After five years holding semi-annual Network Integration Evaluation (NIE) field events at Ft Bliss in Texas and White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, the US Army is shifting towards more capability experimentation in a coalition military environment.
The NIEs have reflected a co-operative
↧
Army evolves exercises with future capability focus
↧
Analysis: UN document shows US bought 610 Fagot missiles
A document recently released by the UN Office of Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) may have shed some light on the arms being purchased on behalf of Syrian rebel forces or transferred to Libya in contravention of the UN arms embargo on that country.
The document compiles the arms transfers that various
↧
↧
Alenia sells C-27J to undisclosed African country
Alenia Aermacchi has sold a pair of C-27J Spartan tactical airlifters to an undisclosed operator in Africa, the company announced on 23 September.
The contract, which includes logistical support, will see both aircraft delivered to the customer from 2017. According to Alenia, they will be used for
↧
Egypt to buy the two ex-Russian Mistral
Egypt will buy the two Mistral-class helicopter carriers that were built for Russia, according to a brief announcement posted on the official website of the French president's office on 23 September.
French officials have said delivery will take place in March 2016 and that Egypt will pay EUR950
↧
Xi arrives in Washington amid talk of cyber deal
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Washington, DC, on 25 September for his first state visit to the US, amid discussion of a US response to recent hacking attributed to China and of a potential cyber arms agreement.
Xi arrived after spending several days in the US Pacific Northwest visiting
↧
↧
US approves Lockheed acquisition of Sikorsky
The US Department of Justice (DoJ) has approved Lockheed Martin's proposed purchase of Sikorsky, the company revealed in a submission to the US Securities and Exchange Commission on 25 September. Following two months of consultation with other government agencies, including the Department of
↧
Ukraine moves EW production to west of the country
Production of the Garant radio link suppression system has been officially moved to the Khmelnitsky-based Novator radar production plant in western Ukraine following the 2014 looting of the original Topaz plant in Donetsk.
The Topaz radar and electronic warfare (EW) enterprise ceased production in
↧
UK launches single-source procurement reform consultation
The UK's Single Source Regulations Office (SSRO) launched a consultation on proposed baseline profit rates for single-source defence contracts on 25 September.
Its suggested reforms mark the first major change to profit rate methodologies since 1968. IHS Jane's first reported in early September
↧
Novator debuts new airborne radar warning system
Novator debuted its airborne SPS-2000 radar warning receiver (RWR) and collision avoidance system at the Kiev Arms and Security defence expo from 22-25 September.
This system is a replacement for the Avtomatika SPO-150 that was the standard unit for most post-Soviet-era Russian military aircraft.
↧
↧
Lockheed Martin to open submarine combat system lab in Australia
Lockheed Martin has announced that it is investing in a new submarine combat system laboratory in Australia, with the goal of strengthening its bid for the country's SEA 1000 Future Submarine Programme.
Construction of the facility, which will include a submarine command centre simulation and
↧
Indian tank officer killed during firing drills
An Indian Army tank officer died after being hit by shrapnel during practice firing in Rajasthan's desert region on 22 September, officials said.
Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Manish Ojha said Major Dhru Yadav of the 75 Armoured Regiment was hit by a 'splinter' during a firepower demonstration
↧
France redeploys Fennecs to CAR
The French Air Force is to redeploy some of its Airbus Helicopters AS555 Fennecs light armed helicopters to the Central African Republic (CAR) to support the drawdown of its Operation 'Sangaris' in the country.
At least one, and possibly two, of the helicopters will be deployed from France in the
↧
First fully provisioned KC-46A tanker makes maiden flight
The maiden flight of a fully provisioned Boeing KC-46A Pegasus tanker aircraft took place out of Paine Field, Washington, on 25 September.
Engineering and manufacturing development (EMD)-1 made the milestone sortie some four months after it completed its initial airworthiness flight equipped with
↧
↧
Finmeccanica moves forward with company integration plan
Finmeccanica's Board of Directors agreed the next stage of its strategy to increase the integration of the group's constituent businesses in a meeting on 24 September. The plan, outlined in June 2014, seeks to reorganise the company's subsidiaries as divisions of a new, more defence-focused
↧
Egypt set to field Patroller UAV, as industrial collaboration deal announced
Egypt looks set to field the Sagem (Safran) Patroller medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), after the manufacturer signed a collaboration agreement with a domestic partner to address the requirements of the country's Ministry of Defence.
The agreement, which was
↧
China may be building first indigenous carrier
Key Points
An unidentified hull in an advanced state of construction at Dalian shipyard could be China's first indigenous aircraft carrier
While a conclusive identification of the hull as an aircraft carrier cannot be made until work is observed on the upper decks and potential flight deck, the
↧
Analysis: FY 2016 Pentagon budget headed for last-minute push
The US Congress was unwilling to compromise for passing on-time full-year appropriations legislation, and now is struggling to pass a stop-gap bill to keep the government - including the Department of Defense (DoD) - funded and open when the new fiscal year begins on 1 October.
ANALYSIS
Fiscal
↧
↧
Afghan govt accused of appeasement after signing security agreement in Baghlan province
The Afghan government signed a security agreement in Dand-i Ghuri in Baghlan province, Afghan channel TOLOnews reported on 16 September.
With the government allegedly pledging to refrain from conducting security operations in Dand-i Ghuri, some observers described the agreement as little short of
↧
Spain selects Piranha 5 as new 8x8
Spain's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has chosen the General Dynamics' Piranha 5 as the base platform for its new 8x8 wheeled infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) prototype, industry sources have told IHS Jane's .
While no decision has yet been openly announced by the MoD, the Spanish Army is looking to
↧
China completes runway on Fiery Cross Reef
Key Points
China has completed the runway on Fiery Cross Reef, its largest base in the Spratly Islands, Airbus Defence and Space satellite imagery dated 20 September has shown
The completion of the runway could enable China to accelerate construction on the new island and to start patrols over the
↧