Negotiations to supply Lebanon with three fast attack craft (FACs) are continuing, the French shipbuilder CMN told IHS Jane's at Euronaval 2014.
Lebanon is negotiating to acquire a new variant of CMN's venerable Combattante series of missile-armed FACs, dubbed the FS 56, as part of a USD3 billion
Euronaval 2014: Lebanese FAC contract yet to be finalised
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Iraq prepares to deploy Mi-28NE attack helos against the Islamic State
Iraq will soon deploy its recently acquired Mil Mi-28NE 'Havoc' attack helicopters in the fight against the Islamic State, the defence ministry announced in late October.
With the first examples having arrived in-country at the end of August, the Iraqi Army has been preparing them for their
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A-10 retirement restrictions imperil F-35A IOC for USAF
Key Points
The USAF's F-35A fleet might not be operationally deployable by August 2016 as planned
Experienced A-10 maintenance personnel were expected to comprise the majority of new F-35 maintainers, but lawmakers are working to block the legacy aircraft's retirement
The US Air Force's (USAF's)
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UK ponders Afghan request for air support
Afghanistan's government has asked the UK to continue to provide close air support (CAS) for its ground troops after NATO forces pull out of the central Asian country at the end of the year amid fears that Kabul's air force is not yet ready to offer a full-spectrum support capability for its army.
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South Korea mulls cancellation of F-16 upgrade deal
Key Points
South Korean procurement officials have confirmed that Seoul may cancel a contract with BAE Systems to upgrade 134 F-16s
The South Korean government is considering the move after the Pentagon added USD760 million to the cost of the upgrade
South Korea's military procurement agency, the
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South Africa's military satellite 'back on track'
Key Points
It has been confirmed that South Africa will acquire a military satellite, believed to be a Russian Kondor-E with a SAR capability
There are indications South Africa will be able to independently control the satellite
South African Secretary for Defence Sam Gulube confirmed during
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Pentagon wants allies' commitment to F-35 block buys
Key Points
The Pentagon's F-35 programme manager wants multi-year purchase commitments from allies
US law forbids the Pentagon from entering multi-year contracts for weapons before a programme enters full production, so it is pressing allies to step forward in the production queue
The United
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Pentagon signs Lot 8 F135 Contract
Key Points
Pentagon signs LRIP 8 deal for F135 engines
The engine's cost has dropped 4.5% over the LRIP 7 cost
The US Department of Defense has agreed with Pratt & Whitney on terms for an eighth low-rate initial production (LRIP 8) lot of F135 engines for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II
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New Zealand receives final NH90 helo
The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) has received into service the last of eight operational NHIndustries NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopters (TTHs) it ordered in 2006, the defence force announced on 31 October.
The final helicopter arrived at Base Ohakea on North Island on the same day as the
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Euronaval 2014: Lockheed Martin, Intermarine in six-ship MCM deal with Taiwan
Key Points
The Taiwanese Navy is to receive six MCMVs, built and equipped by an international industrial team
All six ships are to be delivered by 2024
Officials from US systems house Lockheed Martin announced at the Euronaval 2014 exhibition in Paris on 28 October that Taiwan has selected an
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Euronaval 2014: DCNS and Airbus DS sign agreement to develop Tanan UAS
Key Points
DCNS and Airbus team up to complete development of the Tanan VTOL UAV
Collaboration intended to speed up market release of the system
DCNS and Airbus Defence and Space (DS) have joined forces to complete development of the Tanan vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) ship-based unmanned
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Dutch to purchase new BMD-capable radars
The Netherland's Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 30 October its intention to replace its two Medium Power Radars (MPRs) with a ground-based version of the Thales Netherlands Smart-L Early Warning Capability (EWC) radars with a missile defence capability.
Currently one ageing Thomson-CSF ARES
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Chilean Navy leads multinational effort to standardise embarked helicopter operations
The Chilean Navy has announced that its 12,000-tonne Sargento Aldea LSDH (former French Foudre) is now certified to serve as a multipurpose platform on global deployments. The announcement came at the end of the Inter-American Naval Conference on Helicopter Operations from Ships other than Aircraft
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Boeing announces offset agreements ahead of Danish fighter aircraft selection
Boeing has signed a series of agreements with Danish defence companies relating to opportunities linked to Boeing's offering of the F/A-18 Super Hornet to meet Denmark's next-generation fighter aircraft requirement.
The US corporation said on 30 October that agreements have been reached with Danish
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Alenia decides not to contest Indian MTA requirement
Alenia Aermarchi has decided not to offer its C-27J Spartan transport aircraft to India, telling IHS Jane's that it is too advanced for the basic requirements of the Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme.
"Alenia Aermacchi has always worked for the development of its products aiming at the
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USMC sticks to its guns on F-35B IOC
Key Points
The USMC still plans to declare its F-35s operationally deployable on 1 July 2015
High-level Pentagon officials have questioned the timeline recently, but the Marines and the F-35 programme office are unwavering
Despite persistent doubts about the US Marine Corps' (USMC's) ability to
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Pentagon to choose regional F-35 MROs this year
Key Points
European and Asia-Pacific locations for F-35 MRO centres are to be revealed this year
Japan and Australia are known contenders for the Pacific facilities, but European locations remain unknown
The US Department of Defense (DoD) plans to choose and announce European and Asia-Pacific
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China completes sea trials for Nigerian OPV
China has completed sea trials of a 95 m offshore patrol vessel (OPV) on order for the Nigerian Navy (NN), a Chinese state-run media outlet reported on 29 October.
The vessel, with pennant number F 91, is the first of two P-18N OPVs acquired by the NN in March 2012 to bolster its maritime
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Canada joins airstrikes against the Islamic State
Canada has joined combat operations against the Islamic State with the first airstrikes being conducted by Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Boeing F/A-18C (CF-18/CF-188) Hornet combat aircraft, the Minister of National Defence announced on 2 November.
Two CF-18s attacked Islamic State targets near
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Taiwan makes progress on Taiping Island harbour
Taiwan is making progress on its construction of a harbour on Taiping Island in the Spratly Islands, according to satellite imagery provided by Airbus Defence and Space and analysed by IHS Jane's.
The 6 August imagery shows land reclamation on the southwest tip of the island, which is also known as
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