On 1 May 2017 the United States for the first time launched a national security satellite payload on a commercially-procured rocket.
A US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) payload, NROL-76, was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, according to a NRO
US for the first time launches national security payload on commercial rocket
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UK reorganises Foxhound units
A major reorganisation of UK units equipped with the Foxhound light protected patrol vehicle is under way to reduce the operating costs of the 399-strong fleet of the mine-protected vehicles.
Under plans expected to be finalised by British Army chiefs, the Foxhound will be withdrawn from six
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Turkey to procure aerostats to boost border security, collect intelligence
Turkey plans to deploy aerostats to boost security along its 900 km southern border with Syria.
A request for proposals (RFP) to procure the systems was issued to local companies by the Turkish Defence Industries Undersecretariat (SSM) on 30 March, Jane's has learned, with the deadline for
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New Turkish purge sees 1,000 officers dismissed, including over 100 pilots
The Turkish government expelled about 1,000 officers of various ranks from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) on 29 April, including one general and more than 100 pilots, under new decrees that are part of the emergency measures imposed after last year's failed military coup.
The officers were fired
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New comms infrastructure for Spanish MoD approved
The Spanish government has given the go-ahead to open the bidding for a possible EUR139 million (USD151.64 million) spend on a new integrated information infrastructure (to be designated I3D) for the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
The aim is to provide efficient and secure telecommunications access for
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HCDC calls for increase in defence spending to build up British Army
The ambitions of the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to field a fully equipped and trained 'warfighting' division of 40,000 troops will only be realised with an increase in defence spending, according to a UK parliamentary defence committee.
In its 29 April report into the 'Strategic Defence and
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Duterte open to joint Sino-Philippine military exercises
Philippine President Rodrigo Durterte has said he is open to his country's military conducting joint exercises with China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) as Manila seeks closer ties with Beijing, despite an ongoing dispute over parts of the South China Sea.
"I said, I agree [to the idea]. You
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Trump, Putin agree to seek diplomatic solution to North Korean standoff
US president Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, have agreed to work together to find a diplomatic solution to the standoff with North Korea.
In a telephone conversation, the two leaders spoke about how best to resolve the "very dangerous situation" in North Korea,
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Lockheed Martin's TACMS nearing end of EMD phase
Key Points
A late April flight test demonstrated the missile's height of burst of capability
The company anticipates a TACMS modernisation production contract soon
Lockheed Martin is expected to receive a production contract for its modernised Tactical Missile System (TACMS) in May 2017, months
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Bolivia to announce new defence acquisition plans
The Bolivian government has announced that a new bill, the National Defence Fund, is to be announced in mid-May, which will outline the landlocked country's future defence acquisition projects.
Minister of Defence Reymi Ferreira in late April noted that the plan "is not offensive [in nature
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US Army artillery support used heavily during advance on Mosul
The US-led air campaign supporting counter-Islamic State forces has had a higher profile, but US Army artillery fires played a significant role as Iraqi security forces advanced upon Mosul, according to a recently redeployed brigade commander.
During Iraqi forces' manoeuvres to retake Mosul the US
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Turkey's Anka UAV undergoes weapons trials
Turkey has conducted test firings of domestically manufactured weapons from its Anka unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the Defence Industries Undersecretariat (SSM) announced account on 28 April.
Images posted on both the SSM and Turkish defence ministry Twitter accounts showed the Turkish Aerospace
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Saudi prince says time is on coalition's side in Yemen war
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's deputy crown prince and defence minister, indicated on 2 May that the Saudi-led coalition will not launch a major ground offensive against Yemen's rebel alliance.
In a 50-minute Saudi television interview, he said the kingdom could mobilise its forces and
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China's Hongdu rolls out L-15B lead-in fighter-trainer
China's Hongdu Aviation Industry Group (HAIG) has unveiled a new variant of its L-15A (also known as the JL-10) advanced jet trainer (AJT)/light attack aircraft, according to Chinese media reports.
A prototype of the new twin-seat, lead-in fighter-trainer (LIFT), known as the L-15B, was rolled out
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Brazilian Army eyes new mobile mortar system
The Brazilian Army is expected to launch a competition to buy a 120 mm vehicle-mounted mortar system for its Iveco VBTP-MR Guarani 6x6 mortar carrier variant, officials told Jane's .
The army's Manufacturing Directorate of the Department of Science and Technology is now outlining the system's
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Saudi naval special forces seen using ACMAT PATSAS vehicle
Photographs released on 26 April showed that Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) special forces are now using the ACMAT Bastion PATSAS 4x4 armoured vehicle.
Photographs released by both the Jordan Armed Forces (JAF) and the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) showed Saudi soldiers and one Jordanian in a PATSAS
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Rheinmetall selects NIOA for Australian programme
Rheinmetall Defence Australia (RDA) has selected Brisbane-based NIOA as a supplier of ammunition and armament services in support of RDA's bid to meet the Australian Army's requirement for combat reconnaissance vehicles under Land 400 Phase 2.
NIOA said on 3 May that its teaming with RDA is
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Portuguese Army initiates small-arms acquisition programme
The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) is to execute the procurement of a large number of small arms for the Portuguese Army, the service has told Jane's . The contract will start this year and run until 2022, the army added.
The acquisition of 10,225 small arms for a total cost of EUR41.9
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Myanmar looks to procure submarines
The Myanmar military (Tatmadaw) is considering a move to procure submarines, the country's deputy defence minister Rear-Admiral Myint Nwe has confirmed in comments reported by local media.
Speaking at a press conference in Naypyidaw on 3 May, he said the potential procurement is driven by a
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Iranian midget submarine missile test reportedly fails
Iran's attempt to test launch a missile from one of its midget submarines has failed, Fox News reported two US officials as saying on 3 May.
The officials said the test was carried out in the Strait of Hormuz using a Yono-class submarine: a North Korean design that is produced in Iran as the
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