Slovakia officially inducted into its inventory the first of two Alenia Aermacchi C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft on 31 October.
The twin-engined turboprop, which actually arrived in-country the previous week, was welcomed into service during a ceremony at Malacky-Kuchyna air base near
Slovakia receives first Spartan airlifter
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Russia to invest in Indonesian MRO facility as part of Su-35 offset obligations
Russia is to invest in establishing a military-aerospace maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in Indonesia as part of its offset obligations linked to the pending sale of 11 Sukhoi Su-35 ‘Flanker-E’ multirole combat aircraft to the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU), a senior
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MTG Dolphin bids to build Bulgarian Navy patrol boats
The Bulgarian Ministry of Defence received only one offer for the controversial tender for two new patrol boats for the Bulgarian Navy, worth an estimated BGN820 million (USD485 million).
The process began in mid-August, when the request for proposals was delivered to six pre-selected companies,
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Mattis supports current war authorisations, but Senate panel eyes new legislation
The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee appears poised to draft new legislation to legally authorise US military abroad, which to date have relied upon 16-year-old authorisations passed after the 11 September 2001 terror attacks.
The 2001 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs)
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Indonesia orders NASAMS air defence system
The Indonesian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a USD77 million contract with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace for the procurement of a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS).
The Norwegian company said in a 31 October statement that the contract comprises delivery of a
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Hungary auctions off MiG-29s
Hungary launched an auction process on 25 October to sell 23 decommissioned MiG-29 aircraft, complete with engines, at a starting price of HUF4.8 billion (USD18 million). The auction includes 20 spare engines, an unspecified number of missiles integrated into the MiGs, and 1,251 spare parts.
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Hindustan Aeronautics cleared to pursue market listing
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has approved a proposal by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to launch an initial public offering (IPO).
SEBI said in a notice published 30 October that it has issued an “observation” to HAL to allow it to pursue the market
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Council, European Parliament move closer to train and equip proposal for failed states
The European Commission’s controversial standing proposal to use part of the EU’s development aid to train and equip the security forces of weak or failed states moved one step closer to reality on 27 October. A new political compromise between the European Union’s two legislative
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China trials new marine propulsion system
China has successfully conducted trials of a new permanent magnet electric propulsion motor installed in an unidentified naval vessel at the Sanya naval base on the country’s southern Hainan Island, the state-owned Global Times newspaper reported on 24 October.
The report follows the claim
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CBO: US nuclear forces to cost USD1.2 trillion over next 30 years
The US Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated current nuclear force plans would cost USD1.2 trillion, in 2017 dollars, over the 2017–46 period.
This estimate, revealed in a 31 October report, finds more than USD800 billion is necessary to operate and incrementally upgrade US nuclear
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Albania to clean up remaining explosives by end of 2018
Albania's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company plans to clean up the ammunition and explosives remaining in the country by the end of 2018. The problem of Cold War-era weapons and ammunition depots was exacerbated by nationwide riots in 1997, during which 151 died and 851 were injured.
Albanian
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Airbus defence businesses post weak third-quarter profits
Pan-European defence and aviation company Airbus released its third-quarter results on 31 October, showing total revenue of EUR14.2 billion (USD16.5 billion) for the period. This represents a 2.1% rise on the same period in 2016, although the company’s adjusted measure of earnings before
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Afghan security forces controlling fewer districts, says SIGAR
The Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) appear to continue to lose territory to insurgents, according to a 30 October report issued by the US Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction (SIGAR).
As of 24 August, 54 of the 407 districts of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces were under
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SAMI announces formation of company leadership
Saudi Arabia’s new defence industrial organisation, Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), unveiled the company’s leadership on 31 October.
The company’s board is to be chaired by His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, who holds a number of important positions in the country’s
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Russia pondering defence industry bank
The Russian government is considering setting up a specialised lender to support the defence industry in a bid to reduce the risks to existing lenders from US sanctions, according to business daily Kommersant .
The Russian Finance Corporation (RFK), a subsidiary of state-owned Rostec since 2013, is
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Namibian Navy commissions ‘sub chasers’
The Namibian Navy commissioned two ex-People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) patrol vessels at its main base in Walvis Bay on 27 October.
Namibian President Hage Geingob gave a speech, saying China offered to donate what he described as “two submarine chasers with surface and
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US Army’s prepositioned equipment sets now better stocked, quicker to deploy
US Army units can now fall in on forward-deployed equipment sets, known as Army Prepositioned Stocks (APS), more quickly as they are better stocked with necessary equipment, according to General Gus Perna, head of US Army Materiel Command (AMC).
AMC has been adding “shoot, move, and
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US Army working to improve logistics, strengthen supply chains
The US Army's ability to sustain deployed equipment and units has atrophied over years of counter-insurgency operations, but it is working to strengthen those abilities to fight against a peer competitor, according to the head of US Army Materiel Command (AMC).
More than a decade of fighting
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US Army eyes buying technical data rights to improve logistics
The US Army is exploring more options for buying technical data rights for systems, which can be costly but in some cases sensible for logistics purposes, according to the head of US Army Materiel Command (AMC)
“If equipment is going to be forward, and soldiers are going to do [maintenance
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United States, Canada eye AMRAAM sale
The US Department of State approved a possible USD140 million Foreign Military Sale to Canada of Raytheon AIM-120D Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs), the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 1 November.
Canada requested as many as 32 AIM-120Ds, 18 AMRAAM Captive
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