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Key Points France is to spend an extra EUR1.5 billion on defence equipment by 2019 under an update to the country's military programming law Included is the addition of four C-130s, more helicopters, and the acceleration of several naval programmes French defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian

Key Points CMN has unveiled a mine countermeasures variant of the Ocean Eagle 43 patrol boat The vessel is positioned to meet the demands of modern mine warfare operations, company says French shipyard Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie (CMN) has introduced a mine countermeasures (MCM)

Singapore shipbuilder ST Marine is in talks with Texas-based engineering company Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR) to jointly bid for Australia's Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Program, a source has confirmed to IHS Jane's during the IMDEX 2015 exhibition in Singapore. The potential collaboration

The Indian Coast Guard has commissioned four new vessels at Porbandar in the western state of Gujarat. The vessels - the Aadesh-class fast patrol ship ICGS Ankit (pennant number 247) and the interceptor boats C-419, C-420, and C-155 - were commissioned on 14 May. In recent months, the coastguard

Key Points The Kurdistan Region's constitution is unlikely to be amended before President Massoud Barzani's term expires, increasing the likelihood that elections will be postponed and his term extended by at least a year. The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Gorran party - which

Key Points Environmental crimes are lucrative ventures for organised crime groups in Italy, particularly in Campania and Lombardy. The state response is hindered by corruption in local administrations, although a new law has been passed that elevates environmental crimes to the status of felony.

Key Points The Islamic State took control of the city of Ramadi, capital of Iraq's Anbar province, on 17 May, following heavy fighting with security forces. The city was the first major Iraqi urban centre to be seized since security forces and militias recaptured Tikrit in late March, representing

The top US Marine Corps (USMC) official in the Pacific believes embarked marine forces have become too heavy and should consider dropping main battle tanks from their load plans. "Our equipment is getting too heavy … we've got to get lighter," Lieutenant General John Toolan,

Key Points The French Navy's new Missile de Croisière Naval cruise missile was fired from multimission frigate Aquitaine on a DGA test range off the Île du Levant The qualification firing marks the first firing of a cruise missile from a European surface ship and the first shipborne

EVENT Following calls by the Lebanese army, the security committee of the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in Sidon deployed joint security forces on 19 May. Following calls by the Lebanese army, the security committee of the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in Sidon deployed joint

Swiss aerospace and defence firm RUAG announced on 22 May that its aviation division, RUAG Aviation, had signed a teaming agreement with Chilean aerospace company ENAER. According to RUAG, the two companies will look to leverage potential opportunities in a variety of sectors, focusing on aircraft

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

A number of enhancements are being planned or explored for Air Force Special Operations Command's (AFSOC's) Lockheed Martin AC-130J gunships now entering fixed-wing inventories, including a 105 mm cannon, an offboard sensor, and a directed energy weapon. The command's gunship fleet has decreased

Chinese Tian TA4360 Tank Transporter

The US State Department has approved a possible foreign military sale worth approximately $310m to Turkey for MK 15 Phalanx close-in weapons system (CIWS) upgrades and associated equipment, parts, and logistical support.

The French Navy's first French Frégate européenne multi-mission (FREMM) frigate Aquitaine has successfully fired its first Exocet MM40 surface-to-surface missile and a naval cruise missile.

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) and US Marines have successfully tested new glasses designed to enhance augmented-reality training scenarios.

The Erapsco joint venture between Sparton Corporation and Ultra Electronics Holdings (ULE) has received subcontracts worth $87m for the manufacturing of sonobuoys for the US Navy.

A powerful group of lawmakers is asking Defense Secretary Ashton Carter to reconsider the Pentagon’s recent decision to eliminate funding for Vets4Warriors.

I have come to Riga with three simple and very clear messages.

First, the European Union stays the course. Despite the intimidation, aggression and even the war of the last year, the European Union is as committed to our Eastern partners as ever. The record presence of 25 out of 28 EU leaders proves this point. Today I am absolutely sure that the Eastern Partnership is our shared priority - across Europe, not only for the eastern and central parts of our continent as it was five years ago.

Second, the European Union wants to advance its relations with all of our partners of the Eastern Partnership. This means tailoring our cooperation, in line with their needs, readiness and of course their sovereign choices. We want to help them to help themselves to transform their societies to the benefit of their citizens, which also means that they become more resilient towards outside pressure.

Third, the European Union is a trusted partner for the long haul. I know very well that we are all impatient for change, but we need to exercise our strategic patience. The Riga Summit is not about announcing giant steps forward. No: our partnership will go forward step-by-step,  just like the European Union was built and in this context step-by-step means real progress in trade, energy, mobility and reforms which is also in the best interest of our partners and Europe as a whole.

As a very last comment let me reply to those who claim that the Eastern Partnership is directed against Russia. It is not. The Eastern Partnership is not a beauty contest between Russia and the European Union. But, let me be frank, beauty does count. If Russia was a bit softer, more charming, more attractive, perhaps it wouldn't have to compensate its shortcomings by its destructive and aggressive bullying tactics against its neighbours. Thank you.