Ukraine returns refurbished combat aircraft to service
Ukraine has returned to service four combat aircraft that have recently undergone refurbishment work, the office of the president announced on 5 January. A pair of MiG-29 'Fulcrum' and two Sukhoi Su-27...
View ArticleCOMINT/DF suite revealed on Indian Project 17 frigates
Analysis of the Indian Navy's new Project 17 Shivalik-class frigates has revealed that the vessels are fitted with a new-generation very high frequency / ultra high frequency (VHF/UHF) communications...
View ArticleBrazilian Army eyes attack helicopters for new aviation battalion
The Brazilian Army appears poised to seek a new attack helicopter capability, according to IHS Jane's analysis of the 2016-19 Army Strategic Plan (Plano Estratégico do Exército 2016-19: PEEx),...
View ArticleAnalysis: End of year surge for Chengdu J-20 fighter programme
In November and December 2014 two additional prototypes of the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation's (CAC) J-20 fifth-generation fighter emerged, advancing its development towards a possible initial...
View ArticleAnalysis: UN peacekeepers struggle against IEDs in Mali
Key Points MINUSMA suffered more than 100 casualties in 2014, with IEDs proving the largest single threat The mission is trying to improve its counter-IED capabilities, including through the...
View ArticleUS seeks to boost Iraqi Security Forces with MRAPs, MBTs, trainers
US military equipment and trainers are once again flowing into Iraq as Washington continues efforts to bolster the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF). On 6 January US Embassy Baghdad announced it had...
View ArticleZimbabwe military faces further decline despite budget increase
Key Points The ZDF budget has been increased by 3% and further small increases are planned for the following years These increases are insufficient for training, recruitment, or equipment maintenance...
View ArticleUpdate: Austria confirms defence cuts package
The Austrian coalition government has approved a wide-ranging cuts package to the Austrian Federal Army. "With this agreement achieved, we secure that the population can count on the army also in the...
View ArticleUK awards GBP900 million contract to Babcock 'transform' army vehicle...
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded Babcock a GBP900 million (USD1.36 billion) contract to 'transform' vehicle maintenance for the British Army. The contract follows the completion of a deal...
View ArticleTHAAD Extended Range kicking off to address new threats
Lockheed Martin has begun working with the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) on an extended-range (ER) variant of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor. The heavier THAAD-ER would...
View ArticleTaiwan MND says US support on subs, F-16s limited by concerns about Chinese...
Key Points Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense has released a report that says the United States is more concerned about its relationship with China than supporting Taiwan The report said that...
View ArticleUpgrades to Lockheed Martin's C2BMC could introduce new BMDS capabilities
Planned upgrades to the command-and-control (C2) portion of the US ballistic missile defence system (BMDS) could enable adding new capabilities into BMDS, according to Lockheed Martin officials. "We...
View ArticleRussia close to signing Il-112V production contract
Russia is to sign a production contract for the Ilyushin Il-112V transport aircraft later in 2015, with two prototypes to be built in 2016, state media announced in late December. The twin-turboprop...
View ArticlePakistan establishes army courts
Key Points Pakistan's parliament has voted to establish army courts to deal with terrorism suspects The courts, which have a sunset clause of two years, will supersede civilian courts and their...
View ArticleTanzania shown to be operating Seabird Seeker ISR aircraft
The Tanzanian People's Defence Force Air Wing has received into service the Seabird SB7L-360 Seeker intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, a music video posted on the internet...
View ArticleChina puts Z-18A heavylift helo through paces
A dedicated troop transport version of China's Changhe Aircraft Industries Group (CAIG) Z-18 helicopter family was revealed in Chinese military press reports in late December. Seen undergoing testing...
View ArticleAnalysis: Nigeria reportedly takes delivery of 'Super Hinds'
Key Points Nigeria has reportedly acquired two upgraded Mi-24 'Super Hind' attack helicopters The upgrade appears to have been carried out in Ukraine, not by a South African company as claimed Nigeria...
View ArticleUSAF employing significantly more munitions against the Islamic State
The US Air Force (USAF) has employed considerably more munitions in its campaign against the Islamic State over recent weeks, the service disclosed on 6 January. This increased expenditure of weaponry...
View ArticleRussia to develop new defence plan for 2016-2020 by end of the year
The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) is to develop a new defence plan for 2016-2020 and get it signed off by President Vladimir Putin by December 2015, according to remarks made by Russian defence...
View ArticleRussia plans Orlan-10 UAV Arctic deployment
Russia is planning to deploy Orlan-10 tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with its Arctic forces in its Eastern Military District, according to state news agency ITAR-TASS. It also said the UAVs...
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