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The British Army is to create an experimental group to trial the concepts of operation for its new 'strike brigades' and bring the new General Dynamics Ajax family of armoured vehicles into service. Announced to Parliament by UK defence secretary Michael Fallon on 15 December, the move will however

Cognitive Systems is looking to transition its commercial R10 integrated circuit (IC), referred to as "radio frequency [RF] situational awareness on a chip", to military customers seeking a high-performance, agile, and low-size, weight, and power (SWaP) solution. RF situational awareness

EVENT On 14 December, Spain's Constitutional Court provisionally suspended plans approved in the Catalan regional parliament on 6 October to hold an independence referendum in September 2017. The regional parliament's decision, supported by 72 pro-independence deputies in the 135-seat chamber,

The Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 14 December that it had selected IAI Elta Systems as the winner of its tender for new 3D mobile air defence radar (MADR) for the Army of the Czech Republic (ACR). The MoD said it will prepare a contract with Elta Systems before 23 December to supply

DRS Environmental Systems Inc (DESI), a business unit of US-based Leonardo-Finmeccanica subsidiary DRS Technologies, has been purchased by military shelter provider HDT Global, the company announced on 15 December. DESI, also based in the Unites States, operates two facilities in Cincinnati, Ohio,

Development of Elbit Systems' palm-sized micro designator marker (MDM), first unveiled in 2014 as a prospective add-on to the company's hand-launched Skylark small unmanned aircraft system (SUAS), has now reached technology readiness level 7, according to Yoram Aron, the business development and

EU leaders meeting in Brussels on 15 December reached agreement on establishing closer trade and political ties with Ukraine after incorporating demands from the Netherlands that the deal does not include military or financial aid. The so-called 'association agreement' also specifically includes a

National leaders meeting in Brussels on 15 December called on the EU to boost its effort to strengthen Libya's security. The EU's naval mission in the central Mediterranean - EUNAVFOR MED, dubbed 'Sophia' - will continue its training of Libya's coastguard, while parallel initiatives "need to

EU leaders reconfirmed their commitment to jointly develop capabilities for Europe's defence and expeditionary missions and to make the capabilities "available when needed". Gathering in Brussels on 15 December, they said the EU and its member states "must be able to contribute

The UK defence secretary confirmed on 15 December previously revealed plans to have the US Marine Corps (USMC) embark aboard the Royal Navy's new Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier on its maiden operational deployment in 2021. The announcement was made by Michael Fallon during a meeting in London

Key Points GDBIW contracted to continue DDG 51 Flight III design and development work The company will be laying down its first Flight III hull in 2017 The US Navy (USN) has awarded General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (GDBIW) a USD59 million contract for the continuation of DDG 51 Arleigh

A FORMER local self-government head was wounded during an improvised explosive device (IED) attack - described in media reports as a pressure bomb - by Communist Party of India - Maoist (CPI-M) militants on a road between Dornapal and Polampalli in Sukma district in India's Chhattisgarh state on 3

India has attracted less than USD1 million in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the defence sector over the past three fiscal years, India's defence minister Manohar Parrikar has disclosed. In a recent parliamentary reply, Parrikar said that since fiscal year 2013/14 India's defence sector has

The Indian Army's Infantry Directorate has published a request for information (RFI) for a new sniper rifle. The service plans to acquire 5,000 bolt-action sniper rifles chambered for the .338 Lapua Magnum, with a requirement for the rifle to be capable of operation in environments to include high

A service inquiry has found that a loss of crew situational awareness was the most significant contributory cause of the crash of a Royal Air Force (RAF) Westland/Aerospatiale SA 330E Puma HC2 medium transport helicopter in Afghanistan in October 2015, with the loss of five of the nine personnel on

The US Office of Naval Research (ONR) awarded Metron Inc, of Reston, Virginia, a USD29.8 million contract to develop advanced autonomy for unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs) on 14 December 2016. The contract contains options that, if exercised, would bring the total potential value to almost USD34

The Myanmar Air Defence Force (Tatmadaw Lay) commissioned four Airbus Helicopters H120 (formerly designated EC120 B) Colibri helicopters and four Beechcraft 1900D utility transport aircraft in a ceremony to mark the service's 69th anniversary at Meiktila Air Base on 15 December, according to a

NATO officially terminated its 'Ocean Shield' counter-piracy mission in the Indian Ocean on 15 December, although the mission's activities operationally ended in late November. Launched in 2009 at the height of pirate raids off Somalia, 'Ocean Shield' worked alongside the EU's Operation 'Atalanta'

Americas

• BAE Systems has unveiled their first Amphibious Combat Vehicle 1.1 prototype, part of a $103.7 million contract to deliver 16 prototypes to the USMC. Developed to combine open-ocean amphibious capabilities with land mobility, the vehicles will provide armored transport for infantry personnel traveling from a ship to a shore. The Marine Corps expects to begin testing the prototypes in the first quarter of 2017.

• The US Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs office has awarded BAE Systems $368 million to perform weapon system engineering services for US and UK Ohio- and Vanguard-class submarines. Tasks to be performed will include weapon system integration, engineering, and testing. BAE will also provide IT support, assist with training programs, and develop fleet documentation materials.

Middle East & North Africa

• Boeing will supply military flight training equipment and services for the government of Saudi Arabia, following the awarding of a foreign military sales contract by the Pentagon. Valued at $59.9 million, the deal will see company provide one Database Generation System, one Full Mission Trainer, and an Integrated Avionics Trainer database to Riyadh.

Europe

• UK PM Theresa May has come under increased pressure by opposition lawmakers and campaigners for her government’s continued support of the supply of munitions to Saudi Arabia. May came under pressure in the House of Commons following the decision by the US to limit the supply of certain munitions that have been used in military strikes by the Saudi Air Force in Yemen. In defense of the sales, May hailed the bilateral cooperation between both governments in their counter-terrorism initiatives saying that the information gained from Saudi Arabia over the years had saved countless lives.

Asia Pacific

• South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) will commence research on an indigenous Taurus-class cruise missile. Development work on the missile will begin in 2018, with the aim being to produce around 200 missiles for deployment on the upcoming KAI KF-X fighter jet. Costing $690 million, the new missiles will give Seoul an increased cruise missile range from 280 km to 500 km.

• Beijing received an early Christmas present this year with the advanced delivery of four Sukhoi Su-35 fighters from Russia. Initially expected for delivery in 2017, the shipment process was expedited to send the first batch before the new year. Signed last November, the $2 billion deal will see Russia provide China with 24 Su-35s alongside ground equipment and spare engines.

• Despite recent diplomatic tensions between the US and the Philippines, the US State Department has cleared the $25 million sale of two Saab AN/SPS-77 Sea Giraffe 3D Air Search Radars to the archipelago’s navy. Manilla plans to install the radars on two Hamilton-class cutters acquired through the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program which will aid them in monitoring their waters. The sale also aims to improve interoperability with the US Navy, allowing the two armed forces to collaborate on missions more effectively.

• US aerospace and defense firms looking to increase their presence in the Asia-Pacific region are looking to next year’s International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2017. The biennial event is organized by the Korea Aerospace Industries Association (KAIA), Korea Defense Industry Association (KDIA) and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), and will allow foreign firms to get closer to buyers and decision-makers there, particularly those involved in the modernization of South Korea’s defense forces. Kallman Worldwide will be organizing the US effort, with a 1,250 sqm US International Pavilion to act as a destination for buyers looking for an efficient way to meet a critical mass of US suppliers, an on-site business hub for US exhibitors looking to maximize their exposure and time at the event, and a forum for all to share ideas and insights.

Today’s Video

Taxi test of the Saab Gripen E:

Russian T-72B4 Main Battle Tank