Worth Knowing, Probably Not Quite Threadworthy 11/28

[SVPete]

Ukraine destroys Russia’s only flying test aircraft for airborne laser weapons

https://interestingengineering.com/military/ukraine-destroys-russia-laser-weapon-plane

A Ukrainian strike on an aircraft plant in southwestern Russia appears to have destroyed a rare Russian airborne laser testbed and at least one other advanced military aircraft, according to satellite imagery and reports from both sides.

The attack late Tuesday hit the Beriev aircraft manufacturing facility in Taganrog, a major center for Russia’s military aviation programs.
Videos posted on social media showed a large fire burning on the flight line, with one clip capturing an aircraft engulfed in flames.

Russia’s ‘one-of-a-kind’ laser test aircraft
Imagery reviewed after the strike shows that the burning airframe was the A-60, a one-of-a-kind Soviet-designed laser test aircraft built from an Il-76MD transport.

The destruction marks a significant blow to Russia, as the A-60 was the country’s only flying test platform for airborne laser weapons, a program whose current status had already been unclear.

Satellite images also show another aircraft destroyed nearby, likely a testbed for Russia’s A-100 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) project.

Putting the import of this in context, the Beriev A-50 is Russia's approximate equivalent of of the USAF AWACS. The A-50 is aging and a couple/few have been lost due to the Ukraine war (Russia only had a few). Their new AWACS platform is the A-100. Two have been built. One is undergoing test, and the other, the A-100LL destroyed, was their testbed for new equipment. Given Russia's problems with obtaining tech, replacing this A-100LL while fixing issues found in the existing A-100 will be challenging.

Laser weapons, of course, are still a development frontier. Losing their lone testbed will set back Russia's Laser R & D significantly.

The plant that was hit is, IIRC, one of two Russia has for servicing and upgrading the veberable Tu-95 "Bear", Russia's analog to the USAF's B-52. Tu-95s have been used, with some lost, against Ukraine.

All in all, this was a significant blow both to Putin's attempt to conquer Ukraine and to the future of the Russian military, benefitting pretty much the whole world.

[SVPete]

‘Are You Stupid?’ Trump Levels Reporter Over Question About Biden

https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2025/11/28/are-you-stupid-trump-levels-reporter-over-question-about-biden-n4946486

The attack offered a stark reminder of the fallout from Biden’s chaotic Afghanistan exit. The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, entered the country in September 2021 through Joe Biden’s Operation Allies Welcome. Biden promoted that effort as “strictly vetted,” even though the process moved at breakneck speed and raised alarms from the start. President Trump has been direct about Biden’s role in this tragedy.

The media has worked hard to downplay the connection. When a reporter challenged Trump for pointing out Biden’s responsibility, he pushed back without hesitation.

The reporter began, “Why do you blame the Biden administration? Because why did you send in–”

Trump cut him off instantly. “Because they let them in. Are you stupid?”

The reporter insisted, “No, no, no.”

Trump pushed back harder. “Are you a stupid person? Because they came into– on a plane along with thousands of other people that shouldn’t be here, and you’re just asking questions because you’re a stupid person.”

It was a classic moment. Trump laid out what millions of Americans have known since August 2021. Biden opened the floodgates during his botched evacuation and created a pipeline that brought tens of thousands of unvetted Afghan nationals into the country. The establishment media never wanted to talk about it. But Republicans did. Trump did.

"Reporters" like this one need their @$$es handed to them every time they go full-stupid.

[SVPete]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kgIBg94FRE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3JGG0_JlEg

There seems to be something wrong with Russians' bloody rockets!

[SVPete]

Airbus issues major A320 recall after flight-control incident

https://srnnews.com/airbus-issues-major-a320-recall-after-flight-control-incident/

PARIS (Reuters) -Europe’s Airbus said on Friday it was ordering an immediate software change on a “significant number” of its best-selling A320 family of jets in a move that industry sources said would bring disruption to half the global fleet, or thousands of jets.

The move must be carried out before the next routine flight, according to a separate bulletin to airlines seen by Reuters, threatening cancellations or delays during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year in the United States and beyond.

Airbus said in a statement a recent incident involving an A320-family aircraft had revealed that intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls.

“Airbus acknowledges these recommendations will lead to operational disruptions to passengers and customers,” it said.

Industry sources said the incident that triggered the unexpected repair action involved a JetBlue flight from Cancun, Mexico, to Newark, New Jersey, on October 30, in which several passengers were hurt following a sharp loss of altitude.

The A320 is akin to Boeing's 737 series.

[SVPete]

Peru to declare a state of emergency as migrants leaving Chile trigger backlash

https://srnnews.com/peru-to-declare-a-state-of-emergency-as-migrants-leaving-chile-trigger-backlash/

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — President José Jarí of Peru said his government on Friday would declare a state of emergency along the country’s southern border and deploy more armed forces to the area as a large number of Venezuelan migrants venture north from Chile, where anti-immigrant sentiment has surged during a fraught presidential campaign.

Hundreds of thousands of migrants escaping crises in their home countries or seeking better opportunities abroad long have traversed the continent and the Peruvian border to build new lives in Chile, one of Latin America’s most stable and prosperous nations.

But scores of people without legal status in Chile — mostly Venezuelans who fled their country’s economic ruin and authoritarian rule in recent years — are now also headed in the other direction as Chile prepares to harden its stance against immigration.