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Indian flights over SE Asia on hijack alert

The Indian Home Ministry has put all Air India/Indian Airlines flights operating in South Asia on high security alert after intelligence warnings that Islamic fundamentalist groups aligned to the Al-Qaeda or Lashkar-e-Taiba plan to hijack an airliner, according to New Delhi TV reports.

The target may be an Air India/Indian Airlines aircraft operating to and from "any one of the SAARC countries" any time "in the near future".

Qassam al Remi killed in Yemen airstrike

clipped from news.sky.com

It took three attempts, but Yemen's air force finally appears to have killed the military leader of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

The officials claim that among the dead is Qassam al Remi, thought to be the group's highest ranking commander. He had survived two previous airstrikes, the most recent last month.

Tagged as: air, air force, airstrikes, Al Qaeda, al qaeda in the arabian peninsula, AQAP, Arabian, attempts, com, comIt, commander. He, Force, leader, military leader, news, Peninsula, qassam, remi, Sky, yemen No Comments

The Beast of Kandahar

clipped from www.foxnews.com

The U.S. Air Force has acknowledged that it is developing and testing a new, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) — a drone with a sleek, stealth design that will be deployed for military reconnaissance and surveillance missions.

Aeronautics fans have nicknamed the aircraft "The Beast of Kandahar," as it was apparently spotted over the skies of Afghanistan. Industry observers speculate it is sophisticated enough to gather aerial intelligence over Iran without detection, perhaps keeping track of the Islamic Republic's emerging nuclear program.

By:1intl

Modafean-e Aseman-e-Velayat “air defense exercise”

clipped from www.debka.com

Iran launches its huge Modafean-e (Defenders) Aseman-e-Velayat air defense exercise Sunday, Nov. 22, to protect its nuclear sites, after failing to persuade Russia to deliver the linchpin of its air defenses, S-300 missiles. For two weeks, high-ranking Iranian politicians and generals bombarded Moscow to make good on its contract to supply the key weapon, to no avail. Saturday, Nov. 21, Iran's air force commander Brig. Gen. Ahmad Mighani spoke at length about the highly sophisticated S-300, without which, DEBKAfile's military sources say, Iran has no real defense against US and Israeli aerial or missile strikes against its nuclear installations.

Department Takes Steps to Reduce Casualties

clipped from www.defenselink.mil

The first MC-12 Liberty aircraft in-theater lands after its first combat sortie at approximately 6:20 p.m. local time June 10 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. The Air Force's newest intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform, the MC-12 is a medium-altitude manned special-mission turbo prop aircraft that supports coalition and joint ground forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tiffany Trojca)

Defense Department officials have taken steps to stem mounting casualties in Afghanistan, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said here today.

October has become the deadliest month for American servicemembers in Afghanistan, with 56 killed, and Morrell said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has no higher mission than ensuring troops have everything they need to protect themselves from improvised explosive devices and other threats.

Some assets already are moving to Afghanistan, he noted, including additional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. The theater also is receiving the most advanced drones and new platforms such as the MC-12.