China on Monday dispatched its advanced J-20 stealth fighters for the first time as it began a joint five-day military drill with Russia in the Northwest region of the country. Besides the fighter plane, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) also deployed many of its newest weapons, including the Y-20 large transport planes, during the exercise, the first since the COVID-19 outbreak, reported The South China Morning Post. Over 10,000 troops will take part in the Zapad/Interaction-2021 exercise held at the Ningxia Hui autonomous region where innovative combat tactics like emergency troop and heavy weapon drops, long-range strikes by J-16 fighter bombers, and the use of drones, will be displayed. Liu Xiaowu, commander-in-chief of the Chinese troops, told state broadcaster CCTV that 81% of weapons being used in the drill were "brand new." "That includes the J-20 [stealth fighter jet], KJ-500 [airborne early-warning and control aircraft], and J-16, while surveillance and combat drones and new armored vehicles will also [be involved]," he said.

As part of what is likely to be a record-setting defense budget, the Defense Ministry will begin upgrading the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Izumo helicopter carrier next year to enable it to carry fighter jets. The upgrade is in line with the National Defense Guidelines and the Medium-Term Defense Program for fiscal 2019 to 2023, which was adopted by the government in late 2018 and includes the plans to remodel the Izumo so that it can carry U.S.-made, state-of-the-art F-35B stealth fighters, becoming a de facto aircraft carrier. The work is primarily aimed at reinforcing the heat resistance of the Izumo's deck for landings and takeoffs by F-35B jets and is due to start in late fiscal 2019, which ends in March 2020, for completion during fiscal 2021. For fiscal 2020, the ministry has requested a record budget of ¥5.32 trillion, marking the seventh consecutive year the budget request has increased. The sum includes ¥84.6 billion for purchasing six F-35Bs. The MSDF will initially use F-35Bs from the U.S. Marine Corps to train Izumo crew members, as the delivery of the six fighters is not expected to start before fiscal 2024.

The great thing about concept cars is that automakers can just shoot for the stars when it comes to features. The Nissan IMQ concept unveiled at the Geneva Motor show is a good example of promising a lot of stuff in a car while simultaneously plotting the course for the future. Concept cars are traditionally an exercise in what's potentially possible in the future. For Nissan (like nearly every other automaker at the Geneva Motor Show), the future is electric and autonomous. The IMQ crossover concept vehicle uses Nissan's e-Power hybrid system that the company has been using in Japan.

ZHUHAI, CHINA – A Chinese state-owned company says it is developing a stealth combat drone in the latest sign of the country's growing aerospace prowess. The CH-7 unmanned aerial vehicle also underscores China's growing competitiveness in the expanding global market for drones. China has won sales in the Middle East and elsewhere by offering drones at lower prices and without the political conditions attached by the U.S. The CH-7's chief designer, Shi Wen, says the aircraft can "fly long hours, scout and strike the target when necessary." "Very soon, I believe, in the next one to two years, (we) can see the CH-7 flying in the blue skies, gradually being a practical and usable product in the future," Shi told The Associated Press. Shi said manufacturer Chinese Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation plans to test fly the drone next year and begin mass production by 2022.

The Marine Corps has been forced to ground its F-35B Joint Strike Fighters in Arizona after flaws were found in the controversial jet's computer system. The problems relate to the Autonomic Logistics Information System, or ALIS, that transmits details about a jet's mechanical condition to the ground-based computer system. This allows the computers to automatically scheduling maintenance for the aircraft. Dozens of F-35 stealth fighters that were grounded for 11 days due to an oxygen-supply problem aboard the expensive warplanes will resume flying on Wednesday, the US Air Force said. Gen. Mark Wise, commander of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing based at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station, made the call to suspend flights for Squadron 211 due to'some anomalies' with the latest ALIS 2.0.2 software upgrade, according to a statement given to The San Diego Union-Tribune.

At 100million a pop, you might expect F-35 fighter jets to take-off at the first time of asking. But the life of a test pilot is not that simple, with dozens of computer systems to calibrate and reset before the Air Force's most sophisticated plane can even taxi to the runway. Defense News got a glimpse of how testing F-35s works during a visit to Edwards Air Force Base in southern California. Major Raven LeClair, of the 461st flight test squadron, begins his day at around 10am by checking the plane for any issues. It immediately became clear that the day's testing would not pass without a hitch, with an alarm sounding as soon as he got to the aircraft.