Key Points
NATO has countered Russian claims that its troops near the Ukrainian border are simply exercising, asserting instead that they are poised for combat operations
NATO used satellite photos to highlight six Russian military staging areas on the Ukrainian border, but said there were at
Update: Russian units on Ukrainian border not exercising but poised for combat, says NATO
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Targo HMD to feature on Israeli and Polish M-346 trainer aircraft
Israel and Poland are to join Italy in fielding the Elbit Systems Targo helmet-mounted display (HMD) system on their Alenia Aermacchi M-346 advanced jet trainer aircraft, IHS Jane's was told in early April.
While Alenia had previously disclosed Italy's plans to buy the Targo for its T-346A Master
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Spain requests extra US help on S 80 submarine project
Spain has requested further help from the Pentagon in getting its S 80 diesel-electric submarine building programme back on track within the next two months after serious balance problems were announced last year.
During a three-day visit to Washington, Secretary of State for Defence Pedro
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Socarenam launches Belgian patrol ship
The first of two new 52 m patrol vessels for the Naval Component of the Belgian Armed Forces was launched on 14 April by French shipbuilder Socarenam. Castor (P 901) will undergo painting, final outfitting, and harbour trials at the company's Boulogne-sur-Mer shipyard, followed by underway trials in
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Russia begins returning Ukraine naval vessels and aircraft
Russia has begun handing back Ukrainian navy vessels seized during the occupation of the Crimea last month, with a missile boat and a tanker being towed out of Sevastopol on 11 April.
Once in international waters, the two vessels were handed over to Ukrainian tugs to be towed into Odessa, according
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Private operators stoking Ukrainian unrest as Kiev struggles to respond
Key Points
The Ukrainian government is falling short of being able to deal with pro-Russian paramilitary groups in the country's eastern cities
The paramilitary groups in question appear to include members of private security companies linked to the previous pro-Russian regime of former Ukrainian
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New UAV spotted over Damascus
A previously unseen type of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has been seen flying over Damascus, prompting speculation that Iran's Shahed-129 is now operational in Syria.
The UAV was featured in a video posted on YouTube by an opposition group on 10 April. The footage purportedly shows the aircraft
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JASDF forms new AEW squadron in Okinawa
The Japanese Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced it will establish a new Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) squadron at Naha Air Base on Okinawa on 20 April. The move is designed to bolster the nation's defensive posture in the southwest, in
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Iraq decides to buy Czech L-159s in addition to T-50s
The Iraqi Ministry of Defence (MoD) has agreed to procure 12 surplus Aero Vodochody L-159 ALCA light attack and training aircraft from the Czech Republic for approximately USD200 million.
The preliminary agreement was signed on 6 April by representatives of the Iraqi MoD and Aero Vodochody's senior
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Excalibur production transitions from Increment Ia-2 to Increment Ib
The Excalibur 155 mm smart artillery projectile programme has finished production of the Increment Ia-2 variant and transitioned to building the Increment Ib, the US Army announced on 14 April.
Excalibur Ib is intended to produce a more reliable and lower-cost round than the original Ia system.
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USMC commander laments amphibious ship shortage
Key Points
The USMC would like to devote 24 amphibious ships to the Pacific
The USMC has a requirement for 38 amphibious ships, but the navy has only 32 in its current fleet inventory
US forces in the Asia-Pacific region need more amphibious ships in order to be ready for multiple contingencies,
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USAF V-22s withdrawn after brief Uganda deployment
The Bell Boeing CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotors that the United States deployed to Uganda to support operations against the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) began to withdraw two weeks after the initiative was announced.
"The new assets, they are temporary," US Africa Command (AFRICOM) chief General
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Sudan claims to have indigenous SAM
Sudan is producing its own long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, the Sudanile news website cited Dr Fattah Izz-al-Din al-Mansour, the head of the country's National Legislature, as saying on 14 April.
"Sudan has new technology to manufacture missiles that has already produced a
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Russian warships in Baltic incident with Lithuania
Two Russian Navy vessels involved in live missile firing exercises entered Lithuania's Baltic maritime economic zone on 10 April, disrupting shipping and ordering it to change course.
The two warships were intercepted by the Lithuanian Navy's Lindau-class mine hunter LNS Suduvis and a Lithuanian
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Russia orders more MiG-29SMT fighters
Russia has signed a contract with the Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG (RAC MiG) for 16 more MiG-29SMT 'Fulcrum' multirole fighter aircraft, RAC MiG announced on 15 April.
Valued at RUB17 billion (USD473 million), including ground support and test equipment, the order will see the RAC MiG deliver
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Rafael looks at Iron Dome enhancements
Rafael is looking at a number of enhancements to the Iron Dome missile defence system as a result of lessons learned over recent engagements, a company official told IHS Jane's in early April.
Speaking at the company's facility near Haifa, its business development and marketing manager for the Air
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Lebanon takes delivery of US RHIBs
The United States has donated eight "gunboats" to Lebanon, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) announced on its website on 14 April.
The photographs posted on the LAF website suggested that at least some of the craft are Sea Force 11 m Enforcer Cab RIBs made by the US company Willard Marine.
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Japan's indigenous stealth jet prototype 'to fly this year'
Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera has reaffirmed the nation's plan for a 2014 first flight of the Advanced Technology Demonstrator-X (ATD-X) fighter: a prototype for a future fighter to replace the Japan Air Self-Defence Force's Mitsubishi F-2.
"In February I myself visited at
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Indonesia equips frigates, corvette with stealth radars
The Indonesian Navy (Tentera Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Laut: TNI-AL) will equip a total of four Ahmad Yani (Van Speijk)-class guided missile frigates and one Kapitan Pattimura (Parchim I)-class corvette with low-probability-of-intercept (LPI) naval radars.
The radars will be built by Indonesian
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Indian Navy to attend PLAN's 65th anniversary fleet review
The Indian Navy (IN) will attend the international fleet review hosted by China in the northeastern port of Qingdao to mark the People's Liberation Army Navy's (PLAN's) 65th anniversary on 23 April.
IN officials told IHS Jane's on 14 April that it is fielding its stealth frigate, INS Shivalik , for
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