Jane's Defense News

Japan is to lease a plot of land alongside its existing military base in the east African country of Djibouti from 2017 to "enhance the operational security of our anti-piracy operations facility", a source in Japan's Ministry of Defense (MoD) told IHS Jane's on 14 October. The official

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) has unveiled details of its bid for the British Army Challenger 2 main battle tank (MBT) Life Extension Programme (LEP). One of the key members of their Challenger 2 LEP team is Pearson Engineering, which now owns the former Vickers Defence Systems (subsequently BAE

Russian Helicopters' modernised Mi-28NM attack helicopter made its full maiden flight on 12 October in Tomilino near Moscow during a visit by deputy defence minister Yuri Borisov, the company announced. The Russian Helicopters holding (a subsidiary of Rostec) said the experience of designing the

Key Points Peru is awaiting the launch of its first new LPD later this year Following harbour and sea trials in 2017, it is planned that the ship will be ready for operations by early 2018 The Peruvian Navy (Marina de Guerra del Perú: MGP) is anticipating the launch of the first of two new

Key Points Poland has decided to buy S-70i Black Hawk helicopters from PZL-Mielec Only 20 will be ordered, leaving much of Poland's 70-strong helicopter requirement unfulfilled Poland still plans to buy 50-70 new multirole helicopters, Polish defence minister Antoni Macierewicz has stated,

Work is to start next year on building a EUR25 million (USD28 million) technological innovation centre to support the shipbuilding and aeronautical sectors in the south of Spain. Funded by the European Union and the regional government, the Junta de Andalucía, it will be located on a 30,000 sq

Key Points India has delivered the first of two 48 m fast patrol vessels to Mauritius The patrol vessel programme, along with the introduction of 10 interceptor boats, is part of a sustained Indian effort to build security and influence across the Indian Ocean region India's regional security

Three Russians warships, including two armed with long-range land-attack cruise missiles, have been sent to the Mediterranean. Russia's TASS news agency reported on 5 October that the Black Sea Fleet's Buyan-M class corvettes Serpukhov and Zelyony Dol had left their home port of Sevastopol on 4

A new Safran Electronics and Defence research facility was officially opened by French president François Hollande on 5 October, the company announced. The research and development (R&D) centre, located in the Val d'Oise department north of Paris, focuses on both inertial navigation

Analysis of recent commercial satellite imagery of North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear test facility indicates "continuing activity" at all three of its tunnel complexes, in what could be part of preparations for the country's sixth nuclear test. "Activity at the North Portal, where the

BAE Systems will hand over the first of 29 Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicles (AMPV) to the US Army at its York facility in December 2016. As of early October, one vehicle has been completed with nine vehicles on the production line. According to BAE Systems "the programme is on schedule and on

Australian defence industry minister Christopher Pyne has proposed to US defence officials an expanded role for Australian industry in supporting Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft based in the Asia-Pacific. The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) said on 7 October

BAE Systems has launched a campaign to sell the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft to Belgium, as part of the country's requirement for new aircraft that was launched in 2014. The company's bid, on behalf of the Eurofighter consortium, outlined a number of existing social and industrial benefits from the

The US Navy (USN) has awarded Bell Helicopter a USD3.3 million contract to investigate the potential for future flight strain, fatigue, and tail boom cracking on the Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned aircraft system (UAS). The contract, which was awarded by the Naval Air Systems Command

Brazilian aerospace and defence company Embraer is seeking to further reduce its workforce through a new voluntary redundancy package, which was opened on 6 October. The company claims that the programme was initiated at the request of three workers' unions, which together represent around half of

India's state-owned aerospace company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is planning to launch a long-expected initial public offering (IPO) within the next few months, media reports in India have said. Citing official sources, reports said the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has

The Indonesian Army (Tentara Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Darat, or TNI-AD) has deployed an undisclosed number of South Korean made 155 mm KH179 towed howitzer artillery pieces with the service's Field Artillery Battalion 16 in Ngabang, West Kalimantan. The battalion, which was established in

Video footage of Iran's Simorgh unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) taking off and landing was filmed at Kashan International Airport, according to IHS Jane's geolocation analysis. Shown by various Iranian TV channels on 1 October, the footage of the aircraft flying at Kashan was the most credible

Key Points Italian Navy receives its fifth FREMM, the fourth and final ASW variant The ship's delivery had been postponed, but in return it is ready for immediate service following its handover The Italian Navy has received it fifth FREMM (Frégate Européenne Multi-Mission) frigate, and

Kazakhstan is to create a government ministry to implement policy in the areas of defence, aerospace, and electronics, the office of the president announced on 6 October. The new Ministry of Defence and Aerospace Industry will take responsibility for industrial functions previously performed by