Jane's Defense News

The imminent sale by Russia of 46 Mikoyan MiG-29 fighters to Egypt, reported by Russian business daily Vedomosti on 25 May, was stated to be worth about USD2 billion, making it the largest order for the MiG-29 since the fall of the Soviet Union. The MiG-29 contract would follow the announcement in

More evidence has emerged showing that the Libyan National Army (LNA) continues to receive aircraft and armoured vehicles from Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The LNA is a coalition of military units and allied militias that is fighting on behalf of the Tobruk-based government

Canada has released the second edition of its Defence Acquisition Guide (DAG) long-term procurement planning document and formally confirmed that it will stand up a third-party panel to "review and validate" projects valued at CAD100 million (USD80 million) or more. The announcement was

The European Defence Agency's (EDA's) newest research project into transferring command-and-control (C2) of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from one satellite to another should carry that goal a step or two closer to regulatory and operational reality, but will fall short of actually demonstrating

India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has cleared the USD2.5 billion procurement of 22 AH-64E Apache and 15 CH-47F Chinook helicopters from Boeing ahead of US defence secretary Ashton Carter's visit to New Delhi in early June. Industry sources said the MoD had forwarded the tenders to the finance

NATO is considering expanding its activities in the Middle East and North Africa to address instability there through 'capacity building', according to Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Challenges along the alliance's southern perimeter tend to stem from non-state actors and, therefore, the

Chinese news media have reported a fatal accident involving a training aircraft on 13 May, thought to be from the Naval Aviation Academy at Huludao. The 27-year-old instructor and 22-year-old student pilot were killed when the aircraft crashed following an engine failure caused by fire. Coverage on

Bell Helicopter has sold its first 407GT light attack and armed reconnaissance platform to BBM Inc to perform a variety of security missions in the Middle East and Africa, it was announced on 27 May. Bell Helicopter did not disclose how many of the armed 407GTs are to be acquired, but the private

Saudi sources have denied claims that an F-15 crashed in Yemen on the night of 23-24 May. The claims made by various Yemeni media organisations were prompted by photographs and videos purportedly showing the wreckage of the aircraft that had crashed near the capital Sanaa during an attempt to bomb

A total of 250 Brazilian scientists, engineers, and technicians could be sent to Sweden for training and to increase their knowledge of fighter aircraft technologies, the Brazilian government announced on 27 May. The idea was discussed during a meeting in Brazil between Brazilian defence minister

Vietnam has deepened defence industrial ties with France and India as part of Hanoi's efforts to secure technology transfers and develop indigenous capabilities. State media in Hanoi reported on 27 May that senior officials from Vietnam's Ministry of National Defence (MND) and the international

The Brazilian Navy took delivery of its first upgraded Douglas AF-1 Skyhawk from aerospace conglomerate Embraer on 26 May under the A-4BR programme. The single-seat AF-1 has now been redesignated AF-1B and is expected to remain in service until 2028. The upgraded twin-seat aircraft will be

The Airbus Helicopters H225M Caracal has passed Polish state trials, the Polish Ministry of National Defence (MoND) announced on 27 May. The announcement paves the way for the signing of a PLN13 billion (USD3.5 billion) contract for 50 helicopters, following the preselection of the Caracal

Russia is to complete a major upgrade of its Tupolev Tu-160 'Blackjack' strategic bomber fleet a year earlier than previously announced, with the final aircraft now set to be delivered back to the air force in 2019. The work, which is geared at replacing all of the aircraft's Soviet-era equipment

Key Points The leaked advice from the EU Military Committee (EUMC) on the proposed counter-human trafficking EU mission in the Mediterranean argues that strong rules of engagement are essential to the mission's success The EUMC also argue that the European Union is coy about publicising its

Key Points Brazil is to cut its defence procurement funding from USD7.3 billion to USD5.4 billion in 2015 The cuts, due to wider economic issues, could slow or cancel some acquisitions Brazil's 2015 defence procurement budget will be reduced from a previously approved BRL22.6 billion (USD7.3

Canada has named its third Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) after a Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) coxswain, officials announced on 25 May. The AOPS will be named after Chief Petty Officer Max Bernays, who served as the Coxswain of the RCN's HMCS Assiniboine during the Battle of the Atlantic in the

Egypt has agreed a deal to buy 46 MiG-29 multirole fighters in a deal that could be worth around USD2 billion, Russian business daily Vedomosti reported on 25 May. The deal is expected to be signed in "the nearest future", according to two sources in the Russian aviation industry cited by

The US Marine Corps' (USMC's) special purpose unit concept continues to evolve as the corps prepares to send its first force package to US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), largely for disaster response. Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force -SOUTHCOM (SPMAGTF-SC) is to deploy about 280 personnel

The US Navy (USN) has selected a name for its 23rd Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine, as officials announced on 24 May that SSN 796 is to bear the name USS New Jersey . New Jersey will be the fifth Block IV Virginia submarine, to be built under a teaming agreement with Huntington