The Cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on 1 July approved changes to its interpretation of the war-renouncing constitution to enable the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) to exercise the right to collective self-defence.
The decision marks a major change in Japan's post-war security
Japanese cabinet approves changes to collective self-defence posture
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Iraq to get another King Air
Iraq is to get another Hawker Beechcraft King Air 350ER aircraft under a USD7.85 million contract announced by the US Department of Defense (DoD) on 30 June. The contract is expected to be completed by 30 March 2015.
The Iraqi Air Force already operates King Air 350ERs that have been modified into
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India moves to deregulate defence industry licencing
India's federal government has moved to deregulate the production of some defence equipment, a move that aims to increase private participation in the local military-industrial sector and boost indigenous capabilities.
In a 25 June directive the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP)
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Germany cuts defence budget by EUR800 million
The German Bundestag has set Germany's defence spending at EUR32.4 billion (USD44.3 billion) for 2014, following a vote on 25 June.
This approved budget is EUR400 million less than the defence budget proposed by Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen in April and represents a 2.58% decline over the
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Djibouti parades new armour
The Djibouti Armed Forces (FAD) displayed its newly acquired M109 self-propelled howitzers and Puma armoured personnel carriers (APCs) for the first time during the country's Independence Day celebrations on 27 June.
Local television footage showed at least eight M109Ls: a version of the original
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China shows off new kit at Hong Kong garrison open days
The Hong Kong garrison of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) displayed several new pieces of military equipment at camp open days on 29 June and 1 July. New equipment is often fielded first by Hong Kong's garrison before being introduced more widely into PLA service.
While not a new configuration,
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Canada receives full complement of CH-147F Chinook helos
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has received into service the last of 15 Boeing CH-47F (CH-147F in Canadian service) Chinook medium/heavy-lift transport helicopters, the company announced on 30 June.
Now with the RCAF, this helicopter will join the 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron at Canadian
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USAF declares Gorgon Stare follow-on operationally deployable
Key Points
The Increment 2 system incorporates an electro-optical and an infrared sensor
The upgrade provides a four-fold increase in area coverage and a two-fold improvement in resolution compared with its predecessor
The US Air Force (USAF) has declared initial operational capability of the
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US Navy promotes its first female four-star admiral
A US Navy (USN) officer has become the first female to achieve the rank of four-star admiral in the service and to be promoted as its deputy commander.
Admiral Michelle J Howard took the oath of office on 1 July and is assuming her new role as the USN's 38th Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO).
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UK should keep Trident missiles, think tank urges
A three-year review of the United Kingdom's (UK's) nuclear deterrent by an influential, and pro-disarmament, think tank has concluded that it should keep its current Trident missile-based system.
However, the review from the Trident Commission recommended reducing the number of nuclear warheads
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Triumph Group acquires GE Aviation's hydraulic actuation business
Triumph Group announced on 30 June that it had acquired GE Aviation's hydraulic actuation business for USD70 million.
The business, based in Yakima, Washington, and the United Kingdom, manufactures actuation systems for use in landing gears, manifolds, flight control, and locking systems for use in
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Tales of the unexpected: mystery remains over Central Europe ATC blackouts
Key Points
Commercial air traffic control was disrupted in Central Europe on 5 and 10 June
NATO denies a connection between the blackouts and electronic warfare exercises held in Hungary and Italy
On 5 June 2014 radar tracks of commercial aircraft in Central European airspace flickered and then
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Russian troops to receive second-gen combat gear this year
Deliveries of an improved second-generation personal combat system to Russian troops will start in late 2014, according to Dmitry Semizorov, director general of the Central Research Institute of Precision Engineering (TsNIITochMash), Russia's leading producer of personal combat equipment.
The gear,
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Raytheon, Eurosam invited to tender for Polish air defence requirement
The Polish Ministry of National Defence (MND) announced on 30 June it had invited US company Raytheon and France's Eurosam to tender for the country's Wisla (Vistula) medium-range air and missile defence (AMD) system requirement. The two companies are offering the Patriot and SAMP/T (Surface-to-Air
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Nexter Systems, KMW to merge
Key Points
Nexter, KMW to unite under single joint-holding company
Merger designed to create internationally competitive land systems business
France's Nexter Systems and Germany's Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) announced on 1 July that the two firms are to effectively merge in the form of an
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ISIL displays captured weapons
The Islamist State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) held a parade in the eastern Syrian city of Al-Raqqah on 30 June to show off weapons captured in Iraq and Syria, including a non-operational 'Scud' ballistic missile.
The missile was on a static launcher that had been put on a trailer so it could be
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Iraq receives first Mi-28NE attack helos alongside additional Mi-35Ms
Iraq has taken delivery of its first batch of Mil Mi-28NE 'Havoc' (Night Hunter) attack helicopters, as well as additional Mil Mi-35M 'Hind' assault helicopters, Russian state media announced on 2 July.
The first three Mi-28NE helicopters and four new Mi-35M helicopters arrived in-country aboard
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Iraq receives additional Su-25 jets, purportedly from Iran
The Iraqi Air Force (IqAF) has reportedly received from Iran a number of Sukhoi Su-25 'Frogfoot' ground-attack aircraft to augment those already supplied by Russia.
A video and statement posted on the Iraqi Ministry of Defence (MoD) website on 1 July announced that a second batch of five jets had
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Eurosatory 2014: Thales Australia launches Hawkei export variant
Thales Australia has displayed its Hawkei 4x4 Light Protected Mobility Vehicle for the first time at Eurosatory 2014 in Paris in an export configuration.
Originally developed to compete for the Australian Defence Force's (ADF's) Project Land 141 Phase 4 requirement for 1,300 utility vehicles,
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Czech's look to Pandur as new command vehicle
The General Staff of the Army of the Czech Republic (ACR) favours the General Dynamics European Land Systems - Steyr Pandur II 8x8 armoured vehicle as the platform for a planned new command and communications vehicle, Ministry of Defence (MoD) sources have told IHS Jane's .
"The army favours
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