Key Points
Canada's Liberal Party would end the country's participation in the F-35 programme
Party leader Justin Trudeau argued that a cheaper alternative would be sufficient for the Royal Canadian Air Force's mission to defend North America
Canada's opposition Liberal Party would end the
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Canada liberal party would end F-35 participation
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Brazil-Russia Pantsyr-S1 deal now expected in 2016
The Brazilian government is expecting to conclude negotiations with Russia in 2016 to buy three batteries of the KBP Instrument Design Bureau Pantsyr-S1 (SA-22 'Greyhound') self-propelled anti-aircraft gun and missile system.
Brazilian vice-president Michel Temer detailed the deal during a 13-16
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Boeing is sole bidder on Japan tanker tender
Key Points
Boeing has bid on Japan's RfP for four aerial refuelling tankers
Airbus did not bid on the contract, leaving only the US defence contractor
Boeing is the only bidder for Japan's request for proposal (RfP) for four aerial refuelling tankers.
"The US government and Boeing have
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Shenyang FC-31 fighter performance 'leaked' online
The posting on Chinese websites of possible performance data for the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) FC-31 fifth-generation fighter indicates it could pose a commercial threat to Western and Russian fighter manufacturers.
A modified version of SAC's J-31 technology development fighter, an FC-31
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US Navy's fifth Littoral Combat Ship finally completes acceptance trial
After repair work to fix an issue incurred during builder's trials, the US Navy's (USN's) fifth Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) has completed acceptance trials, officials announced on 22 September.
The future USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) completed the five-day test on 18 September, which included a series of
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US Army's 'Dragoon Crossing' continues push to highlight European mobility
US Army Europe (AREUR) has concluded Exercise 'Dragoon Crossing', another in a series of mobility and show-of-strength missions across Europe, and troops have transitioned into a multinational training exercise in Hungry.
The US Army's 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, drove a tactical vehicle
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UK to launch major EOD UGV tender
The British Army is about to launch a major tender for explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), IHS Jane's can reveal.
Known as 'Project Starter', the programme will replace the Wheelbarrow family of EOD UGVs, the first of which was introduced in the 1970s. The purchase
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UK rotates trainers in Iraq
A new British Army regiment has taken over responsibility for providing trainers to prepare Iraqi Kurdish forces to take on Islamic State militants.
Just more than 100 troops from the 1st Battalion, The Rifles (1 Rifles) base have replaced soldiers from the 1st Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment,
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Russia deploys powerful strike group to Syria
The Russian Air Force has deployed a powerful air group to Syria that includes 12 Su-24 and 12 Su-25 ground attack aircraft, satellite imagery from Airbus Defence & Space has confirmed. The Su-25s had arrived at the Syrian naval aviation base in Latakia by 20 September and the Su-24s were there
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Indian government approves Apache, Chinook buys
The Indian government on 22 September approved the long-pending acquisition of Boeing attack and heavy lift helicopters for the Indian Air Force (IAF) for an estimated USD2.5 billion, officials said.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sanctioned the
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India, China to hold COIN drills despite border confrontation
The Indian and Chinese armed forces will hold the fifth edition of their 'Hand-in-Hand' exercises in Kunming, Yunan province, for two weeks from 11 October.
Officials in Delhi said around 100 soldiers from India's Naga Regiment will participate in the bilateral counter-insurgency exercises that
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First F-35 for Norway rolled out at Fort Worth
The first of 52 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft for Norway was rolled out during a ceremony at the company's Fort Worth production facility in Texas on 22 September.
The roll-out of aircraft AM-1, which was built as part of the low-rate initial production
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DSEI 2015: General Dynamics outlines its proposal for MRV-P
General Dynamics is lining itself up for a British Army requirement for about 600 new armoured vehicles, the Multi Role Vehicle - Protected (MRV-P) programme, company officials told IHS Jane's at DSEI 2015.
The projected requirement is for at least 500 MRV-Ps plus 78 battlefield ambulance variants
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China launches dual-use Long March-6 SLV
China successfully launched its first liquid-fuelled Long March-6 (LM-6) small satellite space launch vehicle (SLV) from its Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre on 20 September.
Under concept development since 2000 by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST) of the China Aerospace Science
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US plans to destroy weapon-grade plutonium remains in upheaval
Key Points
A new DoE-sponsored report finds an alternative option would be cheaper and less risky than the current MOX disposition option
However, significant disputes remain and shifting away from MOX would face serious political and geopolitical hurdles
Debate continues regarding the US
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US Navy delays sea trials for lead Ford-class carrier
Key Points
Sea trials for Gerald R Ford are delayed by 6-8 weeks
Any impact to the new class carrier's 31 March 2016 delivery date is still undetermined
US Navy (USN) officials released a statement on 22 September announcing a delay in sea trials for its new class nuclear-powered aircraft
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Super Tucano deliveries to Afghanistan delayed until early 2016
The Afghan Air Force (AAF) is to receive its Embraer-Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft slightly later than anticipated, with the first units now set to arrive in-country in early 2016 rather than later this year as had been previously announced.
The delay was
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Spirit completes first V-280 fuselage
Key Points
Spirit AeroSystems is preparing to ship the first Bell V-280 fuselage to Bell Helicopter's Texas plant for final assembly
The V-280 is one of two aircraft to be flown in the US Army's 2017 JMR demonstration
Spirit AeroSystems has completed the first fuselage for the developmental Bell
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Pentagon confirms RC-135, JH-7 encounter over Yellow Sea
The Pentagon has confirmed that an "unsafe" encounter occurred in mid-September when a US Air Force RC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft was intercepted by Chinese fighter aircraft over the Yellow Sea.
The latest incident follows one in November 2014 when a People's Liberation Army
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New South African EW pod takes first flight
South Africa's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) completed the first flight of its electronic testing, evaluation, and training pod at Lanseria, South Africa on 10 September, the organisation announced a week later.
The Inundu (Zulu for 'moth') pod was fitted on a Hawker Hunter,
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