The US Army has begun receiving its first production-model M109A7 Paladin Integrated Management (PIM) self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) and held a ceremony on 9 April to mark the new system's arrival.
The army and prime contractor BAE Systems are in the process of finalising a low-rate initial
Paladin PIM deliveries to the US Army begin
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Malaysia sends C-130s for Yemen evacuation
Malaysia has dispatched two Royal Malaysian Air Force C-130s to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to evacuate nationals trying to escape the fighting in Yemen.
In a statement released on 8 April, Malaysian Chief of Defence Forces General Zulkifeli Mohammed Zin said the two aircraft had left RMAF
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Lockheed Martin bids for US Army JAGM
Key Points
Lockheed Martin has responded to the US Army's JAGM solicitation
A Raytheon-Boeing team has decided to forego the competition in hopes of a follow-on solicitation for a tri-mode variant
Lockheed Martin has delivered its proposal for the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) competition to
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Defence becomes hot topic in UK election
Defence has become a hot political topic in the United Kingdom ahead of the country's upcoming May general election.
Just as in the last general election in 2010, the future of the country's nuclear deterrent is the centre for disagreement between the various parties vying for power.
Tensions
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Australia signs for two more C-17 airlifters
Australia has signed for two of the four Boeing C-17 Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft that were requested in late 2014, the country's Department of Defence (DoD) announced on 10 April.
The two aircraft, plus associated equipment and support, have been procured at a cost of AUD1 billion
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Analysis: Saudi-led Arab coalition stays largely in the shadows
ANALYSIS
Saudi Arabia has put together an almost unprecedented Arab coalition to support its military intervention against the Ansar Allah group in Yemen. However, precise details on which countries are involved and what assets they are contributing remain sketchy.
When Operation 'Determined
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Russian submarine catches fire in dock
The Russian Navy's Oscar II-class (Project 949A) nuclear-powered guided missile submarine (SSGN) Orel caught fire while in dock in Severodvinsk on 7 April. Orel was undergoing maintenance at the time. United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) said that the fire was caused when rubber insulation between
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Poland to strengthen eastern border
Key Points
Poland is to strengthen its forces along its eastern and northern borders as a result of the Ukraine crisis
In total, 7,000 extra personnel will be deployed to the borders, while units in the area will be prioritised for receipt of new equipment
Poland is to reinforce its military
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Poland seeks 118 long-range recce vehicles
The Polish Armament Inspectorate has announced a tender for 118 light armoured long-range reconnaissance vehicles (LRRVs) under the 'Zmija' (Viper) programme.
With a planned delivery in 2016-22, the new vehicles will be used by three modernised Polish Armed Forces reconnaissance regiments: 18th
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Pentagon releases latest acquisition reform plan
The Pentagon published the latest iteration of its Better Buying Power (BBP) Initiative on 9 April, version 3.0, which looks to improve technology acquisition and efficiency in the face of what senior officials fear is waning US dominance.
The final version of BBP 3.0 hews closely to a draft that
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Pakistani parliament votes against military action in Yemen
Pakistan's parliament has passed a resolution that urges the government to remain neutral in the Yemen conflict, while also showing support for Saudi Arabia.
"The parliament of Pakistan expresses serious concern on the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in Yemen and its
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Obama weighs into South China Sea row
China is using its "sheer size and muscle" to coerce the claimant countries in the South China Sea, US president Barack Obama said on 9 April.
"Where we get concerned with China is where it is not necessarily abiding by international norms and rules and is using its sheer size and
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DoD to compete bomber upgrades, but economies of scale will be key to cost
Key Points
DoD intends to hold future competitions for modular upgrades of its developmental LRS-B
Opening the door to competition could drive down cost of bomber technologies, but the crucial cost driver will still be economies of scale in the initial acquisition
The US Department of Defense
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Russia receives two MiG-31BM squadrons
Russian Deputy Minister of Defence Yury Borisov has told reporters that the air force has taken delivery of 24 modernised MiG-31BM 'Foxhound' interceptors.
The Khotilovo fighter regiment received a squadron of 12 MiG-31BM aircraft in late 2014, but a destination for the second squadron has not been
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Vietnam to accelerate SBIC restructuring
The Vietnamese government has vowed to accelerate the restructuring of the state-owned Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (SBIC), formerly the Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Group (Vinashin).
Vietnam's Minister of Transport, Dinh La Thang, said that while the company had largely recovered from the
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South African defence remain steady in 2014
South Africa approved just under ZAR3 billion (USD250 million) in defence exports in 2014, a slight decrease on the ZAR3.2 billion approved in 2013, according to the latest report by the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC).
Released in March and recently obtained by IHS Jane's ,
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AVIC acquires fourth US aviation firm
The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has completed the acquisition of US company Align Aerospace, it was announced on 10 April.
The California-based firm, which distributes components, systems and fittings primarily for the commercial aerospace sector, is AVIC's fourth acquisition in
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Russia and US trade blows over Baltic interception
Moscow and Washington have traded verbal blows over the interception of a United States surveillance aircraft by a Russian fighter over the Baltic Sea, which the latter described as "reckless, unsafe, and unprofessional".
The incident, which took place on 7 April, saw a US Air Force
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Modi announces Rafale buy
Key Points
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that Delhi will buy 36 Dassault Rafales from France
The surprise announcement bypasses stalled negotiations between the two countries on India's MMRCA requirement
India is to buy 36 Dassault Rafale fighters in flyaway condition through
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Israeli Artillery Corps looks for a new self-propelled howitzer
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are in the advanced stages of selecting a replacement for their 155 mm M109 self-propelled howitzer, a senior source from the Artillery Corps said last week.
The officer said the new howitzer needs to be able to have a higher rate of fire and a smaller crew than the
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