US budget experts expect that Congress and the White House will be unable to achieve a 'grand bargain' to undo the 2011 Budget Control Act (BCA) and its funding limits, but that a shorter-term solution is likely by late this year.
ANALYSIS
The defence appropriations bills are still being finalised
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Analysis: Experts predict US FY 2016 defence budget deal in December
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Myanmar commissions helos, transport aircraft
Several aircraft and helicopters formally entered service with the Myanmar Air Force (Tatmadaw Lay) in a commissioning ceremony at the Flying Training Base in Meikhtilla (Shante) Air Station on 24 June, according to the Myanmar Ministry of Defence.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Commander-in-Chief
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Japan's lower house passes bills changing SDF's role
The lower house of Japan's Diet passed two security bills on 16 July that change how and where the Self-Defense Forces can operate.
The bills, which were submitted to parliament by the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on 14 May, allow the SDF to be dispatched abroad without the Diet first
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USN deploys P-8A Poseidon for ASW, ASuW missions in 'CARAT' Singapore 2015
Key Points
A US Navy Boeing P-8A Poseidon is participating in a series of anti-submarine and surface warfare drills during the sea phase of 'CARAT' Singapore 2015
The aircraft is also co-ordinating air and surface assets during the exercise as an airborne control centre, streamlining the command
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JMSDF demos P-1 to undisclosed party at RIAT
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) demonstrated its Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) to a potential operator on 17 July, although officials declined to name exactly who.
A 'customer' demonstration flight was conducted out of Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford during the first day
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Indonesia defies tradition in appointment of armed forces commander
Outgoing Indonesian Armed Forces (Tentara Nasional Indonesia, or TNI) commander, General Moeldoko has formally relinquished his post to the former chief of the army, General Gatot Nurmantyo.
A handover ceremony to mark the occasion was held on 14 July at the TNI headquarters in Cilangkap, Jakarta.
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Indian Air Force platforms head to UK for Indradhanush exercises
A 190-member Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent, including Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft, Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 military transports and Il-78 tankers, have arrived in the UK to participate in bilateral exercises with the Royal Air Force (RAF).
The fourth
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India's Punj Lloyd restructures defence business
India's Punj Lloyd has proposed the transfer of its defence operations to a subsidiary in a transaction worth INR1.8 billion (USD28 million), the company said on 17 July.
Punj Lloyd did not disclose the rationale behind the move, but it is likely a reflection of a requirement in the company to
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China to send ships to Indian fleet review
China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has confirmed its participation in the Indian Navy's (IN's) second International Fleet Review at Vishakhapatnam in February 2016, IN officials said.
"China will take part in the fleet review with ships and a delegation, but details are being worked
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China starts assembling first AG600 amphibian aircraft
The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has begun final assembly of its AG600 amphibious aircraft, local media reported on 18 July.
The first airframe, aircraft number 001, is being assembled at a facility in Zhuhai owned by subsidiary China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Company
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AirTanker touts boom for Voyager to expand aerial refuelling provision
The AirTanker consortium that operates the Airbus Defence and Space (DS) A330-200 Voyager tanker-transport aircraft on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has touted the possibility of equipping a number of its 14 aircraft with booms to enhance the air-to-air refuelling (AAR) capability of
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Lockheed secures Sikorsky in USD9 billion acquisition
United Technologies Corporation (UTC) has agreed to sell its helicopter manufacturing subsidiary Sikorsky to Lockheed for USD9 billion, it was announced on 20 July.
The price is effectively reduced to USD7.1 billion, according to Lockheed Martin, following tax benefits expected to arise from the
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US Navy's ninth LCS launches
A ninth Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) for the US Navy (USN) has entered the water. The future USS Little Rock (LCS 9) was officially named and launched on 18 July 2015 at Fincantieri's Marinette Marine Corp in Wisconsin.
Marinette Marine is constructing the USN's Freedom variant LCS - the steel
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UK fighter numbers to reach all-time low with loss of Tornados and early Typhoons in 2019
The UK's frontline fast-jet force is set to fall to its lowest numerical strength just ahead of the turn of the decade, with the almost simultaneous retirement of both the Panavia Tornado GR.4 and early model Eurofighter Typhoon fleets, the government disclosed on 21 July.
Answering questions in
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Saudi, UAE forces deployed to Yemen
Saudi Arabia's Al-Watan newspaper cited unidentified sources on 17 July as saying that Saudi special forces soldiers had arrived in Aden to guard officials from Yemen's internationally recognised government who had arrived in the city after a series of victories by pro-government forces.
It said
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Russia's United Engine Corporation posts 25% rise in revenue
Russia's United Engine Corporation (UEC) increased its fiscal year 2014 revenue by 25% compared with 2013, reaching a total of RUB199.97 billion (USD 3.51 billion), according to the company's director general.
Vladislav Masalov said the volume of new product manufacturing has increased by 20%:
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Mack Defense selected for Canada's long-delayed SMP programme
The Canadian government has awarded Mack Defense two contracts totalling CAD725 million (USD559 million) to deliver more than 1,500 8x8 trucks for the Medium Support Vehicle System (MSVS) Standard Military Pattern (SMP) programme.
The contracts - which also cover an initial five years of in-service
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Israeli Navy gets two tugs for new subs
The Israel Navy has received two new tugs that have been specifically designed to help its new Dolphin submarines dock at Haifa Naval Base.
Commander Alon Friedman, head of Naval Engineering, said the tugs were fitted with azimuth stern drive propulsion systems, which can rotate through 360°
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EU steps up security assistance to Tunisia
The European Union will increase its co-operation with Tunisia to improve its domestic security and border controls against terrorism with joint projects in 2015 and financial aid in 2016, according to Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign, security, and defence policy chief.
The EU also has a
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China looks to ease defence investment, licencing rules
China is planning to spur greater private sector involvement in defence by easing investment and licencing rules, senior officials from the government's defence industrial promotion agency have said.
In comments to the state-owned China Daily newspaper on 20 July, the director and deputy director
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