Sequestration hits US Army aviation RDA budget unduly hard
Ongoing sequestration in the United States is having a disproportionately severe impact on the US Army's aviation research and development and acquisitions (RDA) budget, a senior government official...
View ArticlePentagon testers: JLTV hinders marine amphibious assault operations
Key Points The size and deployability of JLTVs is questioned by the Pentagon's director of operational test and evaluation Testers found that USMC amphibious assaults would suffer from the added time...
View ArticleObama expected to sign defence protocols on India visit
US president Barack Obama's three-day visit to India from 25 January is expected to see the signing of several defence protocols to boost bilateral strategic ties. Obama, who will be the first US...
View ArticleF-35A testing took back seat to F-35B IOC preparation in 2014
Key Points The latest Pentagon operational testing report on the F-35 shows a year of progress on F-35B IOC preparation Flights sciences testing for the F-35A lagged behind 2014 goals, as test centres...
View ArticleAfghanistan to receive additional armed MD 530F helos
The Afghan Air Force (AAF) is to receive 20 armed MD Helicopters Inc (MDHI) MD 530F Cayuse Warrior helicopters to provide additional fire-support to the country's security forces, an official disclosed...
View ArticleRussian College of General Designers to oversee key strategic programmes
The state Military-Industrial Commission (VPK) chaired by Russian President Vladimir Putin has formally announced the creation of what is being called a College of General Designers, according to news...
View ArticleGE signs USD325 million contract for USAF's VAATE, Pratt negotiations continue
Key Points GE Aviation was awarded a USD325 million ID/IQ contract for the USAF's VAATE programme The contract will support ongoing USAF work on a new variable-cycle engine, among other efforts General...
View ArticleChina launches fourth Type 071 LPD
The Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai launched its fourth Type 071 landing platform dock (LPD) amphibious assault ship for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) on 22 January. A total of six Type...
View ArticleUSN receives first deployable electronic avionics support system
Key Points Lockheed Martin has delivered the first of a possible 341 electronic Consolidated Automated Support System (eCASS) units to the US Navy (USN), military and company officials told reporters...
View ArticleUS donates MRAPs to Uzbekistan
The United States is donating more than 300 armoured vehicles to Uzbekistan in what is believed to be the largest single arms transfer from the US to a Central Asian republic. The US will give...
View ArticleUK awards BAE Systems GBP50 million vehicle support contract
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded BAE Systems a GBP50 million (USD75 million) contract for engineering support for BAE-built armoured vehicles in British Army service. The award, which was...
View ArticleMEPs urge EU CDSP action
The European Union needs market-support measures and defence spending to improve if its common security and defence policy (CSDP) is to become meaningful, according to EU politicians and industry...
View ArticleMalaysia to arm Sea Kings in response to Islamic State threat
Malaysian defence minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein announced on 23 January that the Royal Malaysian Air Force's (RMAF's) Sikorsky S-61A-4 Sea King helicopters would be armed and that Royal Brunei Air...
View ArticleIAF upgrading veteran C-130H transports
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) has revealed more details of the ongoing upgrade programme for its ageing fleet of Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules transport planes. The aircraft, which joined the IAF in...
View ArticleEarly gains being made on USN's future SSBN, submarine builder says
Key Points General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) is responding to the US Navy's request for input on its SSBN replacement acquisition strategy GDEB is working on ship arrangements, 3-D models, and...
View ArticleDamen draws attention to Cape Town shipyard's construction capabilities
Damen announced on 15 January that its Cape Town yard had completed the construction of two 50 m FSC 5009 vessels without an order, saying they can be delivered as either armed patrol or fast crew...
View ArticleCzech Republic seeks MRAPs
The Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD) has launched a requirement for up to 62 mine resistant, ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles for the Army of the Czech Republic (ACR). According to MoD and ACR officials...
View ArticleCoast guard co-operation could factor into US-Cuba rapprochement
US and Cuban delegations began meeting in Havana, Cuba, on 21 January to launch conversations into political and commercial rapprochement, and coast guard co-operation could be an early achievement....
View ArticleBahraini air force details modernisation plans
The Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF) is to embark on a comprehensive modernisation plan to enhance the capabilities of both its fixed- and rotary-winged combat fleets, a senior officer disclosed on 22...
View ArticleTaiwan commissions 20,000-tonne combat support ship
The Republic of China Navy (RoCN) took delivery on 23 January of a newly completed fast combat support ship. Panshih was built by state-owned Kaohsiung-based shipbuilder CSBC Corporation at a cost of...
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