USAF creates new medal to improve morale of nuclear forces
The US Air Force (USAF) is introducing a new service medal for its nuclear forces as part of a wider effort to improve operational effectiveness and morale, it was announced on 10 October. The new...
View ArticlePLAN commissions fourth Dahua-class vessel
The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has commissioned its fourth Type 909 Dahua-class research ship at a military port in Zhanjiang, a PLA-sponsored news outlet reported on 11 October. The vessel,...
View ArticleAUSA 2014: Army development, acquisition money declining inequitably
US Army equipment buyers are concerned that research, development, and acquisition (RDA) accounts are declining at an unsustainable pace due to budget pressures stemming from 'sequestration'. The RDA...
View ArticleUSN, Northrop Grumman to deploy more mine-hunting USVs to the Gulf
After successfully demonstrating real-world operations of a prototype unmanned mine-hunting system in the Gulf, Northrop Grumman Corporation is preparing to deploy two more of the units with the US...
View ArticleQinetiQ CEO announces departure
UK defence and technology group QinetiQ announced on 15 October that CEO Leo Quinn will step down on 31 December. Quinn, who has led the company since 2009, has tendered his resignation to take up the...
View ArticleNorway, India sign defence collaboration agreement
The governments of India and Norway announced a bilateral agreement to explore opportunities for collaboration in defence research and development (R&D) on 14 October. A statement of intent signed...
View ArticleLockheed Martin appoints new corporate development executive
Lockheed Martin announced on 14 October that it has appointed Greg Psihas as vice-president for corporate development. Psihas will take responsibility for mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, joint...
View ArticleIndian Su-30 crashes near Pune
The Indian Air Force (IAF) suffered its sixth crash this year on 14 October when a Sukhoi Su-30MKI multirole aircraft crashed 20 km from Pune. The aircraft took off on a routine training sortie from...
View ArticleIndian Navy pressures MoD to keep MCMV contract afloat
Key Points The Indian Navy is putting pressure on the Ministry of Defence not to cancel a USD383 million deal for eight mine countermeasure vessels The MoD was moving to terminate the deal after an...
View ArticleIndian MoD hands HAL RfP for more Hawks
India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) dispatched a request for proposal (RfP) to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for 20 additional BAE Systems Hawk Mk 132 Advanced Jet Trainers (AJTs) in early October....
View ArticleIndia releases RfP for BMP-1 engine upgrades
Key Points India's MoD has released an RfP for local vendors to update the engine and transmission on the army's BMP-1 ICVs The upgrade is intended to keep the BMP-1 in service while the army waits for...
View ArticleIndia cancels naval utility helicopter programme
Key Points The Indian MoD has decided to cancel its plans to buy 56 naval utility helicopters Meanwhile, a former naval chief has slammed the MoD for preventing the navy from making procurement...
View ArticleFirst A400M for Germany makes maiden flight
The first of 53 contracted Airbus Defence and Space (DS) A400M Atlas airlifters for the German Air Force made its maiden flight on 14 October. The nearly five-hour flight of aircraft MSN018 took place...
View ArticleEU militaries working on Ebola response
European Union (EU) officials are reviewing how national militaries across the 28 European member states will support the union's humanitarian and crisis response to West Africa's outbreak of the...
View ArticleEgypt, UAE hold another joint exercise
In a reflection of the ever-closer defence ties between Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the two countries are holding their third military exercise in eight months. The Egyptian Ministry of...
View ArticleBelarus developing new RPG
Key Points Belarus' BSVT is developing a new type of RPG launcher It is understood the weapon will be manufactured in partnership with Russia Belarussian company Belspetsvneshtechnika (BSVT) is...
View ArticleAUSA 2014: Hagel supports more army precision strike, missile defence in As-Pac
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, during a 15 October speech, suggested the US Army increase its efforts in the Pacific by contributing more precision strike weapons and missile defence. "With our...
View ArticleAUSA 2014: Future army truck could merge medium, heavy platforms
The US Army is considering a future truck procurement that could merge some of its medium and heavy platforms onto one chassis to gain commonality, according to Scott Davis, director of the programme...
View ArticleAUSA 2014: Bell announces more V-280 industry partners as JMR teams prep for...
Key Points IAI is to manufacture the nacelles for Bell Helicopter's JMR offering: the tiltrotor V-280 Valor aircraft Bell and a Boeing-Sikorsky team are preparing to fly technology demonstrators for...
View ArticleAUSA 2014: Army 'Mike Boat' replacement expected soon
US Army officials expect to soon solicit proposals for replacing the service's ageing Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM) 8 MOD I and MOD II, which are commonly referred to as 'Mike Boats'. The army has...
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