air defense

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Rare Daytime Strikes Send Kyiv Residents Fleeing

Bombardment follows what Ukraine calls largest drone attack since Russia invaded

(Newser) - Russia surprised Ukraine with a rare daytime missile attack on Kyiv on Monday, sending residents from the streets to bomb shelters. Air raid sirens went off just before 11am, the New York Times reports, and video posted later by Ukrainian officials showed children wearing their backpacks screaming and running to...

'Unstoppable' Russian Missiles May Be Stoppable After All

Ukraine says it shot down volley of 6 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles overnight

(Newser) - Overnight, Russia launched 18 missiles at Kyiv, six of them said to be "unstoppable" hypersonic Kinzhal missiles that travel at up to 10 times the speed of sound. Although people on the ground were said to be hurt by falling debris, Ukraine on Tuesday said it shot down all...

Pentagon: We're Sending Jets, Other Air Defense to Saudis

Defense Secretary Mark Esper announces move after Iran claims 2 missiles struck its tanker

(Newser) - The US will send fighter jets and additional air defenses to Saudi Arabia to defend the kingdom against Iran amid heightened tensions between the two Middle Eastern adversaries, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Friday. Esper announced the deployment of several dozen fighter jets, along with other aircraft and additional air...

US Is Kicking Turkey Out of F-35 Program

NATO ally has bought Russian defense system

(Newser) - In a major break with a longtime ally, the Trump administration on Wednesday said Turkey is being kicked out of an American-led fighter aircraft program because it is buying a Russian air defense system that would aid Russian intelligence. The decision has significant implications for the cohesion of NATO, whose...

NATO: Patriot Missiles Are Going to Turkey

(Newser) - Now it's official: NATO agreed today to send Patriot anti-missile systems to Turkey to protect against attacks from war-torn Syria, the AP reports. The systems—which include radars, missiles, and other facilities—will be programmed only to fend off the Syrian shells and mortar rounds that have already killed...

Iran Flaunts Defense Systems in War Games

4K miles of radar turned on as planes simulate attack

(Newser) - War games are underway in Iran as the country puts its defensive prowess on display: Radar and signal detection equipment was turned on around 4,200 miles of borderland; military forces went on alert; and six planes staged a mock raid, likely simulating a US or Israeli attack on nuclear...

NORAD Sets Sights on Santa
 NORAD Sets Sights on Santa  
ho, ho, ho

NORAD Sets Sights on Santa

Bizarre tradition dates back to misprinted Christmas ad in 1955

(Newser) - The North American Aerospace Defense Command is ready for its busiest night of the year, when it puts mundane tasks like looking for wandering Russian bombers or North Korean missiles on the back burner and tracks Santa Claus. As it has every Christmas for more than 50 years, NORAD offers...

Iran Kicks Off 5 Days of War Games

Drill meant to boost air defense of nuclear facilities

(Newser) - Iran today begins large-scale air defense war games aimed at protecting the country's nuclear facilities, state television reports, adding that the five-day drill will cover a third of the country, including regions that are home to Iran's nuclear facilities. The drill involves both Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard, the paramilitary Basij...

Before Obama Visited Canada, Russian Bomber Did

(Newser) - On the day before President Obama’s recent visit to Canada, that nation’s warplanes turned back a Russian bomber, the National Post reports. The plane did not enter Canadian airspace, but the incident still alarmed officials, who have striven to enforce sovereignty. “When we see a Russian bear...

DC Ups Defenses for Inauguration

No specific threat, says general in detailing January plans

(Newser) - The Pentagon plans a dramatic expansion of the military presence in Washington to coincide with Barack Obama’s Jan. 20 inauguration, the Los Angeles Times reports. About 4,000 National Guardsmen and 7,500 active-duty troops will augment local police and security forces, while air patrols will be increased. No...

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