Defence`s Feeds

General Dynamics (GD) Electric Boat has been awarded an $89.8m modification contract by the US Navy to continue to support the common missile compartment programme.

The US Navy is set to conduct Exercise Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield 2016 (SC/CS16) on navy installations located in continental US.

The nature of warfare and how militaries prepare for it – along with their other strategic objectives, which include civil emergencies, assisting in humanitari

Image: Victor M.S. Barreira Designed to increase the rotary-wing aircraft ca

Image: Rheinmetall Defence. In an effort to

Americas

• The USAF will not be lifting weight restrictions on F-35 pilots until at least 2018. The push back comes as ejector seat manufacturer Martin-Baker needs more time to conduct additional testing on the ejector seat safety features in the fighters. The program has been experiencing problems with this specific aspect of the plane’s development since the summer of 2015, but this has just been one of many issues to have dogged the program amid increased delays and spiraling costs. The Pentagon hopes to make the aircraft’s European debut at the Farnborough Air Show in the UK this summer after engine issues forced it to be omitted from last year’s show. No doubt foreign partners in the program will be following with interest.

• It’s a dirty job but someone has to do it. Seaward Marine Services has been awarded a $53.3 million contract to carry out waterborne hull cleaning and associated work on the underwater portion of ships and crafts for the US Navy. Work is to be carried to support the Director of Ocean Engineering, Supervisor of Salvage and Diving and will take place in seas and oceans across the world. Options, if carried out, could reach $257.9 million.

Middle East North Africa

• A delegation from Israel’s defense ministry has visited a Lockheed Martin production facility in Forth Worth, Texas as the frames of their first F-35I’s enter their advanced production phase. Israeli procurement of the F-35 fighter, dubbed the AS-1, differs slightly from the standard model of F-35A to be exported to other nations involved in the program. Unique features include the integration of Israel’s own electronic warfare systems into the aircraft’s built-in electronic suite, as well as the ability to use indigenously produced guided and air-to-air missiles. Israel has ordered thirty-three F-35I fighters at a cost of $3.6 billion.

Europe

• UK arms exports to Saudi Arabia have come under more scrutiny after the sale of missiles to the kingdom have been deemed in breech of international law. The accusation comes as human rights groups, the UN and EU parliament have all expressed concerns that UK manufactured missiles have been used by Saudi-led coalition forces to kill civilians in Yemen. The Conservative Party government’s relationship with Saudi Arabia had been put increasingly under the spotlight lately, as human rights issues both within the Gulf kingdom and its war in Yemen are being met with increased international outcry. Since David Cameron came to office in 2011, UK arms licensed to Saudi Arabia are valued at $8.7 billion.

• Russia will ramp up its testing of ICBMs in 2016 according to its MoD. Strategic Missile Troops will be kept busy with sixteen intercontinental ballistic missile test launches alongside flight test procedures for advanced weapons, and control of the technical readiness of missile systems that have already entered service. Strategic Missile Troops also plan to conduct more than one hundred command and staff, tactical and special exercises. Unannounced inspections of the forty Russian missile regiments will continue throughout 2016 to test combat readiness of troops.

Asia Pacific

• South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) have selected Korean Air Lines Co. to mass produce their first reconnaissance UAV. Korean Air designed and developed a UAV back in 2014, and the $333 million deal will see more of the UAVs produced over the next four years. They will then be deployed to operate along the country’s northern border and DMZ shared with North Korea.

• Following hot on the heels of Sri Lanka and Nigeria, Azerbaijan looks to be the next in line for an order of JF-17s from Pakistan. Following his recent trip to the country, Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain said that a deal regarding the sale of defense products to Azerbaijan was just one of several areas in which both were looking to increase cooperation. The potential for increased Azerbaijani-Pakistani trade comes as Chinese officials signed a number of documents with the Caucasus nation in December. Beijing, Pakistan’s partner in the development in the JF-17 program, is looking to develop a “Silk Way” economic belt stretching along developing countries that encompass the historical trade route.

• India’s long awaited purchase of thirty-six Rafale fighters is set to be finalized as French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian is scheduled to visit New Delhi next week. It’s believed that the visit is specifically for the purpose of officially concluding the high-profile deal ahead of President Francois Hollande’s visit to the country. Hollande will visit as a guest to celebrate India’s Republic Day on January 26. France and manufacturer Dassault will no doubt be happy to see the deal secured, which has been ongoing for some time, and the cause of much haggling over price offsets and a deal to produce parts for the aircraft within India.

Today’s Video

• The US flying a B-52 bomber near North Korea as the mind games continue:

Afghanistan has ordered a further 12 MD Helicopters Inc (MDHI) MD 530F Cayuse Warrior ('Jengi' [Warrior]) light attack platforms to add to the 16 it currently fields, the company announced on 11 January. The Afghan Air Force (AAF) is to receive the 12 additional helicopters equipped with the same

The Airbus Group has appointed a new executive to drive the company's efforts to increase its industrial footprint in India. On 11 January, Airbus appointed Ashish Saraf Vice-President - Industry Development, Strategic Partnerships and Offsets. Airbus said Saraf would drive group initiatives to

The first of 33 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters for Israel has begun assembly on the Fort Worth production line in Texas, the company announced on 10 January. The bulkhead of the first conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) F-35A, dubbed AS-1, began the mating process to

EVENT On 11 January 2016, Reuters reported that gunmen wearing suicide vests detonated their explosives inside the Jawhara shopping mall in the New Baghdad area, and a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) was also detonated nearby, killing 18 people and wounding 50. The Islamic State

China's Ministry of National Defence (MND) announced on 11 January a restructuring of the country's Central Military Commission (CMC), with a view to consolidate the CMC's authority and centralise the structure of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The restructuring - led by President Xi Jinping,

AT LEAST 23 people were killed and 52 others were wounded in a double suicide attack in the town of Muqdadiyah in Iraq's Diyala province on 11 January, Reuters reported. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, adding it was targeting rejectionists referring to Shia Muslims.

Key Points Estonia has bought 35 CV90 vehicle hulls from Norway The supplementary vehicles are in addition to the 44 CV90s purchased from the Netherlands in 2014 Estonia has bought additional CV90 armoured fighting vehicles (AFV) for its armed forces, signing a contract for 35 more CV90 hulls

India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) on 11 January approved changes to the upcoming Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2016 by according priority to indigenous defence equipment over imported materiel. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar also raised -

Indra has won a EUR77 million (USD83.6 million) order to develop a flight simulator system for the Spanish Armed Forces' NHIndustries NH90 utility helicopters, the company announced on 12 January. Due to be ready for 2020, it will be located at Agoncillo Air Base in northern Spain and be linked

AT LEAST 18 people - including two police officers - were killed and an unspecified number of others were wounded when Islamic State militants attacked the Al-Jawaher mall in the predominantly Shia Muslim district of Jadida in Iraq's capital Baghdad on 11 January, Reuters reported. The militants

Key Points This is the first attack against tourism in Turkey by the Islamic State. The Islamic State, if it is indeed responsible for this attack, most likely calculates that now is the time for what it sees as an inevitable confrontation with Turkey. Further attacks against tourism, diplomatic

The US Navy has successfully fired a rolling airframe missile (RAM) Block 2 from Raytheon's SeaRAM anti-ship missile defence system, during a live-fire exercise at China Lake in California.

The Bangladesh Navy has introduced two new frigates, BNS Shadhinota and BNS Prottoy, into its fleet as part of efforts to boost its naval capabilities.

Reliance Defense has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian state government of Andhra Pradesh, to establish a naval facility in Visakhapatnam.