Jane's Defense News

The Brazilian Army’s Logistics Command is to award state-owned company IMBEL (Indústria de Material Bélico do Brasil) a BRL25.64 million (USD7.3 million) contract for 4,000 5.56x45 mm IA2 assault rifles, the service told Jane’s . Deliveries are to be fulfilled 240 days after

A full-scale mock-up of the European medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) remotely piloted air system (RPAS) was unveiled for the first time at the ILA Airshow in Berlin on 26 April. The European MALE RPAS (also referred to as the EuroMALE, although a final name has not yet been decided) was

The German and French governments have given their respective industries the go-ahead to develop a new fighter aircraft to strengthen bi-lateral defence co-operation and to ensure continued operational sovereignty. The approval, which was announced by the defence ministers of both countries during

Key Points A contract has reportedly been signed to upgrade Admiral Kuznetsov : Russia's sole aircraft carrier However, only a limited upgrade is envisaged A contract has been signed for a modernisation of the Russian Navy’s sole aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov , Russian news sources

The Swiss Army is conducting flight tests of fixed-wing mini reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems, the Zurich daily Tages-Anzeiger has reported. The tests are part of a CHF8 million (USD8.1 million) programme to purchase two types of mini UAVs: quadcopters weighing less than 6 kg

Key Points A top army official warns the service needs a good communications network for long-range fires A Jane’s expert said it does no good to launch a long-range weapon if it cannot be guided properly The US Army equally needs a communications network to share information as it does

Key Points BAE Systems is developing a two-colour advanced warning system for aircraft 2C-AWS uses two-colour IR sensor technology to positively identify and track inbound missiles The US Army has awarded BAE Systems a contract worth as much as USD98 million to develop a quick reaction capability

Boeing recorded strong first-quarter sales, earnings, and shipments numbers, it was announced on 25 April. The company also upgraded its guidance for the coming year, in part due to a promising outlook for its Defense, Space and Security division. “We are very encouraged by the strength of

US imaging specialist FLIR Systems is to pay civil penalties of USD30 million to the US government under a settlement over violations of the country's Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, the US State Department announced on 25 April. Half of the penalty has

The three companies vying to replace the Luftwaffe’s Panavia Tornado fleet have each submitted their proposals to the German government. The bids from Eurofighter, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin were handed in during the week of the ILA Airshow in Berlin, with the two US responses having been

Rohde & Schwarz (R&S) has taken the opportunity at the ILA Airshow in Berlin to unveil its software defined radio (SDR) portfolio with the new R&S SDAR (Software Defined Airborne Radio). Markus Dolfen, director of sales avionics, told Jane’s that the service component architecture

Navantia Australia inaugurated a Naval Design and Engineering Centre in Melbourne on 26 April. The company said the new centre will be focused on developing capability in support of its bid to meet the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) project to procure future frigates. The facility

Concern is growing about the future of Indian shipbuilder Reliance Naval and Engineering Limited (RNEL) after auditors for the company raised doubts about its ability to continue its operations and commitments. These concerns caused RNEL’s share price to decline to a record low of INR19.5

The Taliban militant group has announced the official launch of its annual spring offensive in Afghanistan, rejecting Kabul’s offer for peace negotiations and vowing to employ “new and intricate tactics” against what it referred to as “the new war strategy of the

Turkey’s Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM) decided in March to start contract negotiations with BMC on the production of 250 Altay main battle tanks (MBTs) as well as the development of its powerpack, the SSM tweeted on 24 April. The SSM did not give financial or technical details

The Chilean Air Force is looking again at putting some of its 46 Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters through a service life extension programme (SLEP), local military sources have told Jane’s . The SLEP, which would incorporate upgrades to avionics and weapons sourced from Israel, would free the

Plans are being developed by the US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) for the upgrade of seven Royal Thai Navy (RTN) Dornier 228 maritime surveillance aircraft under the US government-funded Building Partner Capacity programme. Used for maritime patrol and exclusive economic zone surveillance, the

The Brazilian Army is exploring a potential acquisition of 105 mm M119 Light Gun and 155 mm M198 towed howitzers, hoping to procure surplus items from the US Army. The service is prospecting the market and has run early studies to inform an eventual purchase as part of its Army Strategic Program

The European Commission (EC) released new guidelines on 23 April designed to boost the participation of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in national and cross-border defence supply chains across the European Union. The move is part of the Commission’s European defence action plan of

Key Points The Indian Navy has commissioned its third Mk IV landing craft Programme is part of New Delhi’s plan to improve capabilities at India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands The Indian Navy has commissioned a third Mk IV landing craft utility (LCU) platform that was built by