Russians look to capitalise on predicted demise of Indian Rafale deal
Rumours have emerged in the past few weeks that a contract for the sale of the Dassault Rafale fighter to India for its Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) requirement would eventually never be...
View ArticlePoland commits to spending 2% of GDP on defence
Poland will increase its defence spending to 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2016 and expects to order EUR7.2 billion (USD8.2 billion) worth of military equipment in 2015, the country's deputy...
View ArticleNigerian Navy commissions four vessels
In a landmark event in the Nigerian Navy's recapitalisation programme, President Goodluck Jonathan commissioned four naval vessels in Lagos on 19 February. The four warships were the NNS Centenary...
View ArticleModi approves Indian Navy plan to build 6 SSBNs, 7 frigates
India's Cabinet Committee on Security on 17 February approved the indigenous construction of seven frigates and six nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) for an estimated INR1 trillion...
View ArticleHAL, Snecma sign JV on aero-engine parts
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Safran subsidiary Snecma have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore establishing a joint venture (JV) in India to produce aero-engine parts....
View ArticleFinland and Sweden to strengthen military co-operation
A report by the Finnish and Swedish ministries of defence (MoDs), released on 17 February, urges far deeper organisational co-operation and integration for combat missions. This would supersede the...
View ArticleBrazil receives last RBS 70 items, considers more
The Brazilian Army soon to receive the final items associated with the RBS 70 man-portable very-short-range air defence system (VSHORAD) acquired through the Brazilian Army Commission in Washington...
View ArticleAero India 2015: Irkut blames Su-30 ejection seat misfires on 'human factor'
A senior official at Russia's Irkut Corporation has blamed pilot error for a series of accidents in which Indian Air Force (IAF) Sukhoi Su-30MKI ejection seats apparently misfired. Vitaly Borodich,...
View ArticleAero India 2015: First BrahMos-armed Su-30 handed over to IAF
India's state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed over its first Su-30MKI fighter armed with the BrahMos-A supersonic cruise missile to the Indian Air Force (IAF) at Aero India 2015 on 19...
View ArticleAero India 2015: Analysis: India looks to press on with helicopter programmes
India is tackling its requirement for more than 800 varied military helicopters via a combination of direct imports, licensed manufacture, local design and production, and joint venture (JV)...
View ArticleAero India 2015: Indian Air Force chief adds to MMRCA confusion
India's Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha has added to the prevailing confusion over the purchase of 126 Dassault Rafale fighters by the Indian Air Force (IAF). Addressing a press conference at Aero India...
View ArticleRussian army to trial both AK-12 and A-545 rifles
The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has ordered pilot batches of the competing AK-12 and A-545 assault rifles for field tests, state media claims. The news contradicts earlier reports that the AK-12...
View ArticleLockheed Martin demonstrates F-35 productivity improvements
Key Points Lockheed Martin has begun implementing productivity improvements under its 'blueprint for affordability' The company says the government will save some USD1.8 billion under the effort...
View ArticleAero India 2015: New UAC chief bullish on fifth-gen fighter progress
New United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) CEO Yuri Slyusar is confident that Russia and India will sign a contract for the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) in 2015. "Rosoboronexport [Russia's...
View ArticleObama to consider slowing US withdrawal from Afghanistan
US secretary of defence Ashton Carter confirmed that the United States is considering slowing the pace at which it withdraws troops from Afghanistan. Afghan president Ashraf Ghani is to visit US...
View ArticleKorean Air-Airbus form KFX partnership
South Korea's national airline Korean Air has joined with Airbus to bid for the country's programme to complete development of the Korean Fighter Experimental (KFX) aircraft, a Korean Air spokesman...
View ArticleIndian 'Kilo' collides with fishing vessel
The periscope of an Indian Navy (IN) Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine was damaged on 20 February after it collided with a fishing vessel off India's west coast during a training exercise. IN...
View ArticleIN to fast-track plans for second indigenous carrier
The Indian Navy (IN) is fast-tracking plans to build its second, 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in southern India. Designated the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier-II (IAC-II)...
View ArticleAero India 2015: Third LCH prototype breaks cover with new paintjob
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) displayed the third prototype of its Light Combat Helicopter in a new camouflage pattern at Aero India 2015 in Bangalore. The LCH is designed for anti-tank...
View ArticlePhilippines re-tenders howitzer programme
The Philippines Department of National Defense (DND) has re-tended a programme to procure 155 mm towed howitzers and related ammunition. An invitation to bid issued by the DND on 20 February outlines a...
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