UK cuts support spending to boost naval and land projects
UK ministers have cut some GBP1.4 billion (USD2.1 billion) from its 10-year defence procurement spending plans and re-allocated spending from logistic support budgets to bolster new equipment...
View ArticleRomania pledges to spend 2% GDP on defence by 2017
Romania will increase its defence spending to 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2017, with an agreement signed by all of the country's parliamentary parties on 13 January. The proposal was made by...
View ArticleSTRATCOM seeks to sustain, modernise arsenal
Key Points STRATCOM's commander wants to balance investments among sensors and communications as well as weapons platforms and sustainment The new LRS-B is expected to be featured in FY 2016...
View ArticleSlovakia considering US Black Hawk offer
The Slovak Ministry of Defence (MoD) is seriously considering an offer proposed by the US government to procure nine Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk medium transport helicopters worth EUR300 million (USD353...
View ArticleReCAAP calls for co-ordinated patrols in South China Sea following piracy spike
Key Points South China Sea faces enduring maritime security risks as piracy, oil siphoning hotspot Co-ordinated patrols could be hampered by political sensitivities of littoral states The Regional...
View ArticleIndian government lifts Tatra Trucks embargo
The Indian government has invited Czech truck manufacturer Tatra to resume supplying spare parts for its vehicles in service with the country's armed forces following a ban imposed in 2012. The ban was...
View ArticleIndia shifts procurement funds to cover armed forces' operating costs
India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) recently moved around INR130 billion (USD2.16 billion) from funds earmarked for military acquisitions and modernisation to instead meet rising operating expenses....
View ArticleHagel decries 'budget uncertainty' in farewell speech
The US military's biggest challenge is currently the "uncertainty" surrounding its future budget prospects and whether funding caps will remain in place, outgoing US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel...
View ArticleBAE conducts APKWS Australia flight tests, signs fresh DoD deal
Key Points APKWS flight test completed in Australia, DoD contract signed Australia could sign FMS this year, other Tiger operators seen as potential customers BAE Systems has concluded a successful...
View ArticleUS Navy to begin LRIP talks for CH-53K helo
The US Navy (USN) is to begin negotiations with Sikorsky for the low-rate initial production (LRIP) of the CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter, the service disclosed on 8 January. According to a...
View ArticleIraq receives Bulgarian D-20 guns
The Iraqi Ministry of Defence (MoD) unveiled, on 13 January, one of the 152 mm D-20 artillery pieces that were recently delivered from Bulgaria. In a video released by the MoD, a Bulgarian diplomat...
View ArticleAustralia upgrading C-130s, modifying pilot training
Upgrades to the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF's) 12-strong fleet of C-130J-30 tactical transports are being progressed in parallel with changes in aircrew training intended to provide the...
View ArticleUpdate: Libyan militia purportedly uses Camcopter in operation against...
This story has been updated with information from Schiebel. Images of a remotely piloted helicopter that crashed in western Libya suggest one of the country's armed groups is operating an unmanned...
View ArticleSwitzerland orders Leguan armoured bridge layers
Switzerland has ordered 12 Leguan Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridges (AVLBs) from Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW). Speaking to IHS Jane's on 16 January, a spokesperson for the Swiss defence procurement...
View ArticleSurface Navy 2015: USN designates modified LCS as a frigate
Key Points The FF designation will delineate LCS hulls that have been up-gunned and up-armoured Navy officials are still determining a possible new designation for the remaining LCS The US Navy (USN)...
View ArticlePeru orders additional C-27J transports
The Peruvian Air Force (Fuerza Aérea del Perú - FAP) has signed for a further two Alenia Aermacchi C-27J Spartan tactical airlifters under a USD100 million deal announced on 15 January. The deal, which...
View ArticleNorthrop Grumman signs major ICBM support contract as Boeing studies award...
Key Points Northrop Grumman has received a five-year Minuteman III ground subsystems contract Boeing is studying a potential challenge of the award The US Air Force (USAF) has awarded Northrop Grumman...
View ArticleNew head of UAC viewed as power shift in Russia's defence industry
Russia's United Aircraft Building Corporation (UAC) has a new CEO as of 16 January, with Mikhail Pogosian resigning his position (as previously reported by IHS Jane's ) and being replaced by Deputy...
View ArticleElbit to create next-generation Israeli Ground Forces C4I system
Key Points Elbit Systems is playing a central role in the Israeli Ground Forces' digitalisation programme The IDF's ultimate aim is to allow all of its units to communicate with each other in real time...
View ArticleUSAF T-X to herald more cost-conscious acquisitions
Key Points T-X is to be the first USAF acquisition under an experimental plan to speed procurement and reign in cost The USAF wants industry to present cost-capability tradeoff options early in process...
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