President Barack Obama sought to underscore the long-term nature of his administration's campaign to counter Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria (alternatively known as ISIL), following a briefing on the effort at the Pentagon.
In a statement at the Department of Defense's media briefing
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Obama highlights 'long-term' counter-Islamic State campaign during rare Pentagon visit
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Malta signs for third AW139 search-and-rescue helicopter
The Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) is to exercise its option for a third AgustaWestland AW139 search-and-rescue (SAR) and maritime patrol helicopter, national media reported on 7 July.
The government has signed a EUR14 million (USD15.4 million) contract for the helicopter, which will be financed by
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Government faces criticism after slow response to Taliban attack near Kabul
The Taliban launched attacks on several Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) checkpoints in the Jalrez district of Maidan Wardak province, less than 50 km from Kabul, on 1 July.
Local media reported that "tens" (according to one account "hundreds") of Taliban
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F-35B completes operational ordnance expenditure test
Key Points
The USMC has completed the first F-35B operational ordnance expenditures
Demonstrating ordnance delivery is a critical step for allowing the USMC to declare IOC for the jet
The US Marine Corps (USMC) on 26 June completed the first Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II operational ordnance
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Ma reaffirms Taiwan's Spratly Island claims
Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou on 7 July reasserted the Republic of China's (RoC) territorial claim to Taiping Island (Itu Aba) and other islands in the South China Sea.
Speaking in Taipei, Ma said the RoC government would "staunchly defend its sovereignty over Taiping Island and every right
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Australia ready to sign EF88 Austeyr rifle contract
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) will begin taking delivery in 2016 of about 30,000 new EF88 Austeyr 5.56 mm rifles under an AUD100 million (USD75 million) contract to be signed later this month, a Department of Defence (DoD) spokesman confirmed to IHS Jane's on 7 July.
The contract, to be signed
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Update: US Army moves towards 'pure fleet' of M88A2 recovery vehicles
BAE Systems has been awarded USD110 million contract modification to continue upgrading Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System (Hercules) vehicles for the US Army.
The contract, awarded on 30 June, covers the conversion of 36 M88A1 recovery vehicles to the M88A2
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Russian Air Force suffers spate of accidents
The crash of a Sukhoi Su-24M fighter-bomber on 6 July was the fifth in a series of accidents that have occurred at various Russian Air Force (VVS) facilities in about a month.
According to a statement from the press service of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) that was forwarded to the Russian Interfax
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Israeli personnel start David's Sling training
Israeli personnel have begun the first training course to operate the David's Sling air defence system, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced on 29 June.
It said the six-month course was being jointly run by its 'Homa' administration, main contractor Rafael, and the US Missile Defense Agency,
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Seeker UAV crashes in Yemen
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was shot down near the Saudi border in Yemen's northern Sadah province, the Al-Masirah news channel reported on 5 July.
It broadcast footage showing the wreckage of a UAV that appeared to be a Denel Dynamics Seeker 200 (previously known as the Seeker II). Like the
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Japan, New Zealand debut in largest US-Australia military exercise
Key Points
JSDF personnel and NZDF military assets are participating in 'Talisman Sabre' for the first time
The drills will forge greater inter-operability between US and defence partners in the region
Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) and the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) are participating for
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South Korea's DAPA outlines procurement decision priorities
Chang Myoung-jin, the head of South Korea's military procurement agency - the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) - has stated that favourable prices and technology transfers remain key factors in its decisions to purchase military equipment.
In comments to the country's Yonhap news
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Russian naval aviation looks toward new ASW aircraft
Russia will develop a completely new anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft to replace the Il-38 'May' and other ASW aircraft in its inventory, according to naval aviation chief Major General Igor Kozhin.
Maj Gen Kozhin said the aircraft is currently being selected and will be introduced by 2020,
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Russia working on new Project 22800 corvette class
Russia is to lay down the first of a new class of corvette by the end of 2015, according to the commander of the Russian Navy (VMS), Admiral Viktor Chirkov.
The VMS plans to acquire at least 18 corvettes from the new Project 22800 class to replace the Admiral Grigorovich-class (Project 11356)
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Japanese P-1s to visit RIAT, Djibouti in first overseas trip
Japan will send its Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) overseas for the first time later this month to conduct operational trials in Djibouti and take part in the UK's Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT).
Two Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) P-1s will leave Naval Air Facility
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Indra launches new strategic plan, announces job cuts
Spanish IT and defence systems group Indra has announced it is looking to shed 1,850 jobs in Spain as it launches a new strategic plan aimed at growing sales by up to 4.5% annually over the next four years.
Talks with trade unions have begun on the cuts following efforts to reduce costs that
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Indian Army cancels rifle, carbine tenders
The Indian Army scrapped its December 2011 tender for 66,000 multi-calibre assault rifles for around INR48.48 million (USD764 million) on 15 June, official sources said.
Instead, it has opted for the Excalibur 5.56x45 mm assault rifle, which is being developed by the state-run Defence Research and
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Indian Air Force ad invites recruits to fly aircraft it doesn't operate
An Indian Air Force (IAF) recruitment advertisement has generated controversy - and ridicule - in domestic military circles for depicting a Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, an aircraft that it does not operate.
The F/A-18 image, featuring in several Indian newspapers on 5 July, appeared alongside Sukhoi
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Bulgaria turns away from Russia for future support of MiG-29
Key Points
Bulgaria is looking to Poland rather than Russia to keep its MiG-29 fleet airborne
Sofia is looking to reduce its dependence of Russia wherever possible in light of Moscow's interventions in Ukraine
Bulgarian defence minister Nikolai Nenchev announced on 6 July that the country's air
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Slovakia buys Scipio 8x8 IFVs
Slovakia is to purchase 31 Rosomak 8x8 armoured personnel carrier vehicle chassis for PLN120 million (USD31 million), it has been announced.
In Slovakian service the vehicles will be armed with the Slovakian TURRA 30 unmanned turret, and known as the Scipio infantry fighting vehicle (IFV).
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