The Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) have exercised their option for a second AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter for search-and-rescue (SAR) and maritime patrol duties, the company announced on 9 April.
The announcement follows a contract for one helicopter, with options for two more, that was placed by
Malta signs up for second AW139 SAR helo
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Japan sees big rise in scrambles against Chinese aircraft
Intercepts of Chinese aircraft by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) increased by 36% in fiscal year 2013 (FY 2013).
The Joint Staff Office (JSO) of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 9 April that JASDF aircraft had scrambled to intercept Chinese aircraft a record 415 times in FY
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Growing tensions between Pakistani government, army lead to fears of another coup
Growing tensions between Pakistan's elected civilian leaders and the country's influential army have led to fears of another military takeover in Islamabad.
Concerns over civil-military relations are a particular worry for the West in a year when US-led forces are due to leave Afghanistan. Much of
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Germany offers Typhoons to bolster Baltic air policing
Germany has offered to send six Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft to help bolster the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission, an alliance spokesperson confirmed to IHS Jane's on 9 April.
The offer has been made to support the Portuguese rotation of four Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons, which is
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EU seeks greater security ties in Asia
The European Union (EU) is slowly starting to align security to its trade relations with Asia, though more needs to be done to strengthen the linkage, say Asian, EU, and NATO officials.
They also warn that the crisis in Ukraine must not divert Europe from taking a wider view of security.
"All
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China's new Yuan-class sub seen preparing for sea trials
Key Points
Images of a new variant of China's Type 041 Yuan-class conventional submarine suggest it is being prepared for sea trials
Images also suggest Chinese shipbuilders are starting to plan a large surface combatant that may be a next-generation destroyer or cruiser
New Chinese-sourced
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BJP manifesto proposes review of India's 'no first use' nuclear policy
India's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is widely tipped to win the ongoing general election, has promised to "revise and update" the country's 'no first use' nuclear weapons doctrine.
A new government to replace Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Congress Party-led
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BAE Systems, Lockheed confirm bids for Australian trainer
BAE Systems Australia has confirmed a teaming arrangement with Beechcraft and CAE for Australia's future pilot training tender in a statement released on 10 April.
The three companies said they were offering a training system based around the Hawker Beechcraft T-6C military trainer. It also
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Poland to buy second NSM coastal battery
Poland will accelerate its plans to purchase a second coastal defence missile battalion (Nadbrzezny Dywizjon Rakietowy - NDR) as a result of the current crisis in Ukraine, it has been announced.
Speaking to the parliamentary group for the Polish Armed Forces in April, Czeslaw Mroczek, deputy
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Israeli official says Syria has used chemical incapacitant against insurgents
Pro-government forces in Syria used a chemical agent that "neutralises, but does not kill" during fighting on 27 March, a senior Israeli source has told IHS Jane's .
Syrian opposition sources previously claimed that a chemical weapon was used in the incident, which took place in the
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Czechs plan new light helicopter purchase
The Army of the Czech Republic (ACR) announced plans on 9 April to acquire up to 16 new light, multi-purpose helicopters between 2016 and 2020.
The new helicopters will primarily replace the country's Mil Mi-24/35 'Hind' combat support helicopters and PZL W-3 Sokol MEDEVAC/SAR helicopters.
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UK MAA warns over RAF Rivet Joint airworthiness certification
The UK Royal Air Force's (RAF's) planned fleets of three Boeing RC-135 Rivet Joint/Airseeker intelligence gathering aircraft are incompatible with UK military air safety regulations and may need to be exempt from the Military Air Systems Certification Process (MACP), according to the annual report
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Security Council approves UN force for CAR
The UN Security Council approved on 10 April the transformation of the current African Union peacekeeping force in the Central African Republic (CAR) into a larger UN mission.
The UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the CAR (MINUSCA) will be officially established on 15
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Safran Hammers Dassault
The chief executive of Safran, Jean-Paul Herteman, has warned that unless the firm is allowed to export the Armement Air-Sol Modulaire (AASM) precision guided munition (PGM) independently of the Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft, then production of the munition will come to a close.
"The Rafale
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Russia warns over Almaz Antei supplies from Ukraine
Russian air defence systems manufacturer Almaz Antei could transfer production of some of its components from Ukraine to Russia if Kiev makes any attempt to hinder deliveries to Moscow, a Russian defence official warned on 10 April.
"Almaz Antei could completely transfer production to Russia,
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NATO report criticises Czech defence spending
The Czech Republic needs to spend more on defence is the verdict following an official visit to Prague by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on 10 April.
Prior to his visit, the Czech-language daily Hospodarske Noviny published details of a leaked NATO document evaluating the performance
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Nammo reports improved sales and earnings
Nordic ammunition group Nammo has reported improved sales and earnings for 2013 despite what the firm described as "difficult market" conditions.
Sales climbed 12% to NOK3.7 billion (USD621 million) while earnings edged up to NOK489 million (2012: NOK464 million).
In a statement released
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Kalashnikov bids to register AK brand image
Russian small arms holding Kalashnikov Concern has started legal moves to register the three-dimensional images of its iconic AK-74 and AKM series assault rifles in Russia as officially recognised brands, local media reported on 11 April.
According to legal documentation related to the bid, quoted
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International assistance helps reduce IED threat in Nigeria
Nigeria's security forces have managed to reduce the number of casualties caused by improvised explosive devices (IEDs), according to Deputy Superintendent of Police Haruna Ismaila.
"From 2009-2013, it is estimated that 25% of the total number of civilian casualties was caused by IEDs. In 2012
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Indonesian Army expands R&D links with universities
The Indonesian Army (TNI-AD) is expanding links with local tertiary institutions in an effort to spur innovation and the development of military systems.
The service announced on 8 April that it had entered an arrangement with Surya University, a research-based institute near Jakarta, to develop a
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