The Russian Air Force (VVS) received three new Mi-8MTPR-1 electronic warfare (EW) helicopters on 4 March.
Mi-8MTPR-1 is a standard Mi-8MTV-5-1 with a 'Rychag-AV' active jamming station installed onboard. The helicopters are designed to be able to detect and suppress electronic command-and-control
Russia receives new Mi-8MTPR-1 electronic warfare helicopters
↧
↧
Iran claims to have tested 'very special weapon'
The naval wing of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) has implied that it is working on a missile that can be launched from a submerged submarine.
Iranian television showed footage of a missile being launched from below the surface during the 'Great Prophet 9' exercise that was held on
↧
Northrop Grumman selected to provide SEWIP Block 3 for USN ships
Key Points
SEWIP Block 3 extends the EW suite to include EA capability improvements
Source selection took nearly 24 months due to the complexity of the programme
Northrop Grumman announced on 5 March that it been awarded a USD267 million contract from the US Navy (USN) for the Surface Electronic
↧
USN needs to step up cyber defence efforts to counter more varied threats
Key Points
Hackers shifting from for-profit attacks to taking over control systems
The DoD needs to adopt acquisition process to pace cyber threats
The US Navy's (USN's) efforts to network everything from control to weapons systems could leave the sea service vulnerable to more damaging cyber
↧
Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia consider co-ordinated counter-piracy patrols in the South China Sea
Key Points
Littoral navies may start new co-ordinated patrols in South China Sea, according to the Republic of Singapore Navy
The move will herald a new level of naval co-operation in the region
The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) is considering co-ordinated South China Sea patrols with its
↧
↧
Modi heads to IOR states on charm offensive
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin a five-day tour of three Indian Ocean Region (IOR) states on 10 March that is intended to counter China's growing strategic, economic and diplomatic influence.
Beginning in Seychelles, Modi will travel to Mauritius and conclude his tour on 14 March
↧
Pakistan stands up KE-03 AEW&C squadron
More than three years after receiving its first Karakorum Eagle 03 (KE-03) airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) No 4 Squadron officially stood up in a ceremony at PAF Base Masroor on 26 February.
The aircraft, developed by China Electronics
↧
Enforce Tac 2015: B&T unveils two new firearms
Swiss company B&T unveiled prototypes of the P26 submachine gun and compact TP380 carbine at the Enforce Tac exhibition in Nuremberg.
Both weapons are chambered in 9 mm cartridges, with serial production of both weapons to begin in April, and will be offered to customers
↧
Australia takes KC-30A tanker off Projects of Concern list
Issues with the refuelling boom of the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF's) KC-30A multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) have been resolved and the aircraft has been removed from the government's Projects of Concern list, the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) announced on 6 March.
The RAAF was the
↧
↧
US calls for more European UN peacekeepers
Key Points
The United States' ambassador to the UN has called on Europe to step up its contribution of troops to UN peacekeeping missions
The call is unlikely to be warmly received, however, given the United States' own dire record of contributing troops to serve under the UN flag
UN peacekeeping
↧
UK Apache replacement held up by AgustaWestland, BBC report states
The UK's efforts to sustain its Apache attack helicopter capability are being seriously hampered by lobbying from AgustaWestland, according to a BBC report published on 7 March.
With the British Army's 66 AgustaWestland-Boeing WAH-64D Block I Apache Longbow AH.1 helicopters soon needing replacement
↧
Taiwanese parliament suspends armed forces downsizing plans
Taiwan's Legislative National Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee voted on 9 March to suspend a Ministry of National Defense (MND) programme that aimed to downsize the island's armed forces to fewer than 200,000 active serving personnel by 2019.
The MND was set to begin cutting personnel in July.
↧
South Africa: Denel, GEW Technologies to collaborate on EW
South Africa's Denel group and Airbus-owned electronic warfare (EW) systems company GEW Technologies have "joined forces to collaborate on future electronic warfare programmes".
The arrangement will be pursued taking a "phased approach", commencing with a joint project,
↧
↧
European president calls for a European army
Key Points
Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, has called for the creation of a European armed forces in the future
The call was warmly received by the German defence minister, but roundly rejected by politicians in the United Kingdom and elsewhere
European Commission
↧
Poland moves forward with WR-300 Homar MRL project
The Polish Armament Inspectorate has invited Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW) into negotiations for the delivery of wheeled WR-300 Homar (Lobster) multiple rocket launchers (MRLs).
The negotiations with HSW, which is owned by the Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ), are planned to begin in June, with the
↧
Enforce Tac 2015: Beretta reveals new details on ARX-200 7.62 mm rifle
Beretta has revealed details of their new ARX-200 7.62x51 mm select-fire rifle for the Italian Armed Forces at Enforce Tac 2015 in Nuremberg.
According to officials the company has completed a couple of ARX-200 prototypes, which are currently undergoing qualification tests with the Italian Army.
↧
UK moves closer to declaring AN/TPS-77 air defence radar fully operational
The United Kingdom is to declare its three newly installed Lockheed Martin AN/TPS-77 ground-based long-range air surveillance radar systems to be fully operational with the completion of trials against airborne targets set for late 2015, the government disclosed on 9 March.
Answering questions in
↧
↧
Pentagon study validates USAF A-10 retirement plan but no CAS-specific replacement
Key Points
The USAF is pressing on with plans to retire the A-10
There is no firm plan to develop another CAS-specific aircraft, so the USAF will rely on legacy combat aircraft and, eventually, the F-35
A multiservice summit on the Pentagon's close-air support (CAS) mission confirmed USAF plans
↧
Malaysia receives first A400M airlifter
Malaysia has received the first of its four Airbus Defence and Space (DS) A400M Atlas transport aircraft, the company announced on 10 March.
The handover of aircraft MSN022 to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) took place at the final assembly line (FAL) in Seville, Spain, the day before the
↧
Analysis: Is the time right for a European Air Force?
The European President recently called for the formation of a 'European Army' in order for the continent to better face the growing threats on its doorstep from Moscow and others.
While Jean-Claude Juncker's proposal was dismissed by key member states almost as soon as it was announced, might not
↧
More Pages to Explore .....
