Further tanker schedule slips could derail key milestones, says USAF
Key Points Unanticipated KC-46A integration difficulties have eaten away the margin for delays built into the programme's schedule Any additional delays could cause Boeing to miss key milestones A top...
View ArticleAustralia decommissions last Balikpapan-class LCHs
The last three of the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's) 45 m Balikpapan-class heavy landing craft (LCH) were decommissioned in Cairns on 20 November. The 364-tonne vessels - HMAS Brunei , HMAS Labuan ,...
View ArticlePakistan receives 'a squadron' of surplus Jordanian F-16s
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has received into service 'a squadron' of Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter aircraft from the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF), a senior PAF service official disclosed on 19...
View ArticleVenezuela signs up for VN1, hints at Chinese amphibious vehicles buy
Images from the official Twitter account of the Venezuelan Navy indicate that the Bolivarian Naval Infantry could soon be equipped with three different Chinese amphibious fighting vehicles: a...
View ArticleUkraine outlines reasons for high aircraft loss rate
A lack of experience and training, as well as poor tactics and intelligence not being acted on are the primary reasons for losses being incurred by the Ukrainian Air Force in the restive east of the...
View ArticleSpanish government defends extra summer equipment payments
The Spanish government has defended, in parliament, the practice of making substantial extra payments each summer to cover shortfalls on key defence re-equipment programmes, the same day that the...
View ArticleRussia to develop A-100 AWACS based on upgraded Il-76MD-90A airlifter
Russia is to begin developing a prototype Airborne Warning And Control System (AWACS) aircraft based on the upgraded Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A (Il-476) airframe, it was announced on 21 November. Although...
View ArticlePentagon finalises F-35 LRIP 8 contract
Key Points The Pentagon has finalised a deal with Lockheed Martin for 43 F-35 airframes: 29 for the United States and 14 for international sales The unit price of each of the three variants has come...
View ArticleNew Zealand receives first batch of T-6C Texans
The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) has received four Beechcraft T-6C Texan II trainers and three more are en route, officers told IHS Jane's on 20 November. Wing Commander Chris Andrews, director...
View ArticleMoscow warns over situation in eastern Ukraine
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has warned that the "US-supported" economic blockade by Kiev of areas controlled by pro-Moscow militants in east Ukraine, puts the country in the position where...
View ArticleJapan announces Global Hawk, Osprey, Hawkeye purchases
Japan has announced the selection of the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk for its high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) requirement and the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey for its tilt-rotor...
View ArticleItaly deploys latest Mangusta attack helo variant to Afghanistan
Italy has deployed the latest version of the AgustaWestland Mangusta attack helicopter, the AW129D, to Afghanistan. Task Force 'Fenice', the Italian Army Aviation component of Train Advise Assist...
View ArticleIraqi forces relieve Baiji refinery
The Iraqi Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced that its forces have finally secured the town of Baiji and the associated oil refinery after months of fighting against Islamic State militants. The...
View ArticleDAPA makes preliminary move to contract Lockheed Martin to upgrade F-16s
South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) is set to establish a review committee that is expected to approve Lockheed Martin as prime contractor in its programme to upgrade 134...
View ArticleAuditors: US partner capacity building programme needs improvements
US government auditors recommend the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of State use clear time frames to manage a nascent partner capacity building programme called the Global Security...
View ArticleRussia flies first radar- and avionics-upgraded Tu-160 bomber
The first upgraded Tupolev Tu-160 'Blackjack' strategic bomber aircraft made its maiden flight on 16 November, Russian state media has announced. The flight, which took place out of the Kazan Aircraft...
View ArticleMilitant video shows Egyptian armour being overrun
Key Points The new Sinai affiliate of the Islamic State has released a video to claim the 24 October attack on the Egyptian Army The video shows a ruthless and sustained attack that overran a...
View ArticleChinese strategic capabilities expanding, a US government report warns
Key Points China's nuclear forces are expected to expand considerably and become more lethal and survivable over the next 3-5 years, a US government report has warned The nuclear arsenal could grow so...
View ArticleChina building airstrip-capable island on Fiery Cross Reef
Key Points China is reclaiming land at Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands, according to satellite imagery The reclamation, which started in August, is creating a land mass large enough for a 3,000...
View ArticleUS defence secretary stepping down
US defence secretary Chuck Hagel will be leaving his post at the White House, it was announced on November 24. Hagel will remain in the position until a successor is nominated and confirmed by the US...
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