18 Tir Taghdir Nameh Taghdemi be Darajeh Daran-e Artish Shah-hanshahi

Sarbazan organization would like to take this golden moment in 18 Tir to remember and to salute all Honorable Immortal Sergeants/Darajeh Dar whether they took part in 18 Tir uprising or not and they gave their precious life for His Majesty, Light of Aryan, King of Kings Mohammad Reza PAHLAVI and Iran without second thought, and their hard labor shall become a pillar for others to remember that freedom of Iran is a primary duty of every Iranian from hands of savage mullahs.

GCC FOCUSES ON AIR DEFENSE, NAVY

ABU DHABI [MENL] -- Gulf Cooperation Council militaries have launched an effort to bolster the air defense and navies to prepare for any war with Iran. Western industry sources said Gulf Arab states such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates have led the way with procurement and development programs meant to bolster defenses in the Gulf. The sources said the three GCC states envisioned an Iranian attack on their oil facilities amid any U.S.-led war against Teheran. "The key threats will be an Iranian attack on oil facilities or on oil ships in the Straits of Hormuz," a Gulf industry source said. "These countries need an answer to these threats and quickly." The sources said the GCC focus would be on attack helicopters, fast attack craft, radars and air and missile defense. They said GCC states expect massive Iranian missile fire in any war with the United States.

Gen. Cody: Insurgents Not Using New Tactics to Bring Down U.S. Copters in Iraq

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan — There is no basis for believing that insurgents' recent success in shooting down U.S. helicopters in Iraq means they have developed new attack methods or discovered new U.S. vulnerabilities, the Army's vice chief of staff said Saturday.
"I see no change in trends" on the part of the insurgent's targeting efforts, "and I see no capability gaps" on the part of U.S. forces, Gen. Richard Cody said in an interview en route to this air base north of Kabul, Afghanistan's capital.Cody said all U.S. helicopters in Iraq recently received upgraded defensive systems to protect them against known threats like anti-aircraft missiles, although he acknowledged that helicopters on combat missions face inherent dangers, including small arms fire if they fly low to avoid being targeted by missiles. "We've been studying the heck out of this thing," he said, referring to the crashes, which began in January with the shootdown of a Black Hawk helicopter in which all 12 U.S. soldiers were killed. Later in January two Apache attack helicopters were shot down, apparently by small arms fire, killing two in each. Two U.S. private contractors' helicopters also were shot down last month.
"I think people are making too much about this," Cody said, while stressing that he personally and the Army as an institution take each loss seriously and are constantly looking for ways to avoid combat losses. Cody met with soldiers of the 4th Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, which arrived in Afghanistan in recent weeks. In a session with pilots and others from the brigade's combat aviation unit, which flies Apaches and other choppers, he stressed the importance of remaining vigilant against insurgent attacks. "As soon as you get predictable, as soon as you get a little bit complacent, either the enemy will get you or this terrain will get you," he said, referring to the rugged, often mountainous landscape in which they fly. Pilots in Afghanistan have not suffered any shootdowns recently. Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Congress last week that it was not clear whether the insurgents in Iraq were using new tactics and techniques or whether the string of shootdowns simply was a matter of the odds catching up to helicopter pilots who fly every day in dangerous conditions. Teams of military specialists are reviewing in detail the circumstances surrounding each attack, starting with the 24 hours that preceded each one, to see what may have been overlooked in the available intelligence picture — from insurgent movements to weather conditions to other flight-related factors, Cody said. Cody, 56, a career helicopter pilot who flew an Apache attack mission on the opening night of the 1991 Gulf War, said it should not be surprising that helicopter operations in Iraq sometimes encounter a rash of difficulties. He said U.S. chopper pilots have flown more than 1.4 million hours in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001 and have lost a little over 100 aircraft.

F-22 begins first overseas deployment

A transformational combat aircraft, the F-22 is effectively invisible to threats, cruises at supersonic speeds, is highly maneuverable and provides an unprecedented level of integrated situational awareness. US Air Force | Feb 9, 2007 .


HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii: The first overseas operational deployment of the Air Force's newest fighter is underway as 12 F-22 Raptors landed here Feb. 7 en route to Kadena Air Base, Japan. The aircraft and more than 250 Airmen from the 27th Fighter Squadron from Langley AFB, Va., are supporting the U.S. Pacific Command's Theater Security Package in the Western Pacific. Thirteenth Air Force is responsible for F-22 operations while they are in theater. Lt. Gen. Loyd S. Utterback, the 13th Air Force commander, stressed that the deployment is not in response to any specific situation in the region. "The United States routinely evaluates its readiness and repositions forces throughout the Western Pacific to meet its security obligations. The F-22 deployment is the latest example of the flexibility that U.S. forces have to meet ongoing commitments within the region," he said. In addition to the F-22, other Air Force aircraft have also temporarily deployed to the Pacific including B-1 Lancers, B-2 Spirits, B-52 Stratofortreses, F-15 Eagles, F-16 Fighting Falcons and F-117 Nighthawks. "Versatile mission platforms give Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines the ability to operate in today's constantly changing threat environments," General Utterback said. Forward-basing aircraft such as the F-22 and other air assets gives commanders the capability to respond to any contingency, anywhere in the theater in minimal time."As the Air Force works to transform its air, space and cyberspace operations across the U.S. Pacific Command area of operations, the upcoming deployment of the F-22 into the theater and eventual permanent beddown of the Air Force's newest fighter in Alaska and Hawaii are the latest examples of the United States' continuing commitment to the Asia-Pacific region. "The F-22 will lead and enable the joint force to operate at will without interference from an opposing force in the Pacific and throughout the rest of the world for years to come," General Utterback said. The 27th Fighter Squadron, the Air Force's first frontline F-22 fighter squadron, reached initial operational capability in December 2005. Although this is the first overseas deployment for the aircraft, it is not the squadron's first deployment from Langley AFB. In October 2005, the squadron deployed to Hill AFB, Utah, where F-22 pilots practiced their unique flight tactics and dropped inert Joint Directed Attack Munitions. The squadron deployed to Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, in May and participated in joint training during Northern Edge 2006. "We had phenomenal successes during these deployments and exercises," said Brig. Gen. Burt Field, 1st Fighter Wing commander. "We've taken the lessons we've learned and applied them back here, and we've continued to develop the weapons system every day." While deployed to Kadena AB, members of the 27th FS will showcase the capabilities of the F-22 as they train with Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps units. "We're eager to assist U.S. Pacific Command, helping to ensure an environment of security and stability to support and foster freedom and prosperity throughout the Asia-Pacific Region," General Field said. "This is what we train for, and we're ready." A transformational combat aircraft, the F-22 is effectively invisible to threats, cruises at supersonic speeds, is highly maneuverable and provides an unprecedented level of integrated situational awareness.