NATO limits intel sharing despite first AWACS mission
UK Royal Air Force (RAF) Boeing E-3D Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft have flown their first mission along the borders of Ukraine as it emerged that NATO surveillance...
View ArticleGripen E not reliant on Swiss referendum
The Swedish government is fully committed to the Saab Gripen E combat aircraft programme, irrespective of the outcome of a Swiss national referendum on the planned procurement of the type, company...
View ArticleCroatia continues Mil Mi-8MTV fleet upgrade
Ukraine's Ukroboronprom announced on 12 March that the first batch of two Mil Mi-8 MTV1 helicopters had been returned to the Croatian Air Force. Croatia decided to upgrade its ageing Mi-8 MTV1 fleet in...
View ArticleChina and Saudi Arabia look to enhance strategic ties
China and Saudi Arabia have pledged to enhance ties across strategic sectors including defence, China's Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on 13 March. Following meetings led by Chinese President Xi...
View ArticleBrazil to receive initial modernised Panteras in March
The Brazilian Army Aviation Command (CAvEx) is to receive an initial two upgraded Helibras Pantera K2 utility helicopters in March. A total of 34 AS365K Panther (locally designated HM-1 Pantera)...
View ArticleAustralia confirms Triton buy, infrastructure plans
Key Points Australian officials have confirmed they will purchase MQ-4C Triton UAVs and that the aircraft will be based in Adelaide The number of UAVs to be bought and when they will enter service...
View ArticleUS places sanctions on Russian politicians
The US government announced on 17 March it has selected for punitive measures nearly a dozen persons - most of them politicians - linked to Crimea's unrest and secessionist moves, mirroring similar...
View ArticleUkraine moves armour to border areas
Ukrainian armoured and airborne units have been moved into the sensitive east of the country as tension continues to rise after a controversial referendum on joining Russia took place in Crimea on 16...
View ArticleUkraine crisis prompts re-think over Pentagon use of Russian materials
Key Points The RD-180 rocket engine for the Atlas V is built exclusively in Russia by NPO Energomash US officials have said they have enough engines to support launches through 2016 Russia's actions in...
View ArticleTaiwan coastguard gets new guns for OPVs
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) is to provide a further eight 40 mm gun systems to the country's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) as efforts continue to strengthen its offshore patrol...
View ArticleRussia deploys combat aircraft to Belarus
Russia has deployed a number of fighter and airborne early warning (AEW) platforms near to Ukraine in response to US and NATO aircraft movements in Eastern Europe, state media reported. The Russian Air...
View ArticlePentagon budget 2015: DoD cyberspace operations would get 8.5% boost
Key Points Cyber security funding remains flat at USD13 billion for the wider US government, but that is a subset of a declining overall IT budget Cyberspace operations is one of six priorities for DoD...
View ArticleNATO acts to counter maritime IED threats
NATO has transferred responsibility for its maritime counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) strategy from the US-based Allied Command Transformation (ACT) to Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) in...
View ArticleJapan export laws could permit export to Israel
Japan's proposed guidelines for military exports could permit sales to Israel, a panel set up by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LPD) was told on 14 March. The security panel has been established...
View ArticleGreece to accept Type 214 submarines into service
Greece will finally accept its three remaining Type 214 and sole upgraded Type 209/1200 submarines into service, Greek Minister of Defence Demetrios Avramopoulos announced on 15 March. The four boats...
View ArticleEU rejects Crimea referendum
Andrii Deshchytsia, Ukraine's interim foreign minister, says the situation on the ground in Crimea is unrelentingly tense and that Kiev is stepping up its co-operation with NATO. "We are very much...
View ArticleEU calls for OSCE mission to Crimea
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) should deploy a mission immediately to Crimea to observe security and military developments in the peninsula, say EU foreign ministers....
View ArticleEstonia announces 2014 budget
Estonia will spend EUR111.5 million (USD155 million) on defence equipment in 2014, Estonian Defence Minister Urmas Reinsalu announced on 14 March. According to the Estonian government, the procurement...
View ArticleCzech Republic confirms Gripen lease costs
The Czech Republic will pay CZK16.4 billion (USD830 million) for the lease of 14 Saab JAS 39C/D Gripen multirole fighter aircraft, confirming previous claims that the deal would be around one-third...
View ArticleAustralian DoD hands Boeing USD813 million Wedgetail support contract
Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) has been awarded a five-year, AUD901 million (USD813 million) contract for the ongoing sustainment of the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF's) six-strong fleet of E-7A...
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