Latest news with #F-16Viper
NDTV
19-05-2025
- NDTV
Swarm Of Unidentified Objects Seen Near US Military Sites: Report
An unidentified flying object struck a US Air Force F-16 fighter jet during a training mission over Arizona last year, damaging the aircraft and prompting concerns about a surge in mysterious aerial activity near American military sites, the New York Post reported. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) documents, first reported by The War Zone, the incident occurred in January 2023 when an "orange-white" uncrewed aerial system (UAS) collided mid-air with the canopy of a $63 million F-16 Viper, forcing it to be grounded. The term UAS typically refers to drones, though the object remains unidentified. The incident is one of several unexplained aerial encounters reported near US Air Force training zones in Arizona since 2020. A day after the fighter jet incident, three more UAS encounters were flagged in the same region, highlighting the frequency and unusual nature of these sightings. Former Pentagon investigator Luis Elizondo told News Nation that reports of unidentified aerial activity have spiked near Arizona's southern border. "There's been a lot of activity, a lot of people reporting a lot of things," he said. The FAA confirmed that it logs sightings of "Unidentified Aerial Phenomena" (UAP) when pilots report them to air traffic control. If corroborated with radar or other evidence, the data is shared with the US Department of Defence's All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office - the agency handling such national security cases. Between May 2023 and June 2024, the office received 757 such reports, with only 49 cases marked "closed" so far. Many of the objects spotted near Arizona's military ranges appear in small swarms, sometimes in groups of eight, flying at high altitudes. Some US officials, including former Customs and Border Protection advisor Ron Vitiello, suspect these could be advanced drones operated by foreign cartels for smuggling or surveillance. "There's a possibility they're using cutting-edge technology we're not familiar with," Vitiello said, noting that cartel-funded drone systems have been used to smuggle drugs weighing up to 10 kilograms across the US-Mexico border. "These groups have the resources to innovate constantly. That's part of their business model," he added. The incidents come amid heightened scrutiny over aerial intrusions, following high-profile events like the Chinese spy balloon sighting in 2023.
New York Post
18-05-2025
- New York Post
UFO striking fighter jet is among swarm of mystery objects spotted near US military sites: reports
A UFO that struck and damaged a US fighter jet is just one of a swarm of mystery objects buzzing around Air Force training ranges in Arizona, according to multiple reports. One of the unidentified flying objects hit the clear bubble 'canopy' over the head of a pilot in a $63 million F-16 Viper jet in January 2023, damaging it and temporarily grounding the plane, according to Federal Aviation Administration documents first reported by The War Zone. Advertisement 3 A pair of F-35A Joint Strike Fighters assigned to the US Air Force's 56th Fighter Wing appear in flight. USAF The military jet was struck mid-air by 'an orange-white UAS,' or 'Uncrewed Aerial System,' the FAA documents said. The term refers to drones. Three more UAS encounters were flagged a day later, the outlet reported. Advertisement 'What I can tell you is that there has been a lot of activity, a lot of people reporting a lot of things out of Arizona, particularly on the border' with Mexico, former Pentagon investigator Luis Elizondo told News Nation this month. The FAA told The Post in a statement that the agency 'documents Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) sightings whenever a pilot reports one to an air traffic control facility. 'If supporting information such as radar data corroborates the report, the FAA shares it with the UAP Task Force. The Department of Defense All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office serves as the centralized clearing house for UAP reporting impacting national security or safety.' 3 A map shows designated restricted airspace (outlined in red) and military operation areas (outlined in purple) used for military training in Arizona and neighboring states. DOD Advertisement The government filed 757 such reports between May 2023 and June 2024 — 708 of which took place in the air — with only 49 marked 'case closed' in the latest report issued by the 'Anomaly Resolution Office.' The small unidentified objects spotted in Arizona are known to fly in groups of up to eight and are sometimes characterized as drones, according to The War Zone, which noted the incidents took place at high altitudes in or near military air combat training sites since January 2020. Drones and other flying objects such as the Chinese spy balloon in 2023 are 'clearly being passed through multiple U.S. military reporting streams,' the outlet added. 3 An F-16 Fighting Falcon, or Viper, lands at Kleine Brogel Air Base EBBL in Belgium. NurPhoto via Getty Images Advertisement Some US officials, including Ron Vitiello, a senior adviser for US Customs and Border Protection, hypothesize that the mysterious flying objects could be drones used by foreign cartels for spying or smuggling drugs. The cartel has used the technology – which is difficult to track – to move up to 10 kilograms of drugs at a time, News Nation reported. Vitiello told 'News Nation Prime' earlier this month that 'unlimited funding' from cartels could explain the impressive 'cutting-edge' technology never seen before. 'Maybe they've got technology that we're not used to seeing in the drone space,' Vitello said. 'That's part of their business model, to always be able to iterate and innovate, so that they can continue to sell their poison into the United States.'
New York Post
18-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
New UFO fears after potential sightings over Arizona
Score one for the aliens. A United States F-16 Viper combat jet has been damaged after being struck by an 'unidentified aerial phenomenon.' Advertisement It comes amid a fresh uptick in the number of strange flying objects being sighted over the southern US border state of Arizona. The News Nation media service reports seeing Federal Aviation Authority documents confirming 'numerous encounters' with strange craft. One reportedly struck the perspex canopy of a $100 million (US) F-16 fighter, causing the aircraft to be grounded for repairs. 8 A United States F-16 Viper combat jet was damaged after being struck by an 'unidentified aerial phenomenon'. Getty Images These aren't UFOS (Unidentified Flying Objects). Advertisement Instead, they are UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena). So what's in a name? 8 3d rendering metal ufo or alien spaceship in the sky. phonlamaiphoto – Arizona shares extensive military testing grounds with neighboring Nevada – home to the secretive Area 51 testing facility that has been associated with otherworldly flying saucers for decades. Advertisement But it also borders Mexico. That is the focus of fresh invasion fears. President Donald Trump has invoked the Alien Enemy Act of 1798 in response to a 'predatory incursion' of the United States. Not the murderous alien Predators of Arnold Schwarzenegger fame, but the fundamentally human need to seek safety and security – or a quick buck. Advertisement Now, defense analysts are linking an uptick in the region's long history of alien invasion scares to a surge in the use of cross-border drug-smuggling drones. Something in the air 'There has been a lot of activity, particularly on the Arizona border. A lot of people are reporting a lot of things,' former director of the Pentagon's Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), Luis Elizondo, told News Nation. 8 Nighttime drone sightings over Morris and Somerset counties in New Jersey. @MendhamMike via Storyful One incident flared across local headlines in November. Strange lights were seen in the night sky above Bullhead City. Footage quickly went viral on TikTok. Despite being linked to the headlights of off-road vehicles driving through nearby hills, the incident has further fueled the state's reputation as an alien sightseeing destination. 8 New Jersey Drone Video submitted by an NY Post reader on Dec 13, 2024. Obtained by NY Post In 1997, photos of a V-shaped formation dubbed the 'Phoenix Lights' attracted global attention. Advertisement Few accepted the US Air Force's explanation that it was a group of A-10 'Tankbuster' aircraft practicing formation-flying with their night-lights on. Another incident, this time in 2011, convinced locals that the aliens had returned. Again, the explanation that the Arizona Skyhawks skydiving team was carrying high-intensity flares to kick off a nearby football match didn't appeal. 8 Defense analysts are linking an uptick in the region's long history of alien invasion scares to a surge in the use of cross-border drug-smuggling drones. Sasa Kadrijevic – Advertisement But now, the FAA documents suggest US Air Force pilots are adding to Arizona's collection of inexplicable sightings. At least until they're explained. Border patrols have been intensified in recent years and one of President Trump's first acts was to order 6000 extra troops into the region, supported by armored personnel carriers, surveillance aircraft, combat helicopters and two navy destroyers. Combined with intensified border police checks and patrols, this is making it more challenging for Mexico's cartels to feed America's illegal narcotics addiction. Advertisement 8 A 2011 incident convinced locals in Arizona that the aliens had returned. merlin74 – Evidence suggests they're turning to a new generation of large drones to haul their deadly cargo directly to market. Dones being used as delivery mules isn't exactly new. US authorities have been documenting seizures of small craft carrying about 11 to 22 pounds for more than a decade. But technologies developed for the likes of Amazon to deliver large parcels across an urban landscape are being adapted for the drug trade. Advertisement 8 Arizona has a reputation for being an alien sightseeing destination. vchalup – That means they're flying higher and further than ever before. The truth is out there New research from the Manchester Metropolitan University and Liverpool John Moores University has examined the tendency for people to attribute unexplained events to paranormal or extraterrestrial events. 'When faced with events we cannot control, our minds look for patterns and explanations,' the study's authors write. President Trump's new administration came to power, insisting it would tackle the UFO issue once and for all. And White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt did so in one of her first public appearances. She addressed last year's spate of strange lights in the sky in the American Northeast. They were not aliens. They weren't even Iranian drones. They were, she said, normal aircraft flying normal routes at normal times. It's just that people had suddenly started paying attention to them. 'In time, it got worse, due to curiosity. This was not the enemy,' she explained. Now, the Trump Administration has moved to shut down a secret FBI office dedicated to investigating 'unidentified anomalous phenomena''. 8 White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the strange lights in the American Northeast sky, attributing them to aircraft flying on normal routes. UPI It had been public knowledge for decades that the Pentagon had been running the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) to examine strange sightings. But the FBI had never admitted – before announcing it was about to be shut down – that this team existed. Questions, however, remain unanswered. Tennessee Republican Representative Tim Burchett wants to know more. He's told the US Congress that extraterrestrial craft are operating from secret undersea bases. 'I haven't been briefed on this, just from what I'm putting together, but we have some secret sonar … (They) tell me something's moving at hundreds of miles an hour underwater … and this one was as large as a football field underwater, and this was a documented case, and I have an admiral telling me this stuff,' he told One America News. The research psychologists say it's a natural tendency for people to turn to paranormal and conspiracy-theory beliefs in order to deal with anxiety. 'Realising that life is unpredictable and has an end can be unsettling,' they write. 'Supernatural beliefs provide comfort by suggesting that a higher power controls human destiny.' The illegal immigration crisis, the militarization of the border – and increased military training and experimentation in the face of increasing global aggression – all converge on Arizona. That may help explain why every light in the sky is suddenly a UFO or UAP. 'Instead of dismissing such beliefs, it is important to recognise their emotional and personal significance,' the psychologists conclude. 'Particularly, how beliefs shape people's perspectives and coping mechanisms. 'While they may not align with logic or evidence, the comfort they afford is deeply meaningful to those who hold them.'
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Ukraine Situation Report: Third F-16 Viper Lost
A Ukrainian F-16 Viper pilot repelling Russian air attacks ejected before his donated aircraft crashed, the Ukrainian Air Force said Friday. The incident took place about 3:30 a.m. local time. 'According to preliminary data, the pilot destroyed three air targets and was working on the fourth, using an aircraft cannon,' the Ukrainian Air Force stated on Telegram. 'However, an emergency situation arose on board. The pilot took the plane away from the settlement and successfully ejected.' Ukraine has lost an F-16. The Ukrainian pilot took down 3 enemy targets and was firing at a 4th when a critical malfunction hit. He steered the jet away from a populated area — then ejected.#F16 — Iuliia Mendel (@IuliiaMendel) May 16, 2025 The nature of the emergency remains unclear. 'Thanks to the prompt work of the search and rescue team, the pilot was quickly found and evacuated,' the Air Force added. 'The pilot's well-being is satisfactory, he is in a safe place, his life and health are not in danger. A commission has been appointed to objectively clarify all the circumstances, and it has already begun work.' Ukraine lost another F-16 last night, the Air Force confirms. Around 03:30 on May 16, contact was lost during a combat mission. The pilot destroyed 3 targets and ejected safely — his life is not in danger. — NOELREPORTS (@NOELreports) May 16, 2025 While we don't yet know what caused the crash, firing a fighter's gun against small and possibly slow-moving targets — such as cruise missiles and drones — is far more dangerous than many realize, a topic we have discussed frequently in the past. Flying into the target is a real risk, among other factors. This is especially true at night. From an earlier story: 'The speed and engagement dynamics involved can result in controlled flight into the ground below as well as ramming into the very object you are trying to shoot down. There is also the danger of the grenade-like cannon rounds impacting the ground below over a relatively wide area, potentially killing innocent people. Doing it at night is a whole other level of danger.' For Ukraine, this is at least the third loss of a Viper. In April, Ukrainian F-16 pilot Pavlo Ivanov, 26, 'was killed in battle defending his native land from the invaders,' the Ukrainian Air Force stated at the time. 'All the circumstances of the tragedy are established by the interdepartmental commission, which has already begun its work.' In August 2024, F-16 pilot Oleksiy Mes died during Russia's largest aerial barrage of the war. Before his F-16 went down, Mes, who went by the call sign 'Moonfish,' shot down three Russian cruise missiles and a one-way attack drone, Ukrainian Air Force Command West said on Facebook at the time. Ukraine has lost an F-16. The Ukrainian pilot took down 3 enemy targets and was firing at a 4th when a critical malfunction hit. He steered the jet away from a populated area — then ejected.#F16 — Iuliia Mendel (@IuliiaMendel) May 16, 2025 In all, around 85 operational F-16s have now been promised to Ukraine. That total includes 24 from the Netherlands, 19 from Denmark, and 12 from Norway (with the same country providing 10 more that will be used for spare parts), while Belgium says it will supply 30. Of this grand total, it should be noted that at least some of the jets are not being sent to Ukraine but are instead being used for training Ukrainian pilots, primarily at the European F-16 Training Center (EFTC) in Romania. The U.S. is now donating airframes it says are not airworthy, which you can read more about here. On the battlefield, Ukraine continues to fight inside Russia's Belgorod and Kursk regions while fending off increasing Russian attacks and bracing for a looming large-scale summer offensive. Here are the latest takeaways from the Institute for the Study of War's l(ISW) latest assessment. Kursk: Fighting continued in Kursk Oblast on May 14 and 15. Russian milbloggers claimed that fighting is still ongoing in Tetkino and near Novyi Put (both southwest of Glushkovo). Belgorod: Russian forces continued limited attacks in northwestern Belgorod Oblast but did not make confirmed advances. Sumy: Russian forces continued offensive operations in northern Sumy Oblast on May 15 but did not make confirmed advances. Kharkiv: Russian forces continued offensive operations in northern Kharkiv Oblast on May 15 but did not advance. Luhansk: Russian forces recently advanced in the Lyman direction, however, they made no progress toward Borova or Kupiansk. Donetsk: Russian forces advanced toward Novopavlivka, Toretsk and Velyka Novosilka but made no progress toward Chasiv Yar, Kurahkove, Pokrovsk or Siversk. Zaporizhia: Russian forces continued offensive operations in western Zaporizhia Oblast on May 15 but did not advance. Kherson: Russian forces continued attacks in the Kherson direction on May 15 but did not make confirmed advances. NEW: Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's invitation to engage in bilateral negotiations in Istanbul and continues refusing to offer concessions to end the war in Ukraine. (1/2)The Russian delegation in Istanbul does not include… — Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) May 15, 2025 Ukraine is bracing for what could be a large-scale Russian summer offensive. 'Russia is amassing forces on the frontlines for a possible new offensive intended to capture more Ukrainian territory,' CNN reported, citing 'two US officials with knowledge of the latest U.S. assessments. Russian commanders 'aspire to generate a big force,' the first U.S. official told the network, adding that the likely offensive is focused on gaining more ground in eastern Ukraine. 'Putin will attempt to take whatever land he can get right up to the outskirts of Kyiv,' the second U.S. official said. 'The Russians are going to make every effort to get what they can.' While in Turkey, 'Zelensky stated that the Russian army has been conducting an offensive for several months, with the Sumy sector as the primary direction, where 67,000 troops have been concentrated,' Ukrinform reported. Russia has launched an offensive against Ukraine along the entire front line, – Zelensky — Slava (@Heroiam_Slava) May 15, 2025 Adding to Ukraine's concerns, Putin has appointed Colonel General Andrey Mordvichev, who led the assault on Mariupol in 2022, as the Commander of the Russian Ground Forces, the Kyiv Independent reported, citing Russian state-controlled media. 'The appointment comes amid media reports claiming that Russia is preparing a major new offensive in Ukraine despite ongoing peace efforts led by the U.S.,' the publication explained. 'Mordvichev was a commander of the 8th Guards Combined Arms Army of Russia's Southern Military District, which was heavily involved in the devastating 2022 siege of Mariupol which killed tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians, according to Kyiv.' The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said that while stationed in Mariupol in September 2022, 'Mordvichev reportedly met with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov to approve plans for the final assault on the city, including the encirclement and storming of Azovstal, where Ukrainian troops and civilians were sheltering,' the publication continued. 'Under Mordvichev's command, Russian troops carried out the destruction of civilian infrastructure and committed atrocities against both civilians and the Ukrainian military, the SBU said.' SBU 'also found that Mordvichev has been directly involved in other areas of Russia's full-scale invasion, including the coordination of Russian forces in the Donetsk Oblast,' the Kyiv Independent continued. 'It was also reported that Putin personally praised him and awarded him the title of Hero of Russia for the capture of Avdiivka on March 28, 2024.' Russia Isn't Preparing for Peace — It's Upgrading Its Army for a Massive Summer OffensiveWhile the world's attention is glued to Istanbul, Moscow is quietly reshuffling its military leadership — and not for has just appointed Colonel General Andrei Mordvichev as… — Devana (@DevanaUkraine) May 16, 2025 Even as it had negotiators in Istanbul, Russia launched several attacks on Ukrainian cities. Three people were injured in a Russian UAV attack in the Odesa region. Private houses, outbuildings and a garage were destroyed. In Kupyansk, Russians killed a 55-year-old woman with an FPV drone. Four more men were injured, three of them hospitalized. — The Ukrainian Review (@UkrReview) May 16, 2025 The first direct peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in three years ended with scant discernible progress made toward ending the war. The talks in Istanbul lasted less than two hours. However, the two sides did agree to swap prisoners. 'A Ukrainian source with knowledge of the negotiations said the Russian delegation 'did not have a mandate to make important decisions'' CNN reported. 'They are not ready to decide anything meaningful to end the war,' the source told the network. Today's Russian-Ukrainian peace talks concluded after around 2 hours. The head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, says they agreed on another major swap of prisoners; Ukrainians asked for direct talks b/w Zelenskiy and Putin and … not much else, it looks like. — Mike Eckel (@Mike_Eckel) May 16, 2025 Russia 'voiced a number of things which we deem unacceptable' during Friday's talks, the Ukrainian foreign minister's spokesperson, Heorhii Tykhyi, told reporters in Istanbul, the network explained. He added that Ukraine's delegation 'handled it in a calm manner … still staying with our line.' Tykhyi 'did not expand on what those unacceptable things were,' CNN noted. He added that the Ukrainian delegation 'was ready to have a ceasefire agreed today,' but this might not have been achievable because Russia's low-level delegation 'probably has [a] limited mandate.' 'The chasm between the two sides was quickly apparent, according to the Ukrainian source who told Reuters that Russia's demands were 'detached from reality and go far beyond anything that was previously discussed,'' Reuters reported. 'No agreement was reached concerning a full 30-day ceasefire and Moscow reportedly demanded Kyiv withdraw from four regions Russia invaded,' according to Euronews. 'Ukrainian media reported these four regions were Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson – none of which Russia fully controls.' 'According to both delegations, the two sides agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each – the largest such swap since the war began,' Euronews added. It seems the delegation at the Istanbul talks only had a mandate to repeat their hardline April 2022 demands with the addition of the four regions that Putin wants to get hold of. You would need a microscope to search for any sign of readiness for peace – and probably… — Carl Bildt (@carlbildt) May 16, 2025 Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the two sides agreed in principle to meet again. Bugün, dünya barışı için önemli bir gündü. Yoğun diplomatik çabalar sonucunda, Rusya ve Ukrayna heyetleri İstanbul'da, Türkiye'nin kolaylaştırıcılığında bir görüşme gerçekleştirdiler. Toplantının neticesinde, güven artırıcı bir önlem olarak her iki ülkeden biner kişinin… — Hakan Fidan (@HakanFidan) May 16, 2025 French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday European nations were coordinating with Washington on additional sanctions against Russia, should it continue to refuse an 'unconditional ceasefire' with Ukraine, Barrons reported. 'We are continuing to prepare new sanctions in coordination with the United States,' Macron told reporters at a leaders' meeting in Albania, after Kyiv-Moscow talks in Istanbul ended without a breakthrough. #BREAKING Europe preparing new Russia sanctions 'in coordination' with US: Macron — AFP News Agency (@AFP) May 16, 2025 Expectations for the meeting were low after Russian President Vladimir Putin opted to stay home, instead sending a fairly low-level negotiating team. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who had been in Turkey, said he would meet Putin there. That never transpired. After the talks concluded, Zelensky said he and the leaders of France, Germany, the U.K. and Poland discussed the meeting with Trump and called for more sanctions against Russia. 'Ukraine is ready to take the fastest possible steps to bring real peace, and it is important that the world holds a strong stance,' Zelensky wrote on X. 'Our position — if the Russians reject a full and unconditional ceasefire and an end to killings, tough sanctions must follow. Pressure on Russia must be maintained until Russia is ready to end the war.' Spoke with @POTUS together with President Macron, Federal Chancellor Merz, Prime Ministers Starmer and Tusk. We discussed the meeting in is ready to take the fastest possible steps to bring real peace, and it is important that the world holds a strong stance.… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 16, 2025 The head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, said his nation was prepared to wage war for years, according to a tweet from The Economist reporter Oliver Carroll. 'We don't want war, but we're ready to fight for a year, two, three—however long it takes,' Medinsky said, according to Carroll, who cited a well-placed source. 'We fought Sweden for 21 years. How long are you ready to fight?' Have an inside view into the Russia-UA talks from a well-placed source. This from Ru delegation head Medinsky says it all: 'We don't want war, but we're ready to fight for a year, two, three—however long it takes. We fought Sweden for 21 years. How long are you ready to fight?' — Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) May 16, 2025 Prior to the Ukraine-Russia talks, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Ukrainian Defense Minister Andrii Yermak, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Istanbul. 'The three delegations discussed the importance of seeking a peaceful end to the Russia-Ukraine war,' State spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a short statement. 'The Secretary noted today's direct talks between Russia and Ukraine while reiterating the U.S. position that the killing needs to stop. Secretary Rubio also thanked Foreign Minister Fidan for hosting these important discussions.' 'Killing Needs To Stop,' Rubio Says Ahead Of Direct Russia-Ukraine Talks — Bohdan Nahaylo (@BohdanNahaylo) May 16, 2025 Also ahead of the bilateral talks, the Ukrainian leader said his 'number one priority is a full, unconditional and honest ceasefire.' I addressed the European Political Community Summit. This week, we had a real chance to move toward ending the war — if only Putin hadn't been afraid to come to Türkiye. I was there ready for a direct meeting with him to resolve all key issues. He didn't agree to anything. — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 16, 2025 Trump said Friday that he's working to set up direct talks with Putin as soon as he can. 'I think it's time for us to just do it,' Trump told reporters as he wrapped a four-day visit to the Middle East. Later, he told reporters on Air Force One that he might call Putin soon. 'He and I will meet, and I think we'll solve it or maybe not,' Trump stated. 'At least we'll know. And if we don't solve it, it'll be very interesting.' "I think we will solve this problem, and maybe not, but at least we will know. And if we don't solve it, then it will be very interesting," says US President — UNITED24 Media (@United24media) May 16, 2025 Trump had previously told reporters that 'nothing's going to happen until Putin and I get together.' President Trump: "Nothing is going to happen until Putin and I get together." — CSPAN (@cspan) May 15, 2025 The U.S. president also said that because he wasn't going to Istanbul, Putin wasn't either. Putin won't go to Istanbul because Trump won't go. And Trump won't go because… he never planned to. But he could—if needed.…Modern geopolitics: 'You hang up first.' 'No, you hang up first.' 'No, you.' — Maria Drutska (@maria_drutska) May 15, 2025 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov blasted Zelensky, calling Ukraine's president 'a miserable person' for 'demanding' that Putin show up in Istanbul. Zelensky is a "miserable person" for demanding Putin's presence in Istanbul, — said Sergey Lavrov"He runs around demanding a face-to-face meeting. His senior comrades had to explain to him that he shouldn't behave so foolishly, but actually negotiate," the Russian Foreign… — NEXTA (@nexta_tv) May 15, 2025 Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink spoke out for the first time about why she resigned from the position over Trump's approach to the war. 'I could no longer in good faith carry out the administration's policy and felt it was my duty to step down,' she wrote in an opinion piece for her hometown Detroit Free Press. After nearly three decades serving our country, I resigned as our ambassador to Ukraine.' 'I cannot stand by while a country is invaded, a democracy bombarded, and children killed with impunity,' she added. 'I believe that the only way to secure U.S. interests is to stand up for democracies and to stand against autocrats. Peace at any price is not peace at all ― it is appeasement. And history has taught us time and again that appeasement does not lead to safety, security or prosperity. It leads to more war and suffering.' Former US ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink has spoken out for the first time since she resigned in protest of Trump's policy towards Kyiv. She writes in her home state paper, "Unfortunately, the policy since the beginning of the Trump administration has been to put pressure on… — Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) May 16, 2025 Financial Times says it has 'uncovered how hundreds of millions of dollars Kyiv paid to foreign arms intermediaries to secure vital military equipment has gone to waste over the past three years of war.' The publication explained that its investigation was 'based on leaked Ukrainian state documents, court filings and dozens of interviews with procurement officials, weapons dealers and manufacturers, and detectives.' 'To date, Ukraine has paid out $770mn in advance to foreign arms brokers for weapons and ammunition that have not been delivered, according to figures from Ukraine's Ministry of Defence, as well as documents seen by the FT,' the publication reported. 'This represents a significant chunk of Ukraine's annual $6bn-$8bn weapons budget spent from its own state funds since the start of the invasion. At the same time, some foreign arms companies say they have been the victims of infighting and corruption by Ukrainian officials and state weapons brokers, which may account for some of the missing millions.' A Financial Times investigation has uncovered how hundreds of millions of dollars Kyiv paid to foreign arms intermediaries to secure vital military equipment has gone to waste over the past three years of war. Read more here: — Financial Times (@FT) May 16, 2025 Ukrainian drones struck a Russian military base in occupied Crimea's Perevalne village on Friday, reportedly causing explosions, fires, and casualties, according to the ATESH partisan movement and the Crimean Wind Telegram channel. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed on Telegram that its air defenses 'destroyed and intercepted 65 Ukrainian aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles' on Friday, including 43 over the Black Sea and 21 over Crimea. Videos emerged on social media of explosions and fire at military depots in Perevalne — a district of Simferopol where Russia's 126th Separate Coastal Defense Brigade is stationed. "Oh Lord! The window almost blew out." Ammunition depots are on fire in occupied CrimeaLast night, the peninsula came under a drone attack. A massive fire broke out at military depots in Perevalne — a district of Simferopol where Russia's 126th Separate Coastal Defense… — NEXTA (@nexta_tv) May 16, 2025 Ukraine claims it stopped a mechanized assault in Russia's Belgorod region. The following video shows several Russian armored vehicles, motorcycles and troops coming under attack. The 92nd Assault Brigade repelled a large-scale Russian assault involving armored vehicles and biker infantry near Zhuravlevka, Belgorod region. — NOELREPORTS (@NOELreports) May 16, 2025 With the ubiquity of drones on the battlefield for both sides, each is focusing a lot of effort on striking the archer, not the arrow. In the following video, Ukraine's Flying Skull battalion says the Ukrainian Air Force struck a Russian FPV drone base. The Battalion "Flying Skull" catches the moment of a Ukrainian Air Force strike on a Russian FPV drone base. — NOELREPORTS (@NOELreports) May 16, 2025 The Ukrainian company Fulltime Robotics says it has developed a line of directed energy weapons, including what it calls the 1.5 kW-powered SlimBeam laser turret. 'SlimBeam is designed to neutralize drones and other air threats at a distance of up to 1 km,' according to the Ukrainian Militarnyi news outlet. 'The system supports both autonomous operation and remote control via a web application. This allows it to operate effectively without risk to personnel.' The laser turret 'can be integrated into mobile platforms or function as a stationary solution for protecting critical infrastructure and strategic facilities,' Militarnyi added. 'According to the declared characteristics, the installation is capable of neutralizing small drones at a distance of up to 800 meters. In addition, blinding UAV cameras is possible at a distance of up to 2 kilometers. The laser can also be used to neutralize explosives and in mine clearance operations.' In addition to defensive operations, the system can be used offensively, Fulltime Robotics claimed. 'The military can use the laser for sabotage: burn down a castle from a distance, conduct mine clearance or detonate,' the company stated. 'We are ready to develop more powerful lasers that will work at longer distances, but this requires scaling.' A video released by the company shows the turret in the back of a vehicle burning a metal plate 100 meters away. However, it seems to be early in the development process. We've reached out to the company and Ukraine's Brave1 collective for more details. And finally, the war has devastated Ukraine on so many levels, including environmentally. In addition to having to cope with destroyed farmland, tens of thousands of unexploded munitions and mines and rubbled cities, Ukraine now finds a lot of its territory covered in fiber optic cables. Both sides have been using the cables because they are virtually impervious to jamming. They also allow for operators to maintain control of their drones when geography, obstacles, or just flying low can degrade line-of-sight radio connectivity. The video below shows one tree in particular, which is in a frequently used drone flight path, covered in cables.. Trees completely covered in fiber optics on a route frequently flown by fiber optic drones. — Special Kherson Cat (@bayraktar_1love) May 16, 2025 That's it for now. Contact the author: howard@
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Blue Angels to headline Central Pennsylvania Air Dot Show
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)– The U.S. Navy Blue Angels are set to headline the 2025 Central Pennsylvania Air Dot Show at Harrisburg International Airport in May. According to the Air Dot Show, the Blue Angels will visit the Harrisburg International Airport on May 24 and 25, making it their third stop on the 2025 Air Dot Show Tour. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Morning Weather Forecast The Blue Angels won't be the only attraction at this year's event. The Air Dot Show says spectators can also enjoy watching the F-16 Viper demo team in action, aerobatic pilot Michael Goulian, the West Point Parachute Team, and more. General admission starts at $39.99, with fewer than 1,300 tickets available. VIP seating is already sold out. Purchase tickets and learn more about the show on the Air Dot Show website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
