Pro-Russian protests in Ukraine
The situation in Crimea remains tense. Speaking at a press conference on 4 March, Russian President Vladimir Putin played down the prospect of going to war, but warned force could be used "as a last...
View ArticlePentagon budget 2015: USAF to award combat rescue helo contract
Key Points The USAF seemingly reversed course in order to request FY2015 funding for CRH Congressional pressure that likely led to the reversal is expected in still more upcoming USAF decisions In a...
View ArticlePentagon budget 2015: MDA to begin EKV redesign, add new long-range radar
The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) will restart interceptor flight-testing by mid-2014 with a focus on Ground-Based Midcourse Defence (GMD) system reliability and performance. MDA is requesting USD7.4...
View ArticlePentagon budget 2015: DoD seeks 3% growth in five-year funding plan
Key Points The White House has requested USD495.6 billion for the DoD next year, followed by a sharp rise to USD535.1 billion and then about 3% growth thereafter Funding requested after FY 2015 would...
View ArticlePentagon budget 2015: Army's USD120.5 billion proposal drops end strength,...
Key Points Army end strength will move towards 420,000 soldiers in 2019 until sequestration is reversed The GCV is to be cancelled and there is not yet a replacement programme The US Army's fiscal year...
View ArticlePentagon budget 2015: 'Resource constrained' QDR accompanies budget
The US Department of Defense's (DoD's) 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) seeks to change the Pentagon's planning construct but has already drawn criticism for straying from the review's intent. The...
View ArticleJapan, US to launch high-speed trimaran design study
Japan and the US have agreed to launch joint research on high-speed trimaran. The Japanese Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 4 March that it had signed a preliminary agreement on joint research...
View ArticleIsraeli commandos seize arms shipment in Red Sea
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced on 5 March that it had detained a ship in the Red Sea that was carrying long-range Syrian rockets destined for militants in the Gaza Strip. Operation 'Full...
View ArticleInfographic of comparative Ukrainian and Russian air power
An infographic showing the relative air power strengths of both Ukraine and Russia. The inventory figures are drawn from IHS Jane's World Air Forces , IHS Jane's World Navies , and IHS Jane's World...
View ArticleEmbraer updates on Brazilian aircraft upgrade programmes
Embraer has revealed details of several Brazilian military upgrade plans in 2014, including for the AMX fighter fleet, during the local firm's fiscal year 2013 (FY 2013) financial results reporting....
View ArticleEC finalising policy statement on strengthening Europe's defence industry
The European Commission (EC) is finalising how it will translate its July 2013 policy statement on strengthening Europe's defence industry into concrete measures. EU officials say the new action plan...
View ArticleDassault, HAL sign workshare deal for Rafale
France's Dassault and India's state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) successfully concluded negotiations in late February on a work-share agreement to license-build 108 Rafale fighters for the...
View ArticleBoeing conducts maiden flight of MSA
Boeing has conducted the first flight of its business jet-based Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA), the company announced on 5 March. The four-hour flight, from Toronto's Pearson International...
View ArticleAustralia welcomes As-Pac focus of US 2014 QDR
The restatement in the US 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) of the US pivot to the Asia-Pacific region has been welcomed by Australian Defence Minister David Johnston, who confirmed an increase in...
View ArticlePentagon budget 2015: USAF seeks funds for JTARS, T-X recap
Key Points The T-X combat trainer would receive USD600 million over five years, while a JSTARS replacement would get USD2.4 billion Those two efforts are among the few new programmes in the USAF's...
View ArticlePentagon budget 2015: DoD 'wish list' keeps aircraft from breaching FY 2015...
Key Points Just over USD26 billion worth of aircraft are in a separate budget request A fresh political compromise would be needed to fund the proposal In order to stay within a congressional cost cap...
View ArticlePentagon budget 2015: Army plans to drop three aviation brigades
Key Points Active duty CABs would reduce to 10 while the Reserve components retain 12 A restructuring seeks to focus Reserve brigades on assault, lift, and medevac missions, and active brigades on...
View ArticleDetails emerge on Colombia's CPV-46 programme
The Colombian Navy plans to buy new coastal surveillance and patrol vessels, IHS Jane's has learned. Under the Coastal Patrol Vessel-46 (CPV-46) programme, the navy is to ultimately receive 14 new...
View ArticleUSAF increases support for Poland and Baltic states
The US Air Force (USAF) has spelled out its increased commitment to NATO's eastern-most members, following Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's promise of support in the wake of Russia's invasion of...
View ArticleTurkey's Mizrak-U undergoes first guided firing test
Turkey's long-range anti-tank missile, code-named Mizrak-U, has successfully completed its first guided firing test from a Bell AH-1S Cobra helicopter, according to a press release posted on the...
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