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US land systems specialist and owner of Bath Iron Works General Dynamics Corporation released its 2016 financial results on 27 January, showing a healthy growth of pre-tax profit, despite a slight drop in sales. The company reported sales of USD31.4 billion, a slight fall of 0.4% year on year, and

The Islamic State released a video on 24 January that for the first time displayed the group's use of commercial unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to carry out attacks. The UAV segment of the video began with two militants launching a fixed-wing Skywalker X7/8 UAV carrying an improvised explosive

Key Points Satellite imagery and Islamic State video footage show what appears to be a significant defeat for the Turkish military in Syria Turkey lost around 12 armoured vehicles during a push to capture the Islamic State-held city of Al-Bab in December The Islamic State released a video on 20

The Italian Navy's 5th Helicopter Group received the service's first navalised NH Industries NH90TTH (known as the MH90 in Italian service) on 23 January. The MH90 was specifically modified to support the San Marco amphibious brigade and special forces operations, but retains the basic capabilities

During World War II, Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese diplomat posted as an acting consul in Lithuania, disobeyed instructions from his own Government and issued visas for Jews fleeing Nazi persecution.

Americas

• The USAF’s T-X Trainer competition has taken a sudden turn, with Raytheon and Leonardo announcing that they will no longer be collaborating on the program. As a result, Leonardo now has to decide whether to go it alone with the T-100 variant of its Aermacchi M-346 advanced trainer without a US partner, find another US collaborator, or pull out of the $16.3 billion competition altogether. Whatever will happen next?

• A US Army Stryker armored vehicle fitted with a 30mm cannon has been tested for the first time. Testing of the cannon, part of a series of upgrades designed to increase the mission capabilities of US Stryker vehicles, was undertaken in order to verify its combat abilities and make future determinations on the vehicle’s armament. The Pentagon’s decision to upgun a number of its Stryker’s – nicknamed the Dragoon – was taken in response to Russia’s 2015 invasion of Ukraine to close a ground vehicle capability gap, according to service leaders. The Army plans to field first of 83 Dragoons by the end of Fiscal 2018.

• Missile giant Raytheon has revealed a 1.4 percent fall in quarterly revenue, sparked by a drop in sales by its units in charge of missile systems and tracking and navigation sensors. Speaking on the slump, CEO Tom Kennedy said that a renewed campaign against militants of the Islamic State by the Trump administration could boost sales of its precision guided munitions. Meanwhile, Northrop Grumman has forecast lower 2017 earnings per share below Wall Street estimates due to lower segment operating margins, which some analysts attributed to costs related to some of its new programs.

Middle East & North Africa

• Textron Systems has been contracted by the USAF to provide maintenance training for the Afghan Air Force. The $9.3 million deal orders the provision of maintenance training to Afghan crew and includes logistics support for 24 aircraft operated by Kabul. Work will be performed in Afghanistan and is expected to be completed by the end of January, 2018.

Europe

• Romania has made an additional order with General Dynamics European Land Systems for its Piranha III wheeled armored vehicles. This is the country’s fifth order with GDEL for the vehicle, which has been in service with its armed forces since 2006. Announcing the order, GDEL did not give any further information on the procurement in relation to unit numbers or cost.

• The Croatian government has laid out their defense spending plans for 2017, with a focus on coastal patrol vessels, new howitzers, as well as continuing procurement of second-hand OH-58D Kiowa Warrior armed reconnaissance helicopters from the US. An additional $57 million has been added over last year’s figures, representing a 7% increase on funds in 2016. Other defense projects for this year include medium-lift helicopter overhauls, ordnance procurement, and M-84 main battle tank upgrades.

Asia Pacific

• Taiwan’s Minister of National Defense has announced his government’s ambition to pursue an indigenous stealth fighter once Taipei completes work on its advanced jet trainer. Feng Shih-kua, a former Air Force pilot, said that the Rep. China Air Force’s new aerospace research center will play an important role in the development of the fighter. Military officials later added that the jet will rely on its TFE-1042-70 afterburning turbofan as its power plant.

• A state-run Chinese newspaper has reported that Beijing is testing a new long-range air-to-air missile capable of downing early warning aircraft and aerial refueling aircraft. The munition’s development runs alongside what is described as an “ambitious modernization program” led by President Xi Jinping, including stealth fighters, aircraft carriers and the testing of anti-satellite missiles. While the air force has yet to comment on this new missile, pictures posted on the service’s website, showed a J-11B fighter carrying a large, unidentified missile during drills last year.

Today’s Video

What could have been for the USAF: The M-346:

Amid attacks and counter-attacks in Yemen, those seeking a military solution will only prolong the suffering caused by the war, allow the terrorist threat to grow and deepen the challenges that will face the eventual recovery, the United Nations envoy for the war-riven country said today.

 

 

Für Jugendliche mit Zuwanderungsgeschichte ist es in Deutschland schwer eine eigene Identität zu finden. Woran das liegt, zeigt die neue Studie.

Dimanche, Manuel Valls et Benoît Hamon seront opposés lors du second tour du primaire de la gauche. François Hollande, lui, assistera de son côté à une autre rencontre au sommet. Selon une source à l'Élysée,...

Le favori de la primaire à gauche, confiant sur ses chances de gagner dimanche, a réaffirmé son engagement pour la laïcité et s'est projeté dans l'élection présidentielle.

Following the approval late last year of an independent panel to assist in the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for war crimes or crimes against humanity in Syria, the United Nations today announced that the mechanism will be headed by a senior judge or prosecutor with extensive criminal investigations and prosecutions experience.

Gambia's President Adama Barrow arrives to assume power - days after his predecessor Yahya Jammeh left for exile.

Közel 700 ezer európai mehetett tanulni, dolgozni, továbbképezni önmagát és önkéntesnek 2015-ben az idén 30 éves Erasmus+ program keretében. A programban résztvevő fiatalok körében 23 százalékkal alacsonyabb a munkanélküliségi ráta, mint az otthon maradók körében.

Si elles ne figurent pas dans son programme de candidat à la primaire socialiste, les 32 heures de travail hebdomadaires constituent un cap politique cher à Benoît Hamon. L'idée met la droite et Manuel Valls en émoi mais est pourtant moins incongrue qu'il n'y paraît.

À quelques mètres, rue de Rome, à Alfortville (Val-de-Marne), ce jeudi soir, deux ambiances pour un seul homme : Manuel Valls. Sur le bitume, une cinquantaine de personnes ont répondu à l’appel de la CGT...

En réunion publique à Alfortville (Val-de-Marne), ce jeudi soir, l'ex-premier ministre a essuyé les protestations d'une quinzaine de manifestants. Lors de ce dernier grand meeting de campagne, il a accusé Benoît Hamon de « promettre n'importe quoi pour gagner ».

Az Eurócsoport pénzügyminiszterei csütörtökön hitet tettek a szabadkereskedelem mellett és a protekcionizmus ellen, első reakcióként az új amerikai kormányzat első döntéseire. A tagállamok egyúttal megsürgették a görög program második felülvizsgálatának lezárását, miközben a végrehajtás fázisába léptek a görög adósság rövid távú könnyítéséről korábban hozott intézkedések.