Jane's Defense News

US air support for anti-Islamic State militia forces in the Libyan city of Sirte has been re-configured after the amphibious warfare ship USS Wasp handed over to USS San Antonio on 21 October. Unlike Wasp, the landing platform dock (LPD) San Antonio cannot operate the US Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier

EVENT On 21 October, Security Minister Simon Compaoré said the authorities had foiled a coup plot by former members of the disbanded presidential guard (Régiment de sécurité présidentielle: RSP) loyal to deposed leader Blaise Compaoré (currently exiled in Côte

THREE hostages of Indonesian nationality - kidnapped from their tugboat on 22 June - were released by Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) militants in the Philippines' Sulu province on 2 October, Philippines Daily Inquirer reported.

Brazilian privately run company CONSUB Defesa e Tecnologia is to modernise the Brazilian Navy's six Niterói-class frigates' SICONTA Mk2 (Sistema de Controle Tático e de Armas) tactical and weapon control system, the company told IHS Jane's. Under Project 'Phoenix', the current

US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter suggested US forces are unlikely to drawdown their presence in Iraq if Mosul is recaptured, as any security gains may be fragile. "We have discussed that with the Iraqi government, and I only start there because it will, in the end, be a decision that we

EVENT Head of Government Abdelilah Benkirane of Morocco on 22 October secured the support of the opposition Independence Party (izb Al-Istiqlal: Istiqlal) for his coalition government, which includes the Progress and Socialism Party (Parti du Progrès et du Socialisme: PPS) and Benkirane's

A top US Department of Defense (DoD) official wants the Pentagon to reform how it licenses commercial space capabilities in order to keep the US commercial space sector robust. Speaking during a panel discussion at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Deputy Assistant Secretary of

EVENT The Islamic State claimed the killing of a police sub-inspector in Charsadda district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on 24 October through its online Amaq News Agency. The policeman was shot dead by unidentified militants with a 9-mm pistol while waiting at a bus stop near his home, according to

The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) began their first-ever joint fighter exercise on 23 October, according to the UK Ministry of Defence. Four RAF Eurofighter Typhoons, which had arrived a day earlier at the JSDAF's Misawa Air Base, are participating in the

TWENTY employees of a mine clearing organisation were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in the Elyas Khan Qala area in Puli Alam city in Afghanistan's Logar province on 19 October, Afghan Islamic Press reported. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) launched on 25 October the third of four planned LST-II tank landing ships for the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) at its Ulsan dockyard, the company said in a press release. The vessel, which has been named Ilchulbong , will join the fleet in

The Indian Army (IA) plans to temporarily induct locally developed Excalibur assault rifles into service until it shortlists a 7.62x39 mm rifle for import over the next few years, sources told IHS Jane's on 24 October. Officials said the IA recently asked the state-run Ordnance Factory Board (OFB)

The Japanese government announced on 25 October that the deployment of Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) personnel to a United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan will be extended by five months. Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the deployment, which was due to

To ensure they follow operational protocol, members of the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF) will be required to use helmet-mounted cameras when they deploy on missions, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported on 22 October. Japanese troops are expected to be despatched as United Nations

Lithuania has agreed to buy the Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) from Norway, the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence (MND) announced on 21 October. In total Lithuania is looking to purchase two batteries of the air-defence system for around EUR100 million (USD109

US officials appear less certain that missiles were launched at the destroyer USS Mason as it sailed in international waters off Yemen on 15 October than they were after two similar incidents prompted retaliation against Yemeni coastal radar sites. The incident was first revealed by Admiral John

The Argentine Gendarmería Nacional plans to acquire two second-hand ATR 72 twin-turboprop transport aircraft. The decision, announced on 19 October by Security Ministry officials, was made after an analysis began in December 2015 when 43 gendarmerie members died in a bus crash while deploying

The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) announced on 20 October a defence industry roadmap to support domestic companies' involvement in the Land 400 Phase 2 armoured vehicle programme. The DoD said the 'Australian Industry Opportunity Roadmap' was developed by the two Land 400 Phase 2

IMP Aerospace of Halifax, Nova Scotia, on 17 October announced it was contracted by the Chilean Navy to provide service-life extension, depot maintenance, and avionics upgrades for the service's two Lockheed UP-3A Orion maritime patrol aircraft under the Orion III programme. The project entails a

Key Points US business, domestic exports, and drawing on commercial expertise are key elements Austal hopes its domestic operation will become a major part of its business, just as its US operation is Austal's CEO has identified three core components in the future development of the company's