Damen sees new naval market opportunities in 'Crossover' vessel concept
Damen Shipyard's subsidiary Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS) has launched the Crossover Series - or 'XO' family - of multifunctional naval vessels, perceiving new international market...
View ArticleCongress passes FY14 defence authorisation bill
The US Senate late on 19 December passed an authorisation bill that was rushed through the lower chamber the previous week as lawmakers sought to ensure certain congressionally sanctioned measures did...
View ArticleBAE Systems cleared to begin KF-16 upgrades for South Korea
BAE Systems is to begin modernising the Republic of Korea Air Force's (RoKAF's) fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 52 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft, after the South Korean and United States...
View ArticleRussia to upgrade Mi-8 helos for Arctic operations
Russia is to upgrade its Mil Mi-8 'Hip' transport helicopters for Arctic operations, state media announced on 25 December. The work, which will be carried out at the Ulan-Ude facility in the far east...
View ArticleRussia clears MiG-31s to resume flight operations
The Russian Air Force (Voyenno-Vozdushnye Sily [VVS]) is to clear its MiG-31 'Foxhound' combat aircraft to resume flight operations after they were temporarily grounded following a crash in the far...
View ArticleUS UAV strikes down in 2013, study says
Key Points The US government has scaled back the number of UAV strikes in 2013 Strikes in 'non-battlefield settings' fell to around 55 in 2013, down from around 90 in 2012 The US government reduced the...
View ArticleUS crisis response task forces make moves in Africa
Key Points CJTF-HOA's EARF marks first deployment with mission in South Sudan AFRICOM has also moved elements of a Special-Purpose MAGTF from Spain to Camp Lemonnier in case more forces are needed...
View ArticleUkrainian defence budget reveals further personnel cuts
Ukraine is to continue to reduce defence expenditure through further personnel cuts and improving expenditure structures as part of ongoing reforms, Defence Minister Pavel Lebedev confirmed to the...
View ArticleSpain sets out objectives for its 5+5 presidency
Spain has taken over the presidency of the 5+5 Defence Initiative for the first time this year, saying it will be pushing for greater co-ordination in any emergencies that may involve the 10 European...
View ArticleSouth Korea releases defence export figures
South Korean defence companies achieved record-high military exports of USD3.4 billion in 2013, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced on 2 January. The figure represents an...
View ArticleRussian Helicopters increases revenues 11.2% in 2013
Russian Helicopters (RH) manufactured 303 helicopters and generated revenues of over RUB140 billion (USD4.26 billion) in 2013, according to the company's preliminary 2013 results. The figures, released...
View ArticleQatar receives first MRTP 34 boat
The Turkish shipyard Yonca-Onuk handed over the first of three MRTP 34 patrol boats to the Qatari Emiri Navy in a ceremony held on 24 December. Turkey's Defence Industries Undersecretariat (SSM) said...
View ArticlePeruvian Army to get new artillery in 2014
Peruvian president Ollanta Humala in mid-December signed a decree authorising defence minister Pedro Cateriano to engage in a government-to-government contract to procure a new artillery system. IHS...
View ArticleNew DoD roadmap calls for affordable unmanned systems advances
A shrinking US military budget and a planned shift towards the Asia-Pacific region will be the primary issues shaping the US Department of Defense's (DoD's) vision for unmanned weapon systems for the...
View ArticleJapan to deploy Global Hawks at Misawa AB 'from FY15'
The Japanese Ministry of Defence (MoD) will deploy the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from Misawa Air Base (AB) in northern Japan,...
View ArticleIndian and Pakistani armies agree to protect LoC ceasefire
The directors general of military operations (DGMOs) for Pakistan and India have agreed to work towards ensuring peace along the Line of Control (LoC) The LoC divides the Pakistani and Indian...
View ArticleIndia cancels AW101 deal
India terminated its EUR750 million (USD764 million) contract with AgustaWestland for 12 AW101 helicopters on 1 January. The long-anticipated cancellation of the VIP transport deal was announced after...
View ArticleAirbus Group launched as EADS brand retired
The EADS brand has been retired as Chief Executive Officer Tom Enders launched the Airbus Group on 2 January. Under the new structure the company will comprise three main units: Airbus, Airbus Defence...
View ArticleUSAF F-15Cs take on Baltic air policing role
The US Air Force (USAF) took over responsibility for the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission on 3 January. Four Boeing F-15C Eagle multirole fighter aircraft from the USAF's 48th Fighter Group landed at...
View ArticleUS ship assigned to destroy Syria's chemical weapons set to depart within two...
Key Points Cape Ray is equipped with two FDHS The ship is expected to neutralise 700 metric tonnes of bulk liquid chemical agents during its 90-day mission The US cargo ship equipped with a system to...
View Article