The US Army has awarded Milestone B approval to formally initiate the CH-47F/MH-47G Chinook Block 2 programme, Jane's was told on 11 April.
Randy Rotte, director of Chinook Global Sales & Marketing, said that the decision to move the Block 2 from the Technology Maturation & Risk Reduction
US Army awards Milestone B to Chinook Block 2
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Trump reiterates US readiness to 'solve' North Korea issue without China
US president Donald Trump has reiterated his country's readiness to act alone against North Korea if China refuses to help: an indication that Washington is willing to take a tougher stance on the regime in Pyongyang.
"North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be
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French Air Force deploys Mirage 2000N to Chad
The French Air Force deployed two Dassault Mirage 2000N strike aircraft to Chad on 6 April.
The French Defence Staff (EMA) announced that the aircraft from the 2/4 La Fayette squadron based at Istres flew to N'Djamena via Dakar, with the support of a Boeing C-135FR tanker.
The Mirage 2000Ns join
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USMC develops F-35's austere capabilities
The US Marine Corps (USMC) is developing the austere operating capabilities of the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), with a 'hot' ground refuelling conducted from a transport aircraft on 11 April.
The F-35B from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VFMA) 121 received fuel
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USAF deploys WC-135 Constant Phoenix atmospheric collection aircraft to Japan, say reports
The US Air Force has deployed a Boeing WC-135 Constant Phoenix atmospheric collection aircraft to US facilities in Japan amid concerns that North Korea may conduct another nuclear test, several media outlets reported on 12 April.
The aircraft, which specialises in detecting radioactive debris
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US forces in Afghanistan drop first GBU-43/B MOAB in combat
US Forces - Afghanistan struck what officials described as an Islamic State "tunnel complex in Achin district, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan" on 13 April.
Notably, the strike used a "GBU-43 bomb dropped from a US aircraft", US Forces - Afghanistan said in a statement. The
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UK's Royal Marines face restructuring to balance Royal Navy manpower shortage
One of the UK Royal Marines' three amphibious infantry units is being re-roled to provide small detachments of embarked forces on large Royal Navy (RN) warships.
The move to create what is being dubbed a Maritime Operations Commando was announced by the head of the RN, Admiral Sir Philip Jones, on
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Tomahawk strike in Syria stokes debate about performance of Russian air defences
The US Navy's ability to hit Syria's Al-Shayrat Air Base with a large number of Raytheon RGM-109 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMs) on 7 April raised questions about the capabilities of Russia's air defence systems, specifically its current frontline long-range system: the Almaz-Antey S-400
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Sudan announces casualties in Yemen
In a rare admission, the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) announced on 11 April that five of its soldiers had been killed in Yemen and another 22 wounded.
Sudan has had soldiers in southern Yemen since October 2015, when the first ones arrived in Aden to support the Saudi-led effort to re-install Yemen's
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Stop-gap budget would force US Coast Guard shut down
The effects of a year-long congressional budget continuing resolution (CR) would see the US Coast Guard (USCG) shut down operations, Admiral Paul Zukunft, commandant of the USCG told reporters on 12 April 2017 at a Defense Writers Group breakfast in Washington, DC.
"This is an unusual year
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Russian military delegation visits Nicaragua, plans exercises
Nicaragua and Russia are mulling possible joint military exercises, and a delegation of Russian airborne troops visited Nicaragua from 3 to 8 April to discuss the event.
"Representatives of Russia and Nicaragua will approve the exercise period, composition of involved units, as well as supply
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Russia suspends Syrian flight safety MOU with US
Russia has suspended communications with the United States relating to the operational safety of their respective combat aircraft operating over Syria.
The suspension, which was announced by the Kremlin on 8 April, followed the US cruise missile strike on Sharyat airbase the day before, after it
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North Korea says it will spend nearly 16% of national budget on defence
North Korea will allocate nearly 16% of its total national expenditure to defence during 2017, the Rodong Sinmun newspaper, a daily of the Workers' Party of Korea, reported on 12 April following the fifth session of the 13th Supreme People's Assembly.
"In order to handle the critical situation
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NATO predicting increase to eight countries meeting spending target
Three more countries will meet NATO's target for defence spending, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on 12 April. Stoltenberg was speaking at a joint press conference with US president Donald Trump held at the White House.
"Last year there were five allies spending 2%," Stoltenberg
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Japanese navy to conduct joint drills with US CSG headed to Korean Peninsula, say reports
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) will conduct joint naval exercises with the US Navy Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group (CSG) as the latter heads to waters near the Korean Peninsula, according to media reports.
"Japan wants to despatch several destroyers as the Carl Vinson [CSG]
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India makes historical move to issue ammunition tenders to private sector
The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has, for the first time, issued a raft of request for proposal (RFP) documents to the country's private sector to support the procurement of ammunition for the Indian armed forces.
The move follows the MoD's decision in late 2016 to allow the private sector to
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Imagery shows North Korean nuclear test facility is 'primed and ready', says 38 North
Analysis of commercial satellite imagery suggests that North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear test facility is "primed and ready" to carry out the country's sixth overall nuclear test, according to a report published by the 38 North website.
Taken on 12 April the images show "continued
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Chinese companies boost presence at LAAD exhibitions
Chinese export companies have been increasing their participation in Latin American Aerospace and Defence (LAAD) exhibitions over the past several years: a development that was also noticeable at this year's event, held on 4-7 April in Brazil.
In an effort to create a collective, corporate image,
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Arms control 'is at its weakest point in decades', forum concludes
Compliance across the globe with arms control measures is at its weakest point in decades, although a new forum holds the promise, at least in Europe, of improved transparency and dialogue, according to NATO officials and others.
"Arms control efforts across the entire Euro-Atlantic area are
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US mulls relisting North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism
US secretary of state Rex Tillerson has said his country is considering relisting North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism in a bid to pressure Pyongyang to re-engage with Washington and ultimately give up its nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programmes.
Asked by reporters about the issue on
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