"Spears Victory" Exercise 🚨 Threat of the Day JF-17 🚨 Drone Hits Chernobyl

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Edited by: Sidney McAlear

🔺 We are off the tanker next week - We will be back 3 March 🔺

HISTORY OF THE DAY

February 17, 2008 – Kosovo Declares Independence | On this day in 2008, Kosovo declared independence from Serbia, nearly a decade after the Kosovo War (1998–1999). The war, fought between Yugoslav forces and the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), saw widespread ethnic violence, war crimes, and mass displacement.

NATO intervened in 1999, launching a 78-day bombing campaign against Serbian military targets, ultimately forcing Yugoslav President Slobodan Milošević to withdraw troops from Kosovo.

The conflict left thousands dead and led to the establishment of a UN-administered Kosovo. Serbia, backed by Russia, still refuses to recognize Kosovo’s sovereignty despite over 100 countries acknowledging its independence. The region remains a flashpoint of ethnic and geopolitical tensions.

THREAT OF THE DAY (TOD)…via Wikipedia

Threat: JF-17
Country of Origin: Pakistan - Jointly with China
Initial Operational Capability: 2007
Primary Role: Multi-role fighter

Variants
🔺 JF-17 Block I: Baseline variant with basic avionics and weapons
🔺 JF-17 Block II: Upgraded with improved avionics, aerial refueling, and enhanced weapon integration
🔺JF-17 Block III: Features an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, helmet-mounted display, and new electronic warfare suite

Speed: Mach 1.6
Range: 12,000 km (1,200 NM)
Armament: Mixed air-to-air and air-to-ground ordinance. Potentially PL-15 on Block III.

“Fun” Facts
🔸 February 2019: JF-17s were used by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) to engage Indian Air Force aircraft in the Kashmir air skirmishes, reportedly downing an Indian MiG-21 Bison.
🔸2022–2023: Pakistan signed deals to export the JF-17 Block III to Nigeria, Myanmar, and Iraq, expanding its international footprint.
🔸2024: Pakistan deployed JF-17s to Saudi Arabia for the Spears of Victory 2025 exercise, demonstrating its long-range operational reach with in-flight refueling.

FLIGHT LINE

🎯 Saudi Arabia Hosts ‘Spears of Victory 2025’ Multinational Exercise | Saudi Arabia is hosting the Spears of Victory 2025 military exercise at King Abdulaziz Air Base in Dhahran, bringing together 15 nations, including the United States, United Kingdom, France, Greece, Pakistan, and Qatar. The Pakistan Air Force demonstrated its long-range operational reach with in-flight refueling for its JF-17s en route to Saudi Arabia.

🎯 USS Harry S. Truman Collides with Merchant Vessel | The USS Harry S. Truman, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, collided with the Panamanian-flagged merchant vessel Besiktas-M near Port Said, Egypt, in the Mediterranean Sea. The incident occurred on February 12, 2025, while both ships were underway. No injuries were reported, and the Truman sustained no significant damage to its propulsion or critical systems and has already resumed operations.

🎯 Drone Strike Hits Chernobyl Reactor Cover | A drone carrying a high-explosive warhead struck the protective shell of Reactor No. 4 at Chernobyl, sparking a fire that was quickly extinguished. Ukrainian and U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency officials report no radiation leak, as the inner containment structure remained intact. President Zelenskyy blamed Russia for the attack, while the Kremlin denied involvement, suggesting a false flag operation. The strike has heightened global concerns over nuclear safety in the ongoing war.

🎯 Defense Secretary Orders Air Force to Pause Reorganization Planning | Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the Department of the Air Force to halt all planning related to its "Re-Optimization for Great Power Competition" initiative. This directive affects several key decisions, including the establishment of the Integrated Capabilities Command, intended to oversee future system developments. The pause will remain until a Senate-confirmed Secretary and Undersecretary of the Air Force review the initiatives.

🎯 Navy Fighter Jet Crashes into San Diego Harbor | An EA-18G Growler jet crashed into the San Diego Harbor Naval Air Station North Island. Both crew members safely ejected before the impact and were rescued by a nearby fishing boat.

🎯 China’s J-20 Spotted in ‘Beast Mode’ with PL-15 Missiles | Recent images show China’s J-20 stealth fighter operating in ‘beast mode’, carrying PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles on external hardpoints. While this increases firepower, it compromises stealth, as the J-20 is designed to carry weapons internally to maintain a low radar cross-section. The move mirrors F-35 and Su-57 ‘beast mode’ load-outs, where stealth is sacrificed for maximum missile capacity in less contested airspace. Previous Threat of the Day: J-20 

In the latest podcast episode, “Flash” McVay sits down with retired Colonel Derek “Woody” Oaks and discusses his journey from C-130 pilot to A-10 pilot, leadership, and more.

✅ Answer: A) Israel - An IAF F-16 took down a Syrian Mi-8 Helicopter on 28 April 1981 with the 20mm Cannon