Defence`s Feeds

The Chinese military is to step up personnel training and humanitarian assistance to Syria, state-run Xinhua news agency reported, in a public display of support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime. The agreement was reached during a 14 August meeting in Damascus between Rear Admiral Guan

The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is hoping to identify technologies and approaches that could provide force protection to counter the growing asymmetric threat from small unmanned air systems (SUAS). The request for information (RfI) is being managed by the agency's Tactical

Canadian frigate HMCS Vancouver will deploy to the Asia-Pacific region, the Department of National Defence (DND) announced on 18 August. Vancouver is scheduled to participate in Exercise 'KAKADU', a biennial event hosted by the Royal Australian Navy, as well as 'WESTPLOY 16'. The deployment is meant

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) reported results from the second quarter of its financial year on 18 August, revealing sales of USD877 million and operating income of USD22 million in the three months to 30 June. While sales generated by IAI, which is entirely owned by the Israeli state, were

India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) plans to reallocate a large proportion of about INR558.92 billion (USD8.46 billion) lying unspent with nine Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), to supplement defence budgets for long-delayed military modernisation. Official sources said a recent internal

A Shivalik (Project 17)-class guided-missile frigate has made an inaugural visit of an Indian Navy vessel to the Federated States of Micronesia in a demonstration of the service's increasing footprint and operational reach, the Indian Ministry of Defence announced on 18 August. The frigate, INS

The Indonesian Army (Tentara Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Darat, or TNI-AD) has requested for funding allocation from Jakarta to acquire up to 20 units of the M109 Series of 155 mm self-propelled howitzers to augment the service's indirect-fire support capabilities. The request was disclosed in a

Indonesia's state-owned aerospace manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) plans to move its production facilities in order to position itself for an anticipated expansion in orders, the company's president, Budi Santoso, announced on 18 August. According to Santoso, a new facility, measuring up

EVENT Opposition movement the Mozambican National Resistance (Resistência Nacional Moçambicana: RENAMO) and Mozambique's government both announced on 17 August that they had reached an initial agreement during ongoing peace talks to share power in the regions. This will potentially lead

The governments of Japan and Taiwan have proposed small increases in their respective defence budgets for 2017, according to reports in both Northeast Asian countries on 19 August. Citing the government's budget directorate, Taiwan's state-run Central News Agency reported that the country's defence

Japan's Ministry of Defense is spending JPY200 million (USD2 million) this year on preliminary designs for a network of radar and optical telescopes to track foreign satellites and space debris, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported on 18 August. In fiscal year 2017, which begins on 1 April, the

EVENT On 17 August 2016 the Special Forces of the Russian security service (Federalnaya Sluzhba Bezopasnosti; FSB) raided a residential building in the south of the city and killed four alleged Islamist militants from Kabardino-Balkaria in the Russian North Caucasus. The killed individuals

The Nigerian Navy provided a first look at the patrol boat it is building when it invited journalists to the Nigerian Naval Dockyard in Lagos to announce the delivery of 39 gunboats. The vessel could be seen in one of the two smaller drydocks at the facility. Satellite imagery shows that it is

North Korea has condemned a large-scale exercise conducted by South Korean artillery units close to the heavily fortified border on 18 August, with the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) describing the drills as a "mad-cap shelling provocation". Some 300 artillery units from 49

Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev approved a law guaranteeing loans of RUB48.3 billion (USD757 million) to six of the country's main defence companies on 19 August. The decree, Order No 1723-p, was judged necessary to allow companies including United Shipbuilding Corporation, Irkut

Key Points Russia will seek to manage the proxy conflicts between Iran and Turkey in northern Iraq, the Kurdistan Regional Government, and northern Syria, replacing the traditional role of the United States. Russia will negotiate support for Syrian Kurds in exchange for Turkish acquiescence for

Key Points Russia uses aggressive rhetoric and military threats to pressure Ukraine and the West into accepting Moscow's interpretation of the Donbass settlement, including by a controlled escalation by pro-Russian separatists. Russia is likely to aim to use controlled military escalation of the

ANALYSIS The United States is preparing to deploy its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) counter missile system to South Korea, but it is unclear how many launchers or interceptors will be part of the battery so its defensive capability remains ambiguous. A full THAAD battery includes the

The US Air Force (USAF) on 19 August awarded Boeing a USD2.8 billion contract for the first two KC-46A Pegasus tanker low-rate initial production (LRIP) lots. The contract is for seven aircraft in LRIP 1 and 12 in LRIP 2, in addition to spare engines and refuelling pod kits. The company is expected

Americas

• General Atomics is to provide 30 MQ-9 Reaper UAVs to the USAF. The $370.9 million contract will be completed by May 31, 2019.

• Norwegian missile manufacturer Kongsberg has chosen Raytheon to produce launchers for its (NSM) in the USA. The duo are offering the system for use on the US Navy’s Littoral Combat Ships. Final assembly, integration and testing of the NSM will also be undertaken by Raytheon.

• Both Lockheed Martin and Raytheon have submitted offers for upgraded integrated air-and-missile defense radar concepts as the US Army decides on its eventual Patriot system replacement. The service was initially planning to integrate the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS), but this was ultimately shelved. As a result, the request for fresh radar concepts may prove a progressive first step in deciding whether to upgrade Patriot or go for something new.

• The assembly hanger for the T-50A is up and running according to the trainer’s manufacturer Lockheed Martin. Situated at the South Carolina Technology and Aviation Center (SCTAC), the 38,000 square foot Hanger 11 underwent a three month retrofit after previously playing host to modifications on P-3 Orion and C-130 Hercules aircraft. Assembly of the T-50A will commence with the supply of parts fabricated by South Korea partner KAI and is being offered as part of the USAF’s Advanced Pilot Training program.

Middle East North Africa

• Elbit Systems has launched a maritime variant of its Skylark I Mini UAV. Dubbed Skylark C, the new system offers the extended operational capabilities of its land-based counterpart and provides the ability to inspect maritime activities from a safe distance, observe targets, perform reconnaissance over coastal areas, and perform continuous covert surveillance. Those standing to benefit from this latest offering include special forces and other small-scale naval crews.

• Italy has confirmed that it has sent special forces to Libya. They now join British forces already present in Libya, training militias to tackle Islamist forces connected to the Islamic State. Italy is one of the first European countries feeling the effects coming from the current turmoil unfolding in Libya, with the ongoing lawlessness fueling a smuggling trade and a steady flow of migrants and refugees toward Europe.

Europe

• The UK is to exercise its option to acquire one more Airbus Zephyr S lightweight solar-powered UAV. This adds to the two already ordered in February of this year and will be ready for flight trials in the summer of 2017. Zephyrs are capable of sustaining flight at 65,000ft for days at a time providing surveillance.

Asia Pacific

• All 13 C-130Js operated by the Australian Defense Forces are now installed with the latest networked battlespace system. Engility’s Joint Range Extension (JRE) TDL system will see its first operational use during exercises at training ranges in the country’s Northern Territory. This marks the first time that a C-130 has integrated Link 16 with a loadmaster station on board.

Today’s Video

KC-46 tanker refueling mission: