EU looks to strengthen counter arms trafficking efforts
The EU needs a new approach to preventing illegal arms trafficking, the European Parliament's political grouping of members known as the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats Group (ALDE) stated during a...
View ArticleDefence and Security pushes Embraer revenues up in 2014
Brazilian aerospace and defence manufacturer Embraer announced its fourth quarter (Q4) results on 4 March, with the company's Defence and Security business unit revenues surging ahead by 21.7% over...
View ArticleBenelux countries agree to joint air policing
Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands signed an agreement on 4 March on the joint air policing of their territories. Under the agreement - signed in The Hague by Dutch defence minister Jeanine...
View ArticleTurkey's T-Loramids technology transfer troubles
Key Points Technology transfer issues remain a major sticking point for Turkey's T-Loramids air and missile defence programme Recent confusion over integration of the eventual system into NATO systems...
View ArticleRAF flies first A400M mission
The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) flew its first mission with the Airbus Defence and Space (DS) A400M Atlas airlifter during the week beginning 1 March. The first of 22 A400Ms destined for the United...
View ArticleGermany approves Sea Lion helo procurement
Germany has approved the purchase of 18 Sea Lion-variant NH90 helicopters valued at EUR1.4 billion (USD1.6 billion), the Reuters news agency reported on 4 March. The deal, which had already been...
View ArticleBrazilian Air Force establishes new air defence group
The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) has established the 3rd Anti-Aircraft Defence Group (3° GDAAE) at Anapolis Air Base (BAAN), the FAB announced on 3 March. The 3° GDAAE is composed of a single short-range...
View ArticleUS sidelined from Tikrit offensive
Key Points Iraq has not asked the US-led coalition to assist the operation to clear Tikrit of Islamic State militants Iranian-backed Shia militias, rather than US-trained Iraqi Army units, make up the...
View ArticleSale of ex-Swedish BMP-1s to Iraq awaits German approval
The sale of up to 350 ex-Swedish BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) to Iraq is awaiting German approval, a spokesperson for Excalibur Army, the Czech company that currently owns the vehicles, has...
View ArticleNavy readies for UCLASS competition
Key Points The USN has delayed a UCLASS competition until FY 2016 Fielding is planned for 2022, service officials said The US Navy (USN) is preparing to begin a competition for the Unmanned...
View ArticleFirst production BMD-4Ms delivered to Russian Airborne Forces
The Russian Airborne Forces (VDV) received its first batch of serially produced BMD-4M 'Sadovnitsa' infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and BTR-MDM 'Rakushka' armoured personnel carriers (APCs) on 3...
View ArticleBulgaria to be offered JF-17 fighter by Pakistan
Bulgaria is to be offered the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex/Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (PAC/CAC) JF-17 Thunder combat aircraft, according to national media reports. The single-seat,...
View ArticleSouth African defence budget down in real terms
South Africa's defence funding continues to shrink in real terms despite continued foreign and domestic commitments. Announced on 25 February, the 2015 defence budget of ZAR44.58 billion (USD3.8...
View ArticleFirst Antey-2500 to be delivered to Egypt in 2016
Russia has started the "practical implementation" of a contract for the supply of Antey-2500 (also known as the S-300VM) surface-to-air missile systems to Egypt, the Interfax-AVN news agency reported...
View ArticleEuropean defence R&D has fallen 'catastrophically', new EDA chief states
Key Points Spending on defence research and development has fallen catastrophically since 2006 according to the new head of the EDA In total spending among the 27 EDA members on R&D has dropped by...
View ArticleEurope advances RPAS trials in civil airspace
The European Defence Agency (EDA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) will soon launch a new project to further test the use of space assets for datalinks, command-and-control (C2) control and back-up...
View ArticleCuban shipyard to repair Venezuelan missile frigate
The Venezuelan Navy has contracted Cuba's Granma Military Industrial Shipyards to perform a comprehensive refit of its General Soublette (F 24) Lupo-class guided-missile frigate, according to local...
View ArticleLRS-B contract will be cost-plus, USAF says
Key Points LRS-B will be awarded as a cost-plus contract within months The USAF worked to reign in costs on the programme by studying the mature technology available within the US industrial base...
View ArticleGerman parliament endorses new EUR8.5 bn Airbus Helicopters deal
Germany's parliamentary budget committee endorsed a revised helicopter deal with Airbus Helicopters on 4 March. The accord, which has been brought ahead of schedule by the Ministry of Defence (MoD),...
View ArticleUSN to add due-regard radar after Triton fielding
Key Points The USN plans to add a due-regard radar to its Triton UAV after it is fielded to the fleet Aircraft will be delivered to the fleet at the end of 2017 and early in 2018 The US Navy (USN)...
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