Estonia is drafting a new bill that will allow commercial firms to deal with military weapons, munitions, and defence materiel. This will include transport, storage, repair, upgrade, and manufacture of the equipment.
The move is expected to create 150 jobs, and EUR60 million (USD72 million) in
Estonia widens market for defence contracts
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Current law sufficient to deem autonomous weapon systems illegal, says FCO
The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) regards international humanitarian law (IHL) as sufficient to effectively outlaw autonomous weapon systems, despite divergent opinions within industry, Jane’s has learned.
Not supporting a ban on such weapon systems, the FCO believes that
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China launches seventh Type 815A AGI
The seventh improved Dongdiao-class (Type 815A) intelligence collection ship (AGI) on order for China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) was launched on 8 September at the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai.
The ship is the sixth of the class to be launched since March 2014, with
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Senate begins debating defence policy bill, including sweeping war authorisations
The US Senate on 11 September began debating the fiscal year 2018 (FY 2018) national defense authorisation bill, taking a late but important step in advancing the defence policy legislation.
This year’s bill includes hundreds of amendments. Republican Rand Paul earlier this year blocked the
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Top NATO and Russian brass meet in Baku
The chairman of NATO’s Military Committee, Czech Army General Petr Pavel, and the chief of the General Staff of Russia’s armed forces, General Valery Gerasimov, met for talks in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, on 7 September.
The meeting was the first at this level since NATO's freeze in
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Pentagon budget 2018: Trump enacts stop-gap funding until December
US President Donald Trump on 8 September signed stop-gap legislation to fund the US government, including the Department of Defense (DoD), through 8 December, setting up another budget showdown but buying time for White House priorities such reforming the US tax code.
Some congressional defence
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China’s land-based carrier mock-up undergoing further modifications
A recently published image of modifications made to China’s land-based aircraft carrier development facility at Wuhan reflects the ongoing work supporting the development of the country’s third aircraft carrier, commonly known as the Type 002.
Published in Chinese online forums in early
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South Korea, Egypt to identify defence trade opportunities
South Korea and Egypt have agreed to explore opportunities for collaboration on defence equipment with a view to Seoul securing military exports to the North African country.
Following talks in Seoul on 11 September between South Korean defence minister Song Young-moo and his Egyptian counterpart
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Pyne commits to local involvement in Australian frigate programme
Australia’s Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne has reiterated a commitment to maximise local involvement in the Project Sea 5000 programme to build nine Future Frigates for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
Speaking in the Australian Senate on 11 September, Pyne confirmed that
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China docks second SSK at Malaysian submarine base
Key Points
A second Chinese submarine has conducted a stopover in Malaysia
Besides signalling increasingly cordial defence relations between Beijing and Putrajaya, deployment indicates that China is progressively increasing the operational reach of its submarines
In a sign of deepening defence
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Bahrain lining up Swiftships FPBs
Bahrain has requested two of Swiftships’ new 35 m Fast Patrol Boats (FPBs).
The proposed sale was announced on 8 September, when the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) formally notified Congress that the US State Department had approved the sale of the two vessels at an estimated cost
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USAF steps up use of air power in Afghanistan
The US Air Force (USAF) stepped up the use of air power in Afghanistan in August, releasing more ordnance than in any other month since August 2012, according to recently released data by US Air Forces Central Command (AFCENT).
The data show that USAF aircraft released a total of 503 weapons in
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Leonardo to supply AESA radars for Bangladesh Navy’s new Dornier 228 multirole aircraft
The Bangladesh Navy’s (BN’s) two recently ordered RUAG (Dornier) 228 NG maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) will be equipped with Leonardo’s Seaspray 5000E active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar.
The Italy-based company announced in an 11 September statement that it had
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Indonesian Navy commissions 111 m training ship
Key Points
Indonesia has commissioned a new Spanish-built three-masted training vessel
Platform will significantly enhance the service’s ab initio practical training capabilities
The Indonesian Navy (Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Laut: TNI-AL) has taken delivery of, and
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Cyient reaches deal for B&F Designs
Indian firm Cyient has reached a deal to buy US group B&F Designs, the company announced on 11 September. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Cyient is making the acquisition through its US subsidiary Cyient Defense Services.
B&F Designs provides design services to manufacturing
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US State Department approves potential Super Hornet sale to Canada
The US State Department approved a potential foreign military sale (FMS) of 18 Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter aircraft to Canada, the Pentagon announced on 12 September.
Ten aircraft would be F/A-18E single seat models while eight would be the F/A-18F two-seat variant. The deal would also
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Royal Thai Navy takes delivery of four M21-class patrol boats
Key Points
Thailand has taken delivery of four new M21 patrol boats from a local shipbuilder
Vessels will improve the service’s constabulary capabilities in the Andaman Sea, Gulf of Thailand
The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) has taken delivery of four new M21-class patrol boats from local shipyard
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Pentagon budget 2018: Stop-gap funding harming readiness, stalling acquisitions
The Pentagon is concerned that its current stop-gap budget will further lower military ‘readiness’ levels by keeping funding at the prior year’s levels and barring new programmes.
US President Donald Trump on 8 September signed stop-gap legislation to fund the US government,
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US, India look to boost military technology initiative
India and the United States are preparing to enhance their joint Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI), designed to strengthen defence industrial collaboration between the two countries. Jane’s understands that US defence officials are in India this week to lay the groundwork ahead of
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L3 Technologies acquires Adaptive Methods
US firm L3 Technologies announced on 12 September that it had acquired compatriot firm Adaptive Methods.
Virginia-based Adaptive Methods designs, develops, and manufactures a range of underwater sensor systems and processors, unmanned underwater vehicles, and tactical buoy systems for manned and
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