Defence`s Feeds

Key Points Sikorsky's S-97 completed its first flight on 22 May Sikorsky now plans to demonstrate more advanced capabilities needed to support armed reconnaissance, light assault, light attack, and special operations United Technologies' Sikorsky Aircraft unit's S-97 Raider coaxial rotor

The US Army began its first rotational deployment to Europe under the newly restructured aviation presence announced earlier in May. Aviation Task Force Brawler comprises Sikorsky UH-60M/HH-60M Black Hawk helicopters from 4-3 Assault Helicopter Battalion (AHB), based at Hunter Army Airfield in

The United States has stepped up its pressure on China over its island building programme in the Spratly Islands by releasing video footage and audio recordings of exchanges with Chinese naval ships. The US Navy (USN) also allowed CNN on a Boeing P-8 Poseidon surveillance flight from Clark Air

LOCAL government officials reported on 18 May that approximately 500 people - including at least 15 soldiers - had been killed across the past several days after Islamic State militants launched a major offensive, involving artillery and multiple suicide attacks, against security forces in the city

The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) announced on 20 May that it would begin to take delivery of eight EMBRAER P-95 Bandeirulha maritime patrol aircraft in 2015 that are currently undergoing a significant upgrade programme. The upgraded P-95 will be designated P-95M and distributed among the FAB's

The Royal Cambodian Army (RCA) took delivery of a range of defence equipment from China on 23 May as part of further efforts to bolster its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities. Chinese state media reported that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) handed over to the Royal Cambodian

China published its new military White Paper on 26 May, which includes unprecedented emphasis on a requirement to accelerate civil-military integration (CMI); the process through which China aims to advance military industrial innovation. The White Paper includes a subchapter dedicated to outlining

Key Points Since a failed coup attempt on 13 May, supporters of President Pierre Nkurunziza have been emboldened to crack down on his opponents ahead of a series of national elections between June and August 2015. Nkurunziza's refusal to withdraw from the presidential elections, and the increased

The first of three air warfare destroyers (AWDs) for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) was launched on 23 May amid the disclosure of further delays and cost overruns in a programme that is already well behind schedule and significantly over budget. Defence Minister Kevin Andrews referred to the

France and Russia plan to come to an agreement in late May on terms for severing the contract for supply of Mistral-class helicopter carriers to Russia, a source in the Russian military-technical sphere has said, according to the RIA Novosti news agency. "Paris has not yet replied to the

Key Points Recent proliferation of submarines poses security risks for the Asia-Pacific region, says Singapore The RSN has proposed four areas for navies to collaborate in enhancing regional underwater safety Singapore has warned that the recent proliferation of submarines in the Asia-Pacific

Japan and Malaysia have agreed to co-operate on defence trade and related technologies as a reflection of deepening bilateral ties, a joint statement said on 25 May. Following meetings in Tokyo between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his visiting counterpart, Najib Razak, a statement said

EVENT A Tunisian soldier opened fire on 25 May in the Bouchoucha military barracks in Tunis, killing seven soldiers and wounding 10 before being shot dead. According to a defence ministry spokesman, the soldier attacked one comrade with a knife and took his weapon before shooting at his fellow

Kazakhstan's Zenit Uralsk Shipyard has launched a new FC-19 interceptor craft for the Kazakh Coast Guard. Mergen (pennant 509) is the 20th vessel to be built for the coastguard by Zenit since the early 1990s, according to Vyacheslav Valiyev, the shipyard's director general. The 27-29-tonne FC-19

EVENT The Kuwaiti interior ministry announced on 25 May that seven members of an alleged militant cell affiliated with the Islamic State had been arrested. The cell reportedly intended to carry out attacks along the lines of the 22 May suicide bombing of a Shia mosque in Saudi Arabia in order to

Key Points Many actors in the Middle East are able to launch cyber attacks outside the region and will continue to enhance their cyber capabilities The bulk of cyber attacks from the Middle East will remain focused on propaganda or espionage Iran has some of the region's most advanced cyber

EVENT President Vladimir Putin on 23 May 2015 signed new legislation on 'undesirable' international and foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in Russia. The new legislation builds on amendments to the Law on NGOs passed in 2012 that branded groups as 'foreign agents' for alleged

The Philippine Navy (PN) has commissioned a former product tanker donated by state-owned Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) as the service's fleet oiler. The 98 m vessel, named BRP Lake Caliraya (AF-81), was commissioned on 23 May at the PN's base in Cavite City, according to government news

Final operational capability (FOC) has been declared for the six EA-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft (AEW&C) of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Defence Minister Kevin Andrews announced on 26 May. The Boeing 737-700-based aircraft now provide the world's most

Germany's Rheinmetall has formally established a subsidiary in Australia to lead its planned expansion in the region, the company said in a statement on 26 May. Rheinmetall Defence Australia will be led by Andrew Fletcher, the former chief executive officer of Defence SA, the South Australian