Jane's Defense News

Event On 4 October, the European Parliament approved a proposal by the European Council to grant Bulgaria and Romania passive access to the Visa Information System (VIS). The two countries will be able to consult data, in a read-only mode, but not to enter, amend, or delete information. Bulgaria

Indra’s InShield system for protecting aircraft from infrared-guided missiles fired by manportable air defence systems has passed its NATO trials, the company announced on 5 October. The system was installed on a Spanish Army CH-47 helicopter for the trials at the WTD 91 test centre in Meppen,

Key Points The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) independence referendum is driving Iranian, Iraqi, and Turkish co-operation aimed at containing Kurdish independence aspirations. Iran is wary of a potential Kurdish state’s receptiveness to Israeli/US influence. But hostile Iranian actions

AT LEAST four people were killed and 39 were wounded during a small-arms and suicide attack by three suspected Islamic State militants targeting a court complex in Misrata in Libya's Tripolitania region on 4 October, Reuters reported. A suicide bomber detonated his explosives at the gate of the

ONE vehicle carrying African Union Mission In Somalia (AMISOM) soldiers was destroyed when a land mine detonated causing an unspecified number of casualties, at the Suuqa Holaha Junction in Somalia's capital Mogadishu on 2 October, Radio Simba reported. No group immediately claimed responsibility

Event Liberians will choose a successor to two-term President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on 10 October, as well as members of the new House of Representatives. A total of 20 presidential candidates have been declared for an election that is expected to see the first peaceful transfer of power between

Canadian communication specialist MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) completed its acquisition of US satellite imaging company DigitalGlobe Inc on 5 October and announced that together the companies would be rebranded as a single entity under the name Maxar Technologies. The completion of

Key Points Israeli company Rafael opens office in Melbourne to ‘deepen’ activities in Australia Move supported by growing government-level defence links between two countries Israel-based Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is positioning to expand in Australia as part of growing defence

Russia's Tractor Plants Concern has showcased the BMD-4M airborne infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) upgraded with the new Sinitsa (Titmouse) combat compartment at the Army-2017 international military-technical exhibition held outside Moscow from 22–27 August. The Sinitsa is essentially a

Russia's Military Industrial Company (VPK) has unveiled the BTR-87 armoured personnel carrier (APC) at the Army-2017 international military-technical exhibition, outside Moscow. The vehicle on display features a frontally mounted powerpack, with the troop compartment located in the rear. The APC is

Cobham announced on 22 August that it had been awarded a contract from Sacheon-based Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) for munition carriage and release equipment. According to Cobham, the contract will see the firm deliver an undisclosed number of Weapon Ejector Launcher (WEL) systems to KAI by

Key Points GA-ASI hopes to have its Protector UAV variant UK military certified by 2021 This could eventually lead to certification to fly in civil airspace and a new market for UAVs General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) is aiming to have its Protector, a variant of its Certifiable

General Dynamics demonstrated the ability to launch an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) during the US Navy’s Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (ANTX) 2017. The company also displayed a prototype capability for deploying unmanned vehicles from a

Key Points The Indian MoD has issued an RFI to foreign OEMs for 234 helicopters for the Indian Navy The RFI aims to procure 111 naval utility helicopters and 123 naval multirole helicopters India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has invited responses by 6 October from overseas original equipment

The US Air Force (USAF) has awarded Lockheed Martin and Raytheon each USD900 million contracts for the new nuclear-capable Long Range Standoff (LRSO) cruise missile’s technology maturation and risk reduction acquisition phase. The two companies will work via cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts,

Key Points Malaysia has named and launched the country’s first Littoral Combat Ship Platform will provide the Royal Malaysian Navy with all-round offensive capabilities against air, surface, and underwater threats Malaysia’s Boustead Naval Shipyard (BNS) has launched the first

Japan’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) has selected Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) to lead a programme to build medium surface combatants for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), it has been confirmed to Jane’s . The programme will be supported by lead

Northrop Grumman demonstrated the ability to undertake multidomain autonomous command and control (C2) at the US Navy’s Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (ANTX) 2017, held at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Panama City Division, Florida. The company used two unmanned surface vehicles

Roketsan has begun serial production of the UMTAS (Uzun Menzilli Tanksavar Sistemi) imaging infrared (UMTAS-IIR) variant, long-range anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), following successful finalisation of the development and qualification of the missile – including firing trials from a Turkish

Russia has signed agreements with a number of African countries on the side lines of Army 2017 international military-technical exhibition held outside Moscow from 22-27 August, as the country seeks to grow its presence in the region. Russian media reported that Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu had