Jane's Defense News

Brazilian defence minister Raul Jungmann plans to visit Portugal 9-10 February to meet with counterpart José Alberto de Azeredo Lopes to strengthen defence industry co-operation between the two Portuguese-speaking nations. Memorandums of understanding (MoUs) for co-operation on military

The exponential growth in software-defined military systems is leading the US Army to examine ways to handle the challenges of maintaining its weapon systems and ensuring they are secure from potential cyber threats. In the past, software was primarily used for enterprise services, but now

Three China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels sailed near the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea on 6 February, briefly entering their 12 n mile territorial waters, according to a statement issued by China's State Oceanic Administration. Japanese broadcaster NHK quoted the Japan Coast

Key Points Talks stalled in early January 2017 on a final settlement to reunify the divided island of Cyprus. Security, territorial adjustments, and property ownership continue to hinder resolution of the issue. Any final settlement would nevertheless lead to an improved regional security

The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has commenced a project to explore how swarms of robots could be used to operate alongside army and marine units at the company level and below. The Offensive Swarm Enabled Tactics (OFFSET) project is looking to advance and accelerate

The French defence procurement agency, the Direction générale de l'armement (DGA), has announced the award of a contract to Thales and RUAG Defence France for the French Army's CERBERE (Centres d'entraînement représentatifs des espaces de bataille et de restitution des

Cyberbit, a subsidiary of Israel's Elbit, is teaming with Japanese group Ni Cybersecurity to open a new training centre in Tokyo, the companies announced on 6 February. The centre will use cyber training technology developed by Cyberbit while targeting a Japanese market that the companies say is

Estonia is planning to buy K9 Thunder 155 mm self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) from South Korea, with the two countries signing a memorandum of understanding to begin procurement negotiations on 6 February. The move is linked to a proposed purchase of the Hanwha Techwin K9 by Finland. Speaking to

Two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters (JSFs) will visit Australia in March, Minister of Defence Marise Payne announced on 7 February. The aircraft will be the first of the type to touch down in Australia since Canberra signed up to the JSF programme in 2002.

EVENT On 2 February 2017, a 22-year-old youth worker was allegedly sexually assaulted with a baton by police. The four police officers involved were subsequently placed under arrest, with one being charged with rape. Since 4 February, Aulnay-sous-Bois, a northeastern suburb of Paris, has

The unconventional mid-winter military campaign against Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine by pro-Russia forces in the region is "testing the will" of the new US administration, argue members of the European Parliament (MEPs), who called for a stronger EU security response to the crisis.

EVENT The Zimbabwean government on 1 February implemented a 15% value-added tax (VAT) on a range of staple foods that were previously zero-rated. The move is expected to place significant strain on consumers, among whom formal employment has dropped to just 10%. Formal retailers facing depressed

The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has established a programme dedicated to providing funding for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) looking to expand in the defence sector. The Technology Development Fund (TDF) operates under the Defence Research and Development Organisation

The Afghan government is seeking a firm commitment from the United States to continue providing close air support to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF), thus enabling Kabul to focus on its four-year plan for restructuring and modernising the security forces. "The NATO-led

In Nahersara, Helmand, at least three suspected suicide attackers were killed in an airstrike at their hideouts.

Norway's decision, announced on 3 February, to procure four Type 212NG submarines and enter a strategic partnership with the German Navy and Germany's naval industry will have major implications for both countries' defence industries. As part of the agreement Germany will also buy two submarines in

Patria has developed and tested an upgraded version of its XA series of 6x6 armoured personnel carriers (APCs). The new variant - designated XA-220 - was developed with internal research and development funding. The original XA-180 6x6 APC is powered by a Valmet diesel engine developing 295 hp and

Key Points NAWCWD has integrated proximity fuze technology into its home-grown Spike miniature missile system Two Outlaw UAVs were destroyed in testing at China Lake in December 2016 The US Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) has tested its in-house developed Spike miniature

The US Army is to field a new counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (C-UAV) system to protect against 'low and slow' threats on the battlefield. A USD65 million contract awarded to Syracuse Research Corporation (SRC) on 31 January covers the development, production, integration, delivery, deployment, and

Key Points SLIM is intended as a potential solution for the US Army's prospective Individual Assault Munition requirement Calibre and TRL status has not been disclosed The US Army's Maneuver Centre of Excellence (MCoE) is evaluating a new disposable shoulder-launched rocket concept as one of the