Air Force Says New Hypersonic Missile Will Hit Targets 1,000 Miles Away In Under 12 Minutes

The U.S. Air Force says the hypersonic boost-glide vehicle warhead in its forthcoming AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid-Response Weapon hypersonic missile will fly at an average speed of between 5,000 and 6,000 miles per hour. This would be roughly between Mach 6.5 and Mach 8. At that speed, it will take only 10 to 12 minutes to strike targets 1,000 miles away. Air Force Major General Andrew Gebara, Air Force Global Strike Command’s (AFGSC) Director of Strategic Plans, Programs, and Requirements, disclosed the information in an interview with Air Force Magazine.

Expected to be the first hypersonic weapon to become operational with the U.S. military, the Air-launched Rapid-Response Weapon, or ARRW, which is pronounced “arrow,” will be carried by the command’s B-52H strategic bombers.

“This thing is going to be able to go, in 10-12 minutes, almost 1,000 miles,” Gebara said in the interview, which you can read in full here. “It’s amazing.”

This appears to be the first time that the Air Force has officially commented on ARRW’s speed with any specificity. Before now, it was understood that the weapon would be capable of hypersonic speeds, which are simply defined as anything above Mach 5.

To attain hypersonic speeds, the missile consists of a solid-fuel rocket booster, fitted with pop-out tail fins, and an unpowered boost-glide vehicle. After being propelled to a specific speed and altitude atop the rocket booster, the wedge-shaped boost-glide vehicle continues to its target at hypersonic speed.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/37045/air-force-says-new-hypersonic-missile-will-hit-targets-1000-miles-away-in-under-12-minutes

Xi Jinping tells Chinese marines to focus on 'preparing to go to war' during military base visit

President Xi Jinping spent the second day of his Guangdong tour visiting a military base, where he called on marines to improve combat readiness and stay vigilant. He also toured Shantou, the hometown of many overseas Chinese, on Tuesday.

The president will take part in celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of the Shenzhen special economic zone on Wednesday.

At the military base near Shantou in the east of the province, Xi told marines they should aim to be a "multifunctional, rapid response, all-weather and region" fighting force.

"[You should] focus your minds and energy on preparing to go to war, and stay highly vigilant," Xi said, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

"Marines have many different missions and the demands on you will vary," he said. "As such [you] should base your training on [the need to] go into battle … and raise [your] training standards and combat ability."

https://www.businessinsider.com/xi-jinping-tells-chinese-marines-focus-on-preparing-for-war-2020-10

UW professor missing after camping trip to Mount Rainier

ASHFORD, Wash. — The University of Washington has tweeted that a professor went missing during a hike at Mount Rainier.

UW retweeted user Dena Dubal, who said her brother, Sam Dubal, was missing.

"My brother is missing. He went camping overnight on Friday night in Ipsuit Creek and Seattle Park in Washington State. He was supposed to be back on Sat. Rangers found his car and are looking for him. If anyone is hiking or camping in the area pls be on the look out," a tweet from Veena Dubal read.

Dena describes her brother as 5'9" and 160 pounds. He is 34 years old.

Any tips can be sent to Ranger Braun at matthew_braun@nps.gov.

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/uw-professor-goes-missing/281-164bd4ff-111e-49d4-8650-4f18306ebaa8

China and Russia win seats on UN rights council, Saudis lose

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — China, Russia and Cuba won seats on the U.N.’s premiere human rights body Tuesday despite opposition from activist groups over their abysmal human rights records, but another target, Saudi Arabia, lost.

Russia and Cuba were running unopposed, but China and Saudi Arabia were in a five-way race in the only contested race for seats on the Human Rights Council.

In secret-ballot voting in the 193-member U.N. General Assembly on that race, Pakistan received 169 votes, Uzbekistan 164, Nepal 150, China 139 and Saudi Arabia just 90 votes.

Despite announced reform plans by Saudi Arabia, Human Rights Watch and others strongly opposed its candidacy saying the Middle East nation continues to target human rights defenders, dissidents and women’s rights activists and has demonstrated little accountability for past abuses, including the killing of Washington Post columnist and Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul two years ago.

Under the Human Rights Council’s rules, seats are allocated to regions to ensure geographical representation.

Except for the Asia-Pacific contest, the election of 15 members to the 47-member Human Rights Council was all but decided in advance because all the other regional groups had uncontested slates.

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Rights-groups-oppose-China-Russia-Saudis-on-UN-15641383.php