The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) released a second notification announcing that the State Department had approved the sale of Patriot PAC-3 missiles to Saudi Arabia on 29 July.
The previous notification was released on 1 October 2014 and outlined a possible deal that covered 36
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US approves larger PAC-3 sale to Saudi Arabia
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US approves DIRCM for the UAE's VIP jets
The US Department of State has approved the sale of four AN/AAQ-24(V) directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) systems to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 28 July.
DIRCMs are designed to defend aircraft against infrared-guided missiles,
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UK defence acquisition chief seeks US participation in strategic assessment
Key Points
As part of his US visit, the MoD's new defence acquisition chief met with his DoD counterparts
Discussions included DoD participation in the SDSR, as well as F-35B and CMC updates
The new acquisition chief for the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) told reporters in Washington, DC, on 28
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Taiwan plays down MH-60R plans but admits ASW helicopter requirement
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) on 28 July sought to play down reports it is seeking to purchase up to 10 Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk anti-submarine warfare helicopters from the United States.
According to ministry spokesman Major General Luo Shou-he, while "Taiwan is looking to
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NATO hewing a careful line on Turkish strikes against Islamic State and Kurds
Key Points
NATO is steering a delicate diplomatic course with Ankara over the situation in Syria and Iraq
The alliance met at Turkey's request following an Islamic State bombing in Turkey and the resumption of Turkish-Kurdish hostilities
NATO has expressed "total solidarity" with Turkey
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Japanese MoD working with industry on Australian submarine partnerships
Japan's Ministry of Defense (MoD) has confirmed to IHS Jane's that it is promoting the establishment of industrial partnerships between Japanese and international firms to build submarines to meet Australia's requirement to replace its existing Collins-class platforms.
A spokesman from the MoD said
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Israel completes CH-53 life-extension programme
The Israel Air Force (IAF) has completed its Sikorsky CH-53 life-extension programme.
The IAF said the last CH-53 left its Aerial Maintenance Unit workshop in late July and returned to its squadron. It declined to say precisely how many helicopters have been upgraded.
The nine-year project was
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Incorrect trim setting caused Albacete F-16 crash, report finds
Incorrect trim settings caused the loss of the Greek F-16 fighter that crashed on take-off at Albacete in Spain on 26 January, killing 11 military personnel, a safety investigation board (SIB) has found.
The SIB found that "the yaw trim was inadvertently set to maximum right yaw trimming [12
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EUNAVFOR-MED gains air support
The European mission to monitor migrant smuggling from Libya has been bolstered by the arrival in Sicily of a Swearingen Merlin IIIC maritime patrol aircraft from Luxembourg.
European Union Naval Force - Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR-MED) announced that the twin-turboprop aircraft had begun operations on
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Brazil set to receive last Gepard SPAAGs
The last eight of 34 Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) Gepard 1A2 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns (SPAAGs) are scheduled to depart from Germany in the first week of August and arrive in Rio de Janeiro 20 days later, a source told IHS Jane's on 27 July.
The Gepards were procured from Germany by the
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Brazil officially cancels participation in Cyclone-4 rocket
The Brazilian government has officially cancelled participation in a bilateral space co-operation treaty with Ukraine.
The Long Term Cooperation Treaty for the use of the Cyclone 4 Rocket from the Alcântara Launch Center (CLA) was originally signed in October 2003 and focused on the joint
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Australia receives seventh C-17 transport aircraft
Australia's seventh Boeing C-17A Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft arrived at its homebase of RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland on 29 July, only three months after its acquisition was announced.
Australia said it would purchase two C-17s on 10 April after requesting four in late 2014. The
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Assocham calls for overhaul of state nomination process
The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) has called on the Indian government to discontinue its policy of nominating state-owned enterprises to undertake major defence contracts.
Assocham said in a statement on 28 July that the long-held policy dissuades private sector
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AFSOC to add non-lethal lasers to some Ghostrider gunships
US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) is working to integrate non-lethal directed energy systems onto its forthcoming Lockheed Martin AC-130J Ghostrider gunships, according to Lieutenant General Bradley Heithold, commander of AFSOC.
Those aircraft are "a couple of years out",
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HSV-2 turns up off Aden
The ex-US naval logistics ship Swift is now operating under the flag of United Arab Emirates (UAE), which may be using it to support an amphibious operation in Yemen.
Built by Australia's Incat shipyard in Tasmania, Swift was chartered as High-Speed Vessel 2 (HSV-2) by US Military Sealift Command
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USCG icebreaker completes scheduled maintenance ahead of deployment
The US Coast Guard's (USCG's) sole operational heavy polar icebreaker concluded a routine annual dry dock maintenance availability on 28 July.
USCGC Polar Star 's (WAGB 10) 90-day scheduled repair period had been extended "to accommodate all necessary repairs to prepare the ship for the next
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US pledges to bolster allies against Iran
The United States is strengthening its ability to take military action against Iran and is stepping up its co-operation with its Middle East allies to counter Tehran's "malign activities", according to senior US government officials.
The comments were made during a 29 July hearing of the
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UK minister for defence acquisition seeks US participation in strategic assessment
Key Points
As part of his US visit, the MoD's new minister responsible for defence acquisition met with his DoD counterparts
Discussions included DoD participation in the SDSR, as well as F-35B and CMC updates
The new UK government minister responsible for defence acquisition for the Ministry of
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Thales UK receives Scout SV sights subcontract
Thales UK has been awarded a GBP125 million (USD195 million) subcontract for sighting and situational awareness systems for the British Army's new Scout SV tracked reconnaissance vehicles.
Announced on 30 July, the subcontract from prime contractor General Dynamics UK includes 245 Orion commander
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Slovakian Mi-17 crashes
A Slovak Air Force Mil Mi-17 'Hip-H' utility helicopter crashed on 28 July, killing the pilot and severely injuring the other two crew members.
The helicopter had been flying from Presov, the home base of the 'Jána Ambrusa' Helicopter Wing, and crashed near the village of Hradisko.
Slovakia's
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