Russia is planning to double the size of its Airborne Troops (VDV) by 2019 to 72,000 personnel, it has been reported.
A "high ranking" General Staff source told Russian news agency ITAR-TASS on 6 August that the Ministry of Defence has approved the proposal. Despite the increase, this
Russia 'to double' size of airborne forces
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Mexico mulling Brazilian military equipment, leadership structures
Top Mexican and Brazilian defence officials met on 4 August as Mexico is interested in several of Brazil's defence programmes, as well as possibly mirroring its military leadership structure.
Mexico's Secretary of National Defence (Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional - SEDENA), General Salvador
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Kamov to create Ka-175 rotary UAV
Kamov have revealed details of their new Ka-175 vertical takeoff and landing reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which could make its maiden flight within a year.
Kamov's general designer, Sergey Mikheyev, provided details on the Ka-175 at a conference titled 'Breakthrough
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IDF detail the damage inflicted on Gaza militants
Key Points
The IDF says two thirds of the 10,000 rockets held by Gaza militants in early July have been expended or destroyed
Iron Dome intercepted a notably smaller proportion of rockets fired into Israel during Operation 'Protective Edge' than during Operation 'Pillar of Defence'
The
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Czech's concerned future sanctions could affect helo force
The Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD) has acknowledged concerns over the potential effects of Russian economic sanctions on the operational capability of the Czech army's helicopter fleet.
MoD officials say that approximately 50 Russian-made helicopters operated by the Army of the Czech Republic
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Colombia gets corvette and two patrol vessels from South Korea
The Colombian Navy (ARC) received three vessels from South Korea in late July as part of its 'Plan Orion 2' naval expansion scheme that aims to significantly increase patrol capabilities by 2030.
The first was the 1,723-ton ARC Nariño , the former Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) Donghae-class
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Brazil seeking business in southern Africa
During late July and early August Brazil received two high-ranking delegations from southern African states as the country is seeking to increase its defence contacts in Africa.
The tours included Tanzanian representation headed by Chief of Defence Forces General Davis Adolf Mwamunyange, as well as
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Bolivia selects French air surveillance systems for airspace control
Bolivian President Evo Morales announced selection of France to provide an air surveillance and air traffic control system, according to a 1 August Bolivian government statement.
Under the terms of the agreement, which IHS Jane's understands from Bolivian sources is not yet final, Thales will
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Malta receives first AW139 SAR helo
The Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) has received the first of two AgustaWestland AW139 search-and-rescue (SAR) and maritime patrol helicopters, the company announced on 6 August.
The helicopter, which was delivered in June, will be followed in December by a second (six months ahead of the previously
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NATO set to cut three aircraft from AWACS fleet
NATO looks set to reduce its E-3 Airborne Warning And Control System (AWACS) fleet from 17 to 14 aircraft, according to an upgrade contract awarded to Boeing on 6 August.
The USD250 million contract will see the flight decks of 13 AWACS aircraft modernised to make them Global Air Traffic Management
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Russian forces build up again on Ukraine border
There is an "ongoing troop build-up on the Russian side of the border", the White House stated on 7 August, expressing concern about the situation and noting that Washington wished "to see this crisis resolved diplomatically".
On 6 August, NATO said the number of combat-ready
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Poland to develop Pirat anti-tank guided missile
The Polish firm Mesko has started development of a new short-range laser-guided anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system known as Pirat.
The first firing of the new missile is planned for mid-2015, while serial production may begin in 2017 or 2018.
On 17 July the Ministry of the Treasury decided to
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Hagel, DoD seeking to bolster defence ties with India
US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel arrived in New Delhi on 7 August as the US Department of Defense (DoD) is seeking closer military relations with an often reticent India.
Hagel said he plans to "pursue different possibilities and options that have been initiated over the years",
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Obama approves airstrikes against Islamic State
US President Barack Obama announced late on 7 August that he had authorised "targeted airstrikes" to prevent the Islamic State militant group advancing on the Iraqi Kurdish capital Arbil and to help rescue the Yazidi people encircled by the extremists on Mount Sinjar.
"In recent days
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Update: NATO set to cut three aircraft from AWACS fleet
NATO looks set to reduce its E-3 Airborne Warning And Control System (AWACS) fleet from 17 to 14 aircraft, according to an upgrade contract awarded to Boeing on 6 August.
The USD250 million contract will see the flight decks of 13 AWACS aircraft modernised to make them Global Air Traffic Management
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USAF to increase nuclear manning levels
The US Air Force (USAF) is to boost manning levels at Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) missile and bomber wings as part of a wider push to improve the operational effectiveness and morale of its nuclear forces.
The increase, announced on 7 August, will see "hundreds" of additional
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UAE, Thai Gripens make debut at 'Pitch Black' exercise in Australia
A number of air forces and aircraft types are making their debut at exercise 'Pitch Black 2014', a biennial air exercise being held in northern Australia from 1-22 August.
Seven countries have assembled a total of 110 aircraft and 2,300 personnel to Australia, including the United Arab Emirates Air
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Singapore, US navies successfully conclude joint TORPEX during CARAT Singapore 2014
Key Points
The Republic of Singapore Navy and United States Navy have conducted a combined torpedo firing during the bilateral 'CARAT Singapore 2014' exercise
The complexity of the combined torpedo firing demonstrated the high level of interoperability and trust between the two navies
The
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Russian MoD to acquire large batch of GAZ-3344 ATVs
The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) is to acquire a large batch of GAZ-3344 tracked articulated all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), the civil and military versions of which were demonstrated on 4-5 August at the Russian MoD's Innovation Days 2014 exhibition at the Alabino test range near Moscow.
News of
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Low readiness levels forced extra MoD payment, Madrid concedes
The Spanish government has acknowledged a lack of preparedness in its rapid reaction forces led to the approval of an extra payment of EUR30.56 million (USD40.98 million) to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) at the beginning of August.
In a statement released on 10 August, Madrid stated: "Some of
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