In an attempt to invigorate its efforts to defeat the Islamic State, the United States is now training and equipping Syrian forces that are already fighting the militant movement rather than attempting to form new groups.
The shift was outlined by Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter and General
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US tweaks Syria strategy
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US approves JDAM export to Turkey
Turkey has requested to buy USD70 million's worth of Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) from Raytheon, the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 29 October.
The sale, which has been approved by the US State Department, includes 400 GBU-31(V)1 guidance kits for use with Mk84
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Update: US Army JLENS aerostat cuts loose from mooring
A US Army Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System (JLENS) aerostat came untethered from its mooring at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.
US fighter aircraft tracked the wayward aerostat above Pennsylvania. As of about 1600 Eastern Daylight Time, it had been secured
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Lithuania closes in on IFV selection
Lithuania will make a decision on what type of new 8x8 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) it will purchase at the end of November, the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on 29 October.
The MoD stated that it had hoped to have selected a vehicle by now, but had recently received two government
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H&K sues German government over Saudi export delays
German small arms manufacturer Heckler and Koch (H&K) is suing the country's federal government, local newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported on 29 October.
The court action, directed at the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle:
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Czech Republic set to be RBS 70 NG launch customer
Key Points
The Army of the Czech Republic is planning to buy the RBS 70 NG SAM system
Firing trials were conducted by the ACR in late October
The Czech Republic is planning to purchase the RBS 70 NG short-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system from Saab, potentially making the country the
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US seeks additional combat aerial refuelling capacity from Airbus
The US military is working with Airbus Defence and Space (DS) to gain emergency aerial refuelling clearances for its fleet of combat aircraft operating in the Middle East, a company spokesperson said on 2 November.
Speaking in Seville at the annual Trade Media Briefing (TMB), the head of the A330
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US Navy completes civil-military UNREP exercise near Japan
The US Navy (USN) completed an underway replenishment (UNREP) exercise with a civilian ship in international waters off the coast of Sasebo, Japan, on 20 October, the service announced in a 27 October statement.
The 41,000-tonne Henry J Kaiser-class replenishment oiler vessel USNS Tippecanoe (T-AO
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Singapore unveils Venus 16 unmanned surface vehicle
The existence of a new and never before seen unmanned surface vehicle (USV) currently undergoing sea trials with the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) was revealed on the service's Facebook page on 1 November.
Specifications of the indigenously developed Venus 16 USV were not disclosed, although IHS
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New Kazakh minehunter launched by Russia
Sredne-Nevsky Shipyard (SNSZ) launched the first Project 10750E mine countermeasure (MCM) vessel for the Kazakh Navy on 30 October in St Petersburg.
The Project 10750E design is billed as a 'deep modernisation' of the Russian Navy's early 1990s-era Lida-class (Project 10750). The 165 tonne, 32.5 m
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Lebanese Super Tucano contract awarded
The US systems integrator Sierra Nevada Corporation has received a USD172.5 million contract to deliver six Embraer EMB 314/A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft and associated support and equipment to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).
The contract was announced by the US Department of Defense on
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Japanese official: Europe needs to pay more attention to Asia-Pacific security issues
Key Points
A senior Japanese representative has told European officials that they need to take Asia-Pacific security issues more seriously
Dr Makoto Iokibe also said the new security legislation passed by Tokyo is aimed at supporting the US alliance and a future 'détente' with China
The
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Goa Shipyard delivers first improved Sankalp OPV to Indian Coast Guard
India's Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) has delivered the first improved Sankalp-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) to the Indian Coast Guard, the company announced on 31 October.
The vessel, which will be named ICGS Samarth , is part of an INR18 billion (USD274 million) contract awarded to GSL in May
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White House explains plans for forces in Syria
Key Points
United States to place troops in 'non-combat' roles in Syria to help combat ISIS
Critics question timing of move after Obama said he would not use ground troops
The Obama administration announced on 30 October that it would be sending fewer than 50 Special Operations forces to Syria to
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Final four Egyptian F-16 Block 52s delivered
The last four of the 20 Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 52 multirole fighters ordered by Egypt were delivered on 29 October, the Ministry of Defence announced.
The programme was delayed when the White House suspended some military sales to Egypt in the wake of its July 2013 coup, but the US lifted these
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Sweden receives Saab Seaeye Falcon UUVs
The Swedish Navy have received their first new unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) from Saab, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) announced on 2 November.
Known as the ROV-12, the new UUV is a version of the Saab Seaeye Falcon modified to meet the FMV's requirements. In Swedish
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Spain selects MQ-9 Reaper for UAV requirement
Spain has selected the General Atomics MQ-9 Block 5 Reaper for its medium-altitude, long -endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) requirement.
The Spanish cabinet approved the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to make the EUR161 million (USD177 million) purchase on 30 October.
The deal had been
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Russian MiG-31 crashes in country's far east
A MiG-31 'Foxhound' interceptor of the Russian Aerospace Forces crashed in the far east of Russia on 30 October.
The aircraft was flying on a training mission in the Kamchatka region, according to local media reports.
The crew ejected safely and were rescued on 31 October, Russia's ITAR-TASS news
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F-35A completes first successful aerial gun test
Key Points
An F-35A for the first time conducted gunfire bursts from its internal Gatling gun system while in flight
The gun is scheduled to be tested with a production F-35A next year for integration with the jet's mission systems
A Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II combat aircraft for the
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Essex amphibious group arrives in Pacific as USN reiterates rights to South China Sea access
Key Points
An amphibious ready group embarked with a marine expeditionary unit has arrived in 7th fleet waters
The USN has not ruled out the possibility that the ARG may be deployed for South China Sea operations
The US Navy's (USN's) Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) has arrived in the
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