." The Meteor's range has not been officially published. "At the moment it's not possible to judge anything. We know so little," the industry source said. The PL-15's range and performance have been a focus of Western interest for years. Its emergence was seen as one of many signals that China had moved well beyond reliance on Soviet-era derivative technology. The United States is developing the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile via Lockheed Martin partly in response to the PL-15 and its beyond-visual-range performance — part of a broader reset of Western priorities toward China. European nations are exploring a mid-life upgrade for Meteor, which specialist publication Janes says could involve propulsion and guidance, but analysts say progress has been slow. U.S. President Donald Trump in March awarded Boeing the contract to build the U.S. Air Force's most sophisticated fighter jet yet, which would likely include stealth, advanced sensors and cutting-edge engines.
South China Morning Post
09-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
India-Pakistan clash to give insights on performance of Chinese jets, European arms
A dogfight between Chinese-made Pakistani jets and French-made Indian Rafale fighters will be closely scrutinised by militaries seeking insights that could offer an edge in future conflicts. Advertisement A Chinese-made Pakistani fighter plane shot down at least two Indian military aircraft on Wednesday, two US officials said, marking a potential major milestone for Beijing's advanced fighter jet. The aerial clash is a rare opportunity for militaries to study the performance of pilots, fighter jets and air-to-air missiles in active combat, and use that knowledge to prepare their own air forces for battle. Experts said the live use of advanced weapons would be analysed across the world, including in mainland China and the United States which are both preparing for a potential conflict over Taiwan or in the wider Indo-Pacific region. One US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there was high confidence that Pakistan had used the Chinese-made J-10 aircraft to launch air-to-air missiles against Indian fighter jets. Advertisement Social media posts focused on the performance of China's PL-15 air-to-air missile against the Meteor, a radar-guided air-to-air missile produced by European group MBDA. There has been no official confirmation these weapons were used.
