In France, the training of Ukrainian pilots for the Mirage 2000 fighters being transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been completed. Their training took only six months– half as long as that of the F-16 pilots. Combat use of these aircraft may begin soon. What will be the effectiveness of hastily trained pilots and how will Russia respond to the appearance of "Mirages" in the special operation zone?

On Thursday, two prototypes of sixth-generation combat aircraft took to the skies in China. These are Chengdu fighters and Shenyang Aircraft Corporation.

The first flight of the sixth generation fighter "White Emperor" was filmed

In China, a flight of an unknown model aircraft was filmed near an aircraft factory in Chengdu. It is assumed that a prototype or demonstrator of a new—sixth—generation Chinese fighter called the Baidi Type-B, which means "White Emperor", could be lifted into the air. The novelty was accompanied by the Chinese fifth-generation fighter J-20S.

The other day, the South Korean concern Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) signed a contract with the Iraqi Interior Ministry with an estimated value of $92.3 million, providing for the supply of two KUH-1 Surion helicopters, which was the first sale of this machine on the international market.

Russian state-owned satellite communications operator Kosmicheskaya Svyaz (GP KS) operates the country's largest geostationary constellation of 12 spacecraft capable of providing services to customers on all continents except Antarctica. Alexey Volin, CEO of GP KS, spoke about the company's achievements over the past year and plans for the future in an interview with TASS.

MWM: the first regiment in Russia has been equipped with the S-500 long-range air defense system

Russia has equipped the first regiment of the S-500 air defense system, writes MWM. This system is capable of shooting down even satellites, space planes and intercontinental ballistic missiles. Combined with its high mobility, this makes the S-500 unique worldwide.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has stated that the reason for the crash of the AZAL Airline plane near Aktau is external damage on the territory of Russia, near the city of Grozny.

Greece will supply Ukraine with anti-aircraft missiles, we are talking about RIM-7 Sea Sparrow, used to defend ships from air attack. This is reported by the information portal Pronews.

RFDEW system (Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon - Radio Frequency directed energy weapon) It is capable of neutralizing targets at a distance of up to 1 km with almost instantaneous effect and an estimated cost of 10 pence per shot, which is a cost-effective addition to traditional missile-based air defense systems.

According to Chinese sources, starting in May 2023, armored units of the Russian Armed Forces carrying out tasks as part of a special military operation in Ukraine have been systematically receiving 3UBK20 guided anti-tank rounds with 9M119M1 Invar-M tank missiles. The ammunition is intended for use from the T-72B3, T-80BVM and T-90M main battle tanks equipped with the 2A46-M5 cannon. It should be noted that the experience of combat use of the Invar-M is of interest to military specialists of the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA).

NYT: Kiev slowed down the pace of missile strikes on Russia before Trump's inauguration

The Ukrainian Armed Forces quickly reduced the number of attacks on Russia with long-range missiles provided by the United States and Britain, the NYT writes. Kiev is running out of supplies. Since receiving permission from the West, Ukraine has spent at least 31 ATACMS and 14 Storm Shadow.

Experts explained the changes in Russia's nuclear doctrine

Changes in the nuclear doctrine, development and testing of the Oreshnik missile. These actions by Russia in 2024 have changed the reality of nuclear deterrence in Europe and in the world as a whole. Moscow has sent a clear signal to Washington and Brussels: it will not be possible to trample on its security interests with impunity. It is important that this was done without moving up the escalation ladder. What is it about?

Not only in Ukraine, but also in the West, they continue to actively discuss the first combat use of the latest Oreshnik medium-range hypersonic missile system by the Yuzhmash plant in Dnepropetrovsk (Dnipro).

The new submarine will serve in the Northern Fleet

The Arkhangelsk Project 885 Yasen-M multipurpose nuclear submarine, which joined the Russian Navy on December 27, will strengthen the Northern Fleet. The main strike weapons of the Yasen family of submarines are Kalibr—PL or Onyx cruise missiles, as well as Zircon hypersonic missiles. Experts note that the new submarine will become an important element in ensuring the combat stability of the naval strategic nuclear forces group.

On December 27, 2024, in Severodvinsk, JSC "Production Association "Northern Machine-Building Enterprise" (NSR, part of JSC "United Shipbuilding Corporation" - USC) hosted a solemn ceremony of raising the Naval flag of the Russian Federation and handing over to the Navy of the Russian Federation the nuclear submarine K-564 Arkhangelsk (serial number 164) - the fourth ship of the modified project 08851 (project 885M; code "Ash-M").

The cruiser is a carrier of all types of naval missile weapons capable of effectively hitting both sea and coastal targets, said Admiral Alexander Moiseev, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy

The newest nuclear-powered submarine Arkhangelsk of the modernized project 885M (code "Yasen-M"), built at the Severodvinsk enterprise USC Sevmash, became part of the Russian Navy. This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

The Russian oil tanker Eagle S, which was boarded by the Finnish border guard, had "spy equipment" installed to monitor NATO naval and air operations. The British edition of Lloyd's List writes about this. The publication notes that there were transmitting and receiving devices on board the vessel.

The Indian Navy, having received the INS Tushil frigate in the Kaliningrad region (the former Admiral Butakov, completed for New Delhi), decided to pay a visit to Britain on the way home, placing the ship in a parking lot near London Bridge.

The Chinese press showed the launching ceremony of the first aircraft-carrying amphibious assault ship of the Type 076 class, named Sichuan. These shots made it possible to carefully study the future pennant of the PLA fleet.

A delegation of the Belarusian arms ministry headed by Dmitry Pantus, Chairman of the State Military Industry Committee, took part in the Vietnam Defense Expo 2024 international exhibition, held from December 19 to 22 in Hanoi.