Top News of the Week Mar 24 – 30, 2014

Korea Opts for Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Aircraft

The Republic of Korea has formally selected the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft for its F-X fighter acquisition program.  

USS Elrod Takes Over Escort Duties of Libyan Seized Tanker

The U.S. Navy’s USS Elrod relieved the USS Stout of its escort duties for the Morning Glory tanker ship on March 19, Army Col. Steven Warren, a Defense Department spokesman, told Pentagon reporters on Friday. 

Russian Black Fleet Seizes Ukrainian Submarine

Ships from Russia’s Black Sea Fleet surrounded on Saturday the Zaporizhzhia, the only Ukrainian Navy submarine, which was stationed in Crimea and took control over the boat from the Ukrainian sailors, RIA Novosti reported.

Malaysian PM: No Survivors in MH 370 Crash

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur that “based on satellite imagery, it can be confirmed that no one on board the Malaysian flight MH 370, that went missing, survived.” 

UK Ships Set Sail for Exercise Joint Warrior

HMS Illustrious, the Royal Navy’s helicopter and commando carrier, and the Type 23 Frigate HMS Kent sailed yesterday from Portsmouth to take part in Europe’s largest naval exercise off the coast of Scotland.  

Indian Puts Search Operation for MH370 on Standby

 The Malaysian authorities have indicated that based on investigation, the search operations for the missing Malaysian Airlines aircraft MH 370 have entered a new phase and a strategy for further searches is being formulated.   Accordingly, search operations have been suspended and all Indian assets earmarked for SAR operations have been placed on standby.