India and Russia agreed on 21 January to expedite their joint military programmes, particularly the delayed Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) project.
"We discussed all issues, including the FGFA, and have decided to fast-track many of them as there are apprehensions about the slow pace
India, Russia agree to fast-track FGFA programme
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China launches fourth Type 071 LPD
Key Points
China launched three ships from its Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai on 22 January, including the fourth Type 071 landing platform dock
The other two were a Type 054A frigate and a Type 815 intelligence gathering ship
The Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai launched its fourth
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Update: Bulgaria may switch MiG support from Russia to Poland
The Bulgarian Ministry of Defence is negotiating with Poland's Wojskowe Zaklady Lotnicze No 2 (WZL-2) company regarding a maintenance contract for six Bulgarian Air Force (BuAF) MiG-29 'Fulcrum' combat aircraft.
The final contract is planned to be signed in September 2015, when the current
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SpaceX drops lawsuit against USAF over launch vehicle contract
Key Points
SpaceX has dropped a lawsuit against the USAF over a 2014 EELV contract
Although the block buy from ULA will proceed, the USAF did pledge to re-examine its certification process for new competitors
SpaceX has agreed to drop its lawsuit relating to the US Air Force's (USAF's) Evolved
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New HASC chairman faults DoD planning, signals tougher oversight
Key Points
The new HASC chairman signalled more congressional activism in crafting the Pentagon's annual spending plan
He said congressional decisions to disregard Pentagon funding requests on the M1 Abrams tanks and the A-10 fleet demonstrate the need for robust congressional involvement in the
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MEPs push toward direct financing for military missions
Key Points
A number of MEPs are openly calling for an end to the slow, ad hoc way EU military missions are funded
While direct financing of the missions would be much more efficient, issues of national sovereignty are likely to put the brakes on implementing it
Members of the European Parliament
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India, US extend strategic partnership, agree on joint development of four defence systems
India and the US extended bilateral defence co-operation for another decade and agreed to jointly develop and build four defence systems during President Barack Obama's three-day New Delhi visit that ends on 27 January.
"We have renewed our Defence Framework Agreement and decided to take our
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Greek F-16 crashes in Spain
A Hellenic Air Force F-16D Block 50 crashed while taking off from Llos Llanos/Albacete Air Base, Spain, on 26 January to participate in NATO's Tactical Leadership Programme 2015.
Press reports from Spain indicate that the crash, which took place at 1530 h local time, killed both pilots and injured
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Four vehicles to compete for Brazilian 4x4 programme
Four armoured vehicle manufacturers have answered a Brazilian Army request for proposals (RfP) issued in October 2014 for the service's VBMT-LR lightweight wheeled multirole armoured vehicle programme.
VBMT-LR is part of the army's Strategic Project Guarani.
The bidding process, managed by the
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USMC loses UH-1Y helo in training accident
A US Marine Corps (USMC) Bell UH-1Y Venom utility helicopter crashed during a training mission on 23 January, killing two crew members.
The crash, which was reported by the USMC on 25 January, involved an aircraft from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 169, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing,
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CBO releases new triad upgrade estimate
The United States will have to spend USD348 billion on nuclear weapons modernisation over the next 10 years if it wants to maintain a triad of nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarines, and bomber aircraft, according to a 22 January report from the Congressional Budget
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Bulgaria may switch MiG support from Russia to Poland
Bulgarian MiG-29 'Fulcrum' combat aircraft may in future be serviced and maintained in Poland rather than Russia, national media disclosed on 23 January.
The Bulgarian Air Force's (BuAF's) 12 remaining MiG-29 'Fulcrum-A' fighters and three 'Fulcrum-B' operational trainers could be sustained in
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Defence minister details plans for upgraded security in East Malaysia
Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein has provided details on a number of measures to increase security in the East Malaysian state of Sabah, including the deployment of Malaysian Army Deftech AV8 armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs), an assessment of the current coastal maritime
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Vietnam reveals the significant financial scope of military-run businesses
The Vietnam Ministry of National Defence (MND) revealed details about the significant financial scope of the businesses owned and managed by the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) in a statement published by the MND on 26 January.
It is thought to be the first time such details have been disclosed by the
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Italy to host European Personnel Recovery Centre
The Italian Air Force base of Poggio Renatico, about 30 km north of Bologna, has been chosen to host the European Personnel Recovery Centre (EPRC).
Lieutenant General Pasquale Preziosa, the Italian Air Force chief of staff, signed the technical accord relating to the EPRC on behalf of the Italian
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Indonesia's defence minister requests USD400m defence budget boost
Indonesia's Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu has requested IDR5.1 trillion (USD409 million) to boost the country's 2015 defence budget, according to media reports in Indonesia.
The request was tabled during a meeting between Ryacudu and the House of Representatives committee on foreign affairs
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Details emerge for Argentina's 3-D radar programme
The Argentine Air Force (FAA) will install a long-range Argentine Primary 3-D Radar (RPA) in San Pedro sometime during 2015 following an agreement reached between the FAA and the provincial government of Misiones.
The agreement, which was reportedly reached in mid-January, will allow the FAA to
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Colombian Armed Forces continue modernising, seeking new roles
Colombian Minister of Defence Juan Carlos Pinzon met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in New York on 26 January to highlight Colombia's advanced military capabilities and then sign a framework agreement for Colombia's participation in international peacekeeping operations, as the Andean state
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Analysis: Little to write home about after first Japan-UK '2+2' talks
Even by the tame standards of bilateral communiques, the statement released by Japan and the United Kingdom on 21 January was lukewarm at best.
The statement, which followed the first defence and foreign ministerial (or '2+2') meeting of the two countries, included a lot of "reaffirming"
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Ukraine approves An-70 production, commits to fielding airlifter
Ukraine has approved production of the Antonov An-70 transport aircraft and will introduce it into service with its armed forces, the company announced on 22 January.
The decision to adopt the An-70 was taken by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) following a test programme that was concluded in June
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