Malaysia and China began their first-ever joint field exercise, 'Peace and Friendship 2015' at RMAF Subang airbase on 18 September.
The exercise follows the 'Peace and Friendship 2014' tabletop exercise that was conducted in Kuala Lumpur in December. Malaysia's Ministry of Defence said in a
↧
China, Malaysia hold first bilateral field drills
↧
AFA 2015: Lockheed Martin pitches TR-X to replace U-2
Key Points
Lockheed Martin is offering the TR-X as a replacement for its U-2
The USAF has not requested designs for a next-generation surveillance aircraft, but Lockheed Martin sees the need for a more survivable successor to the legacy fleet
Lockheed Martin is offering the US Air Force (USAF)
↧
↧
AFA 2015: JSTARS competitors highlight platforms
Key Points
Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman are all emphasising the choice of aircraft as key to the JSTARS replacement deal
Boeing is offering its 737-700 BBJ, while Lockheed Martin is working with Bombardier, and Northrop Grumman is partnered with Gulfstream
Each of the three
↧
US auditor raises concern over Afghan defence procurements
Washington's auditors for Afghanistan have informed US military commanders there are concerns that USD634 million in US procurements could exceed the needs of the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF).
Specifically, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR)
↧
DSEI 2015: UK to keep Black Hornet and Desert Hawk UAS in service
The British armed forces have invested GBP23 million to keep two of its unmanned air systems (UAS) bought for use in Afghanistan into its long-term inventory.
Announced on 17 September during DSEI 2015, the contracts will bring the Prox Dynamics Black Hornet nano-UAS and the Lockheed Martin Desert
↧
↧
DSEI 2015: UK rapid reaction brigades to get new helmets
The first deliveries of new lightweight Cobra Plus combat helmets to UK troops have begun this month as part of the Virtus programme to replace the British Army and Royal Marines' personal load-carrying and protective equipment, a spokesman for Canadian company Revision told IHS Jane's at DSEI 2015
↧
DSEI 2015: UK places GBP300 million ASRAAM order
The United Kingdom has placed a GBP300 million (USD462 million) contract with MBDA to build new Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missiles (ASRAAMs) for the Royal Air Force (RAF), it was announced on 16 September at DSEI 2015 in London.
The 'capability sustainment' order will replenish the RAF's
↧
DSEI 2015: Thales launches new submarine sonar training service
Thales has developed an innovative solution for submarine sonar training that can host multiple software systems and simulate any submarine platform.
Launched at the DSEI 2015 exhibition in London, the Rapidly Reconfigurable Training Technology package enables sonar operators to train on the exact
↧
DSEI 2015: Prince of Wales build currently running ahead of schedule, says Aircraft Carrier Alliance
Key Points
Build of second UK aircraft carrier currently is ahead of schedule
Lessons learned from first-in-class build have seen three or four months pulled out of assembly sequence
The build of the UK's second Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier, the future HMS Prince of Wales , currently is
↧
↧
Pakistani official confirms Su-35 talks
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has discussed buying Su-35 'Flanker-E' fighter aircraft from Russia in potentially the largest defence deal between the two countries, but a final decision is yet to be made, a senior Pakistani government official has confirmed to IHS Jane's .
The official was
↧
Dutch mechanized brigade to be integrated into German panzer division
The Royal Netherlands Army's 43 Mechanized Brigade will be integrated into the Bundeswehr's 1st Panzer Division, German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen and her Dutch counterpart, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, told their respective parliaments on 15 September.
A formal agreement to this effect
↧
DSEI 2015: UK military intelligence chief seeks help on 'big data'
A top UK military intelligence officer has called for help from industry to solve a data overload beyond the capability of the current organisation and information technology (IT) of the country's Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Speaking at DSEI on 16 September, Major General James Hockenhull, director
↧
USAF issues RfI for A/OA-10A re-winging
The US Air Force (USAF) has issued a request for information (RfI) to industry for the re-winging of an undisclosed number of Fairchild-Republic A/OA-10A Thunderbolt II close air support aircraft.
The RfI, which was posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website on 17 September, is to gather
↧
↧
USN decommissions penultimate Oliver Hazard Perry frigate
The US Navy (USN) has taken its penultimate Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate out of service.
Norfolk, Virginia-based USS Kauffman (FFG 59) was decommissioned on 18 September after 28 years of service.
Commissioned on 28 February 1987, the frigate completed more than 20 deployments
↧
USAF begins removing nuclear role from some B-52 bombers
The US Air Force (USAF) has begun converting nearly half of its Boeing B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers to the conventional role only, in line with the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) signed with Russia in April 2010, the service announced on 17 September.
Conversion of the
↧
New US Army secretary nominated
Eric Fanning has been nominated to become the US Army's top civilian leader, replacing John McHugh, who is retiring.
"Eric served as my first chief of staff at the Pentagon, and it has been a privilege over the course of my career to work alongside him and watch him develop into one of our
↧
NATO and industry called on to share more cyber defence information
NATO, its 28 allies, and industry are still debating how best to fully exploit public-private co-operation to protect the alliance's cyber networks, although some progress has been made since NATO's Wales summit in September 2014, according to allied officials.
"What has been achieved since
↧
↧
India to close down covert aviation recce wing
India aims to scrap its secretive Aviation Research Centre (ARC) after 53 years after officials decided it was no longer effective in providing adequate electronic and communications surveillance along the Pakistani and Chinese borders, sources said.
They said the ARC's aerial assets and
↧
DSEI 2015: Raytheon pitches Sentinel R.1 service extension to 2025
Raytheon UK's Sentinel R.1 Airborne Stand-Off Radar (ASTOR) aircraft could be kept in service for another decade to help the UK Royal Air Force (RAF) meet its airborne ISTAR requirements, according to company executives.
The long-term fate of the Sentinel is under consideration as part of the UK's
↧
DSEI 2015: British Army considers new MBT in response to Russia's Armata
Key Points
The UK is looking at upgrade or replacement options for its current Challenger 2 MBT
The effort has partly been prompted by the unveiling of Russia's new-generation T-14 Armata MBT in May
Senior British Army officers and procurement officials are examining the future of the BAE Systems
↧