Jane's Defense News

As the US Navy (USN) looks to deploy Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters and develop next-generation missiles, the service is finding ways to stretch the service lives of its existing combat jets and cruise missiles. The USN is extending the lives of its Boeing F/A-18 A-D

Boeing is to be contracted to double the annual production rate of its DSU-38A/B laser guidance kit for the US military. The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has announced in an amended notification posted on 15 February that Boeing is to increase the production capacity for the DSU-38A/B

Key Points New strategy outlines Australia’s intention to become one of the world’s top 10 military exporters International sales to be supported through USD3 billion in export credit and a range of new initiatives Australia has published a policy to boost international defence sales

China is to donate tanks and armoured personnel carriers (APCs) to the Royal Cambodian Army (RCA) to strengthen relations between the countries, the Khmer Times newspaper reported on 29 January, citing Cambodian Defence Minister General Tea Banh. The minister said the platforms are scheduled to

State-owned aerospace and defence prime Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) will expand its Wing Loong family of strike-capable reconnaissance medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles (MALE UAVs) with the Wing Loong I-D platform, state news agencies reported on 25 January.

Czech Defence Minister Karla Slechtova announced on 23 January that the planned procurement of 12 medium multirole helicopters for the Army of the Czech Republic (ACR) would be delayed, stating that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had made no progress in the selection process. “Based on the

Event Incumbent Czech president Miloš Zeman won the country’s presidential election in a second-round run-off on 26–27 January. Zeman won 51.4% of the vote against independent political novice Jiří Drahoš, who secured 48.6%. Zeman has attracted primarily

Denmark’s cross-party Defence Agreement for 2018–23 has earmarked funding for the Royal Danish Navy (RDN) to invest in significant upgrades to its anti-air warfare (AAW) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities. Under the new six-year plan, published on 28 January, the Danish

Israel’s Elbit Systems has been awarded an USD150 million contract to provide through-life support (TLS) services for the Australian Defence Force’s battle management system command and control (BMS C2). The company announced in a 25 January statement that the contract, which was

ONE person was killed and two others were wounded when an explosive device, emplaced by unidentified militants, detonated targeting a vehicle carrying security forces personnel in Hodan district in Somalia's capital Mogadishu on 25 January, Goobjoog reported. Although there was no immediate claim of

The French ambassador in Mauritania handed over 10 4x4 pickup ACMAT Light Tactical Vehicles (ALTVs) to the Mauritanian Army on 25 January. The vehicles are destined to equip the Mauritanian component of the G5 Sahel joint anti-terrorist force that also has detachments from Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali,

Eight Hungarian Air Force (HuAF) Mi-24V and Mi-24P gunships delivered to the 419th Aircraft Repair Plant (419 ARZ), a subsidiary of Rostec’s Russian Helicopters, will be overhauled, modernised, and have night vision googles (NVG) integrated, it has been announced. The work will be conducted

India is to establish an overseas military base on an island in the Seychelles archipelago to augment its naval presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Indian Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and the Seychelles’ Secretary of State, Barry Faure, signed an agreement on 27 January

The first Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) to be built outside of the United States was handed over to the Italian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on 25 January, it has been announced. The short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) fighter was assembled at the Final Assembly

Japan and France have agreed to increase military technology collaboration as part of expanding defence ties, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) in Tokyo has announced. A statement issued after meetings in Tokyo on 26 January between the two countries’ defence and foreign ministers said an initial

Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera announced on 26 January that the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s (JASDF’s) first F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter has been deployed to Misawa Air Base in northern Japan. The recently deployed conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) F-35A

Key Points The KC-46A programme is not performing critical EMP testing, according to a Pentagon plan The Department of Defense instituted a new, strengthened EMP requirement after it awarded the original contract Electromagnetic pulse (EMP) testing performed in July on the Boeing KC-46A Pegasus

The Unmanned Systems Division of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions is opening new facilities in Oklahoma City to accommodate expected increased demand for high-performance, jet-powered unmanned aerial tactical and target drone systems. Kratos is initially occupying an 8,800 ft² facility

Lockheed Martin Australia has been awarded a contract from the Australian government for the design, build, and integration of combat systems for the country’s SEA 1000 Future Submarine programme. The announcement, made by defence industry minister Christopher Pyne on 25 January, added that

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has published a new military training outline aimed at transforming the Chinese military into a “world-class force”, the state-owned Xinhua news agency reported on 27 January. Approved by the country’s Central Military Commission (CMC), the