Jane's Defense News

A security guard and a local government official were killed and three others were wounded when unidentified militants drove a vehicle into a the yard of a local Communist Party office before detonating an explosive device and attacking people with knives in Karakax county in China's Xinjiang

THE UNITED States Department of State issued a warning on 23 December, urging citizens to not travel to Jordan out of fear of a potential terrorist attack targeting U.S. citizens and Westerners, Reuters reported.

BAE Systems unveiled its first prototype Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV), a general-purpose variant, during a 15 December ceremony at the company's facility in York, Pennsylvania. "Deliveries of the prototype vehicles will continue into 2017, and developmental testing will run through

Key Points Upgraded software insertion is the only requirement for the IRIS-T air-to-surface solution No further air-to-surface trials currently planned with F-16 or other platforms The Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) has tested a new air-to-surface capability developed by Diehl BGT Defence for

Key Points The vast majority of Turkish officers serving with NATO in July have since been purged by the Turkish government NATO's silence on the issue risks undermining the alliance's credibility, NATO sources state Turkey's massive purge of its military since the country's alleged coup attempt

The start of the evacuation of the remaining opposition-held area of Aleppo city on 15 December marked the end of four years of resistance in Syria's largest city and is a key victory for both President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian and Iranian allies. Monitored by the International Committee of

China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) seized an autonomous unmanned vehicle (AUV) belonging to the US Navy (USN) approximately 50 n miles northwest of Subic Bay, the Pentagon announced on 16 December. USNS Bowditch , a Pathfinder-class survey ship, was recovering a Kongsberg-built 'Seaglider'

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has declared initial operating capability (IOC) for its fleet of Alenia Aermacchi C-27J Spartan transport aircraft. The announcement by the Minister for Defence, Marise Payne, on 16 December that IOC has now been declared marks a major milestone in Australia's

Military uniform manufacturer Australian Defence Apparel has completed the acquisition of LE Gear, a supplier of tactical equipment including weapon scopes, shields, knives, and personal protective equipment, the company announced on 14 December. LE Gear, which is also based in Australia, has been

The British Army is to create an experimental group to trial the concepts of operation for its new 'strike brigades' and bring the new General Dynamics Ajax family of armoured vehicles into service. Announced to Parliament by UK defence secretary Michael Fallon on 15 December, the move will however

Cognitive Systems is looking to transition its commercial R10 integrated circuit (IC), referred to as "radio frequency [RF] situational awareness on a chip", to military customers seeking a high-performance, agile, and low-size, weight, and power (SWaP) solution. RF situational awareness

EVENT On 14 December, Spain's Constitutional Court provisionally suspended plans approved in the Catalan regional parliament on 6 October to hold an independence referendum in September 2017. The regional parliament's decision, supported by 72 pro-independence deputies in the 135-seat chamber,

The Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 14 December that it had selected IAI Elta Systems as the winner of its tender for new 3D mobile air defence radar (MADR) for the Army of the Czech Republic (ACR). The MoD said it will prepare a contract with Elta Systems before 23 December to supply

DRS Environmental Systems Inc (DESI), a business unit of US-based Leonardo-Finmeccanica subsidiary DRS Technologies, has been purchased by military shelter provider HDT Global, the company announced on 15 December. DESI, also based in the Unites States, operates two facilities in Cincinnati, Ohio,

Development of Elbit Systems' palm-sized micro designator marker (MDM), first unveiled in 2014 as a prospective add-on to the company's hand-launched Skylark small unmanned aircraft system (SUAS), has now reached technology readiness level 7, according to Yoram Aron, the business development and

EU leaders meeting in Brussels on 15 December reached agreement on establishing closer trade and political ties with Ukraine after incorporating demands from the Netherlands that the deal does not include military or financial aid. The so-called 'association agreement' also specifically includes a

National leaders meeting in Brussels on 15 December called on the EU to boost its effort to strengthen Libya's security. The EU's naval mission in the central Mediterranean - EUNAVFOR MED, dubbed 'Sophia' - will continue its training of Libya's coastguard, while parallel initiatives "need to

EU leaders reconfirmed their commitment to jointly develop capabilities for Europe's defence and expeditionary missions and to make the capabilities "available when needed". Gathering in Brussels on 15 December, they said the EU and its member states "must be able to contribute

The UK defence secretary confirmed on 15 December previously revealed plans to have the US Marine Corps (USMC) embark aboard the Royal Navy's new Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier on its maiden operational deployment in 2021. The announcement was made by Michael Fallon during a meeting in London

Key Points GDBIW contracted to continue DDG 51 Flight III design and development work The company will be laying down its first Flight III hull in 2017 The US Navy (USN) has awarded General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (GDBIW) a USD59 million contract for the continuation of DDG 51 Arleigh