Defence`s Feeds

 

In what seems to have become an annual tradition, I was on the Blog Talk Radio show Midrats this week, talking about the Russian military, Russian political developments, Russian relations with the United States and China, and the like. The recording is now available on the show’s website. The show description is as follows:

Episode 385: Springtime for Russia?

To say that the profile of Russia since the American elections last fall has increased in the minds of Americans would be an understatement.

Outside the 24-hr news cycle, there have been significant developments in Russia internally and externally. From the Baltics, to nuclear weapons, to her growing influence in the Middle East following her involvement in the Syrian conflict.

What should people be focused on with regards to Russia on the global stage this year?

Key Points IHS Markit data shows a significant reduction in the level of fighting in the four areas designated as de-escalation zones, but an increase in fighting in eastern provinces bordering Iraq. Despite the Astana de-escalation plan, a political settlement to end the war remains very

The unit cost of 140 Russian Kamov Ka-226T ‘Hoodlum’ light multirole helicopters that India plans on building indigenously for its military is nearly double that of 60 similar platforms it proposes to acquire alongside in flyaway condition. Industry officials estimate the cost of each

British defence research and technology company QinetiQ published its preliminary financial results for 2017 on 25 May, showing operating profit of GBP132.7 million (USD170.6 million), a rise of 76.2% year on year. The company’s revenue also rose to GBP783.1 million, although this growth of

Safran Helicopter Engines (Safran HE) has decided to wind up its 51% held South African company, Turbomeca Africa, with effect from June. The decision is based on projections of reduced demand for helicopter engines coupled with a reduced demand for helicopter engine maintenance, repair, and

The US Navy (USN) has begun the process of upgrading its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet to the latest Block 3 standard, with a contract award to Boeing to incorporate the Block 2 Infrared Search and Track System (IRST) onto the combat aircraft. The cost-plus-incentive-fee contract, which was announced by

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has found the wreckage of the Sukhoi Su-30MKI multirole fighter that went missing in northeastern India with two pilots on board on 23 May while on a routine training flight. The wreckage was located by a search party in thick forests around 60 km north of Tezpur Air

BAE Systems Australia has been awarded a four-year AUD30 million (USD22.3 million) contract to upgrade the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's) maritime satellite communications terminals. The upgrade, which will focus on the maritime element of the Advanced SATCOM Terrestrial Infrastructure System

Denmark's Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO) signed a USD15.3 million contract with Austrian company ESL Advanced Information Technology (ESLAIT) on 18 May for the delivery of 15 automatic floor-mounted 120 mm heavy mortar systems (with an option for an additional six systems at

Indra has announced a new head of its defence and security division as part of a general restructuring at the 20% state-owned Spanish IT and systems group. Manuel Escalante, who will continue the new job with his former role as head of the cybersecurity unit, was confirmed as the division’s

Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force, said on 25 May that a third underground missile factory has been built in recent years, the Fars News Agency reported. Brig Gen Hajizadeh also said that the force is working on a

Lockheed Martin performed the first flight of its new LM-100J Hercules airlifter on 25 May. The latest civil variant of the military C-130J departed the company's Marietta production facility in Georgia for a maiden flight that its test pilot described as 'flawless'. This milestone, which follows

Invoking the bomb attack in Manchester and the implacable need to fight terrorism, US president Donald Trump upbraided most of NATO's European nations for "not paying what they should be paying" as they all headed into their first meeting with the US leader on 25 May. "The attack on

Key Points The new variable depth sonar system will form part of the ASW escort mission module to equip USN LCSs A full pre-production test article is expected to complete in late 2018 Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems has been selected to provide a new variable depth sonar (VDS) system to form

Seiler Instrument and Manufacturing has secured a USD15.5 million Foreign Military Sales contract from the US Army to supply 145 optical fire control kits and associated spare parts in support of Indian Army (IA) M777A2 155 mm/39-calibre lightweight howitzers. Work will be performed in St Louis,

A policy planning committee set up by new South Korean president Moon Jae-in is reportedly looking at ways to eradicate corruption within the country’s defence industry. In a press conference in Seoul on 23 May, Kim Jin-pyo, the chief of the presidential policy planning advisory panel, said

The Algerian military confirmed on 22 May that it has taken delivery of Chinese-made 155 mm PLZ45 self-propelled howitzers when it released imagery showing them being used during an exercise. A photograph and video of six PLZ45s firing were released during a visit by chief-of staff Lieutenant

Bowing to US pressure, the 27 other NATO allies agreed at their mini-summit in Brussels on 25 May to issue annual reports on each nation's progress towards achieving NATO's defence spending guideline of 2% of GDP by 2024. The move comes at the firm insistence of US president Donald Trump and will

22 Australian universities are to receive government funding for defence research projects, Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne MP announced on 26 May. The funding, which is part of the country’s ten year, AUD730 million (USD544 million), Next Generation Technologies Fund, which

Chile's Copper Law, which funds military procurement with 10% of the yearly revenues from the CODELCO state-owned mining consortium, is expected to remain in place despite criticism after a recent corruption scandal and alleged misuse of its funds. The legislation has been strongly criticised by