Jane's Defense News

BAE Systems has reported improved sales, earnings and orders for 2016, prompting the chief executive to comment on a "good year". The UK-headquartered group reported sales growth of GBP1.1 billion (USD1.37 billion) to GBP19.02 billion, although conceded that the increase was almost

France and the United Kingdom have signed a GBP146 million (USD182 million) contract with MBDA to update their Storm Shadow/SCALP EG long-range air-launched cruise missiles, it was announced on 22 February. Under the deal MBDA will refurbish the country's remaining stocks of the missile, which has

The United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based shipbuilder Al Fattan displayed its new 16 m Combat Boat concept for the first time at the NAVDEX show held in Abu Dhabi. "The boat is the first of its kind to be designed and built in the UAE," said Mohamed Abdellah Kamil, project coordinator. The

Belarus and the United Arab Emirates signed a defence technology transfer agreement on 21 February at the IDEX 2017 trade show. The military-technical co-operation agreement was signed between representatives of Belarus' State Military-Industrial Committee and the UAE's Tawazun Economic Council -

Ukraine's Spets Techno Export has integrated an anti-tank missile launcher onto its Fantom (Phantom) unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), unveiling the configuration at IDEX 2017 in Abu Dhabi. The Fantom was debuted at Ukraine's Defence and Security Expo in October with a stabilised 12.7 mm machine gun.

Pakistan's Global Industry and Defence Solutions (GIDS) is in the process of enhancing the capabilities of its Shahpar unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and working to develop a larger system. Speaking to Jane's at IDEX 2017 in Abu Dhabi, Asad Kamal, GIDS' director of sales and marketing, said that

Key Points The USN is to explore Vulcano munitions for compatibility with DDG 1000s Leonardo and DRS Technologies will conduct fire trials during 2017 Italy-based Leonardo has been invited by the US Navy (USN) to verify and test its Vulcano guided ammunition for potential application to the DDG

Northstar Aviation is in the early stages of the development of an armed Bell 429 helicopter to meet the requirements of an undisclosed customer in the Middle East. The company displayed a mock-up of the twin-engined helicopter at IDEX 2017 in Abu Dhabi. NorthStar Aviation's, senior vice president

The Russian delegation announced during the IDEX show in Abu Dhabi that it had secured a large order for UralVagonZavod (UVZ) T-90MS tanks from an undisclosed country. "A major contract was signed with one of the Middle Eastern countries in December," Russian minister of industry and

Indonesian naval shipbuilder PT PAL has signed agreements with United Arab Emirates (UAE) companies Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) and the International Global Group (IGG) to boost its presence in the Middle East. Indonesia's state-run news agency Antara reported on 22 February that the two accords

The Israel Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced on 22 February that it had completed a series of tests of the Iron Dome rocket protection system using a Tamir missile that both Israeli- and US-made components for the first time. The MoD's Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) and Iron Dome's

Kelvin Hughes has been contracted by the Pakistan Navy (PN) to supply the company's I-Band SharpEye Doppler submarine radar system as part of a mid-life upgrade programme for the PN's Khalid-class (Agosta 90B) submarines, the UK-based manufacturer of maritime navigation, surveillance, and security

Lockheed Martin has revealed an ambitious sales plan for the PZL Mielec M28 'Bryza' short take-off and landing (STOL) light airlifter that it obtained with the acquisition of the Polish manufacturer's Sikorsky parent company in November 2015. Speaking to reporters at PZL Mielec's production

EVENT The Islamic State issued a new video on 19 February in which it vowed to target Egypt's Christian Coptic community more frequently. This is part of a strategy by the jihadist group to provoke sectarian conflict in the country, in the hope that the resultant political instability will create

Pakistan and Ukraine have signed an agreement to expand industrial collaboration on military programmes for the Pakistan armed forces. The state-controlled Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said on 21 February that a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed by the two governments at the 2017

Key Points Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis began the process of splitting the Pentagon's top acquisition job in two in a memo distributed across the agency on 21 February. The memo is the first step towards complying with congressional instructions to divide the responsibilities of what had been

China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has commissioned a new training ship for the Dalian Naval Academy. Named Qi Jiguang (pennant number 83), the vessel entered service on 21 February at the Lushun Naval Base, near Dalian, which is expected to be its base port. The ceremony was attended by

Science Applications International Corp (SAIC) has unveiled the first of 16 prototypes for the US Marine Corps' (USMC's) competitive Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) 1.1 programme during a 21 February ceremony at the company's facility in Charleston, South Carolina. SAIC partnered with Singapore

The US Air Force (USAF), in collaboration with Raytheon Missile Systems, is developing a new signal processor for the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). Funded by the USAF, this development falls under the Form Fit Function Refresh(F3R) programme, which is designed to ensure AMRAAM

The National Navy of Uruguay is negotiating the transfer of up to three Cessna O-2s (337 Skymasters) from the Chilean Navy, Uruguayan sources told Jane's . The aircraft, recently decommissioned by the Chilean Navy and replaced by Vulcanair P68 Observer 2 surveillance aircraft, were offered to