Su-57 Mocked In 🇨🇳 | 🚨TOD: J-35 | 737 Cargo Fire

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Edited by: Sidney McAlear

HISTORY OF THE DAY

November 12, 1944 – First Successful Kamikaze Attack of WWII
The Japanese Imperial Navy launched its first successful kamikaze attack during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines. A Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, loaded with explosives and piloted by a volunteer, crashed into the USS Mississinewa (AO-59), an American fleet oiler, causing significant damage and sparking fires that eventually sank the ship.

These "divine wind" attacks marked a shift in Japan’s defensive strategy as Allied forces closed in on the home islands. Kamikaze tactics became a desperate and devastating method of warfare that targeted U.S. ships and ultimately altered the Allied approach to naval operations in the Pacific.

THREAT OF THE DAY…via Wikipedia

Chinese J-35

Country of Origin: China
Nickname: Gyrfalcon
Initial Operating Capability (IOC): Estimated: Mid-2030s
Proliferation Countries: Exclusively operated by China
Produced: Developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, a division of Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)
Speed: Estimated Mach 1.8
Engine: WS-13E or WS-19 turbofan (speculative, awaiting official confirmation)
Range: Approximately 1,200 nautical miles*
Radar and Targeting: Equipped with AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar; potentially enhanced for electronic warfare capabilities

Armament:
🔺 Air-to-Air Missiles: PL-15, PL-10 short and medium-range missiles
🔺 Air-to-Ground Weapons: Compatibility with China’s precision-guided munitions, including LT PGB bombs and YJ-91 anti-ship missiles

“Fun” Facts: The J-35 is often viewed as China’s answer to the U.S. F-35, designed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. Currently, it lacks vertical takeoff capability like the F-35B, but it is expected to operate from Chinese aircraft carriers, significantly enhancing China's power projection in the Asia-Pacific. With this addition, China joins the U.S. as one of the only nations capable of producing two different types of stealth fighters, the J-20 and the J-35.

FLIGHT LINE

🎯 Chinese Attendees Mock Russian Su-57 at Zhuhai Airshow | At the 2024 Zhuhai Airshow, Chinese attendees had an unusually close view of Russia's Su-57 fighter. Exposed were numerous visible bolts, mismatched fasteners, and uneven paneling, leading to ridicule on Chinese social media. Observers compared it unfavorably to China’s J-20, questioning the Su-57’s claim to "5th-generation" status and pointing to flaws in Russian manufacturing. The model displayed, identified as a prototype (T-50-4), failed to meet expectations for a stealth aircraft, with critics noting that its stealth features seemed limited to fuselage shape alone.

🎯 China Unveils J-35A Stealth Fighter at Zhuhai Airshow | China publicly showcased its new J-35A stealth fighter for the first time at the 2024 China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai. The J-35A’s debut, with a five-minute aerial demonstration, signals Beijing’s drive to modernize its military and challenge U.S. air dominance in the Asia-Pacific. A model of the carrier-based J-35 version was also displayed.

🎯 U.S. Deploys B-52 & B-1B Bombers Amid Tensions with North Korea and Iran | The U.S. recently deployed its B-1B Lancer bomber for a trilateral exercise with South Korea and Japan after North Korea’s Hwasong-19 ICBM test. Escorted by allied fighter jets, the B-1B demonstrated readiness over joint defense zones. Meanwhile, six B-52 Stratofortress bombers arrived in the Middle East for the first time since 2019 to deter Iranian threats. The B-52s, from Minot Air Base in North Dakota, are stationed alongside F-15E Strike Eagles and tankers.

🎯 Russian Soldier Reports North Korean Troops’ Involvement in ‘Friendly Fire’ in Ukraine | A captured Russian soldier claimed that North Korean troops, deployed in Russia’s Kursk region, endangered their own allies by mistakenly firing in the wrong direction, reportedly injuring Russian forces. Video footage shared by a pro-Ukrainian account showed the soldier explaining how he chose to surrender rather than risk being hit by "friendly fire." Approximately 8,000 North Korean troops have joined Russian forces, with reports of compensation including $2,000 monthly pay, totaling about $240 million annually for 10,000 troops. North Korean units are allegedly being integrated with Russian ethnic minority formations to mask their presence.

 🎯 NASA Astronaut Hospitalized After Extended Space Mission | After returning from an extended eight-month mission on the International Space Station, a NASA astronaut was hospitalized for an undisclosed medical issue. The astronaut, who was part of a SpaceX Crew-8 return, was taken to a hospital in Pensacola, Florida, for evaluation "out of an abundance of caution." The individual remains stable, while the other three astronauts were released and returned to NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The mission faced delays due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner capsule and Hurricane Milton, extending the crew’s time in space.

🎯 Pilots Escape Burning Cargo 737 in Brazil | A Total Cargo Boeing 737-400 caught fire on landing in São Paulo after a short flight from Vitória. The crew declared an emergency upon final approach, and flames became visible after the aircraft stopped. Both pilots safely evacuated by rappelling from a window using an emergency rope. The fire, believed to have originated in the cargo area, required hours of firefighting. The airframe was completely written off and was cleared from the runway over eight hours later.

🎯 Russia’s Alleged Parcel Fire ‘Test Runs’ Target U.S.-Bound Cargo | A series of parcel fires in Poland, Germany, and the U.K. in July were reportedly trial attempts by Russian military intelligence (GRU) to sabotage U.S. and Canada-bound cargo flights. Investigators allege Russian operatives sent parcels rigged with magnesium-based incendiary devices that ignited at transport hubs, including Germany's Leipzig airport. Devices hidden in electric massage machines spontaneously combusted, with one fire taking two hours to extinguish. Western officials are concerned over Russia's expanding sabotage efforts against countries supporting Ukraine.

🎯 Next-Generation Stealth Tanker May Be Unaffordable, Warns Air Force Secretary | U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall expressed concerns over the affordability of the Next-Generation Aerial Refueling System (NGAS), a proposed stealth tanker intended to support operations in the Indo-Pacific. As the Air Force juggles costs for multiple modernization projects, including the B-21 bomber and LGM-35A nuclear missile, Kendall questioned whether NGAS could be realistically funded alongside other key systems. Scheduled for a mid-2030s debut, NGAS would enhance refueling capabilities but faces potential delays or redesigns as budget constraints intensify.

🎯 Israel to Purchase 25 F-15IA Jets for Long-Range Strike Capabilities | Israel’s Ministry of Defense announced a $5.2 billion deal to acquire 25 F-15IA fighter jets from Boeing, with an option for 25 more. Set for delivery starting in 2031, the F-15IAs will bolster Israel’s long-range strike capability and a payload capacity exceeding 13,000 kg (28,000lbs). Equipped with advanced AESA radar, missile warning, and fly-by-wire systems, the F-15IA is designed for missions at extended ranges, such as in Iran or Yemen. This acquisition enhances Israel’s air power alongside its new F-35 squadron.

🎯 U.S. Sends Contractors to Ukraine for F-16 and Patriot System Maintenance | The U.S. is deploying military contractors to Ukraine for the first time to assist with maintenance of F-16 fighter jets and Patriot missile defense systems. These contractors, stationed far from front lines, will provide on-site support, reducing repair times by eliminating the need to transport damaged equipment to nearby countries like Poland.

🎯 U.S. Approves $4.9 Billion E-7 Wedgetail Sale to South Korea | The U.S. has approved a potential $4.9 billion Foreign Military Sale to South Korea for four E-7 Wedgetail surveillance aircraft. This deal, if finalized, would enhance South Korea's airborne early warning and ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) capabilities and improve interoperability with U.S. forces. Competing with Saab’s GlobalEye, the E-7 has already been selected by the U.S., Australia, and the U.K., and is intended to strengthen South Korea’s defensive posture amid regional tensions. Final terms remain under negotiation.

Trivia Answer:
B) Soviet Union - Estimates place the USSR with having produced 20 tons of smallpox duirng the cold war but capable of producing upwards of 90 tons per year. Their bioweapons program was spread across dozens of sites, employing over 65,000 people.