Jane's Defense News

Raytheon Missile Systems has been selected by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to execute the next phase of the Multi Azimuth Defense Fast Intercept Round Engagement System (MAD-FIRES) programme. Designed to improve ship survivability in high threat environments, the

The United Kingdom's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) will award a technology demonstration programme (TDP) contract for its Icarus modular active protection system (APS) development programme next month, IHS Jane's understands. Intended to provide the UK with a modular integrated

The first Chilean Navy Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft departed Naval Air Base Concon and arrived in Canada on 22 January to start a structural midlife upgrade (SMU) under a USD37 million contract to IMP Aerospace of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The contract comprises SMUs for two

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

Further details have emerged about India's plans for the main battle tank (MBT) element of the Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV) programme. Requirements for the main armament, powerpack, and mission systems have been revealed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Speaking

Key Points The British Army's think-tank has suggested the United Kingdom end competitive tenders for defence procurement CHACR's report instead envisages greater investment in the UK defence industry The UK's default preference for competition in equipment procurement should be reversed to help

China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) commissioned its fifth Luyang III-class (Type 052D) destroyer on 22 January. Named Xining (with pennant number 117), the vessel is the first Type 052D to be assigned to the PLAN's North Sea Fleet, with the other four ships allocated to the South Sea

The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) is looking at replacing all of its Soviet-era passenger aircraft following the fatal loss of a Tupolev Tu-154 late last year, state media disclosed on 20 January. Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu has instructed that modern replacements to the current Tu-154,

The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (DPSU) announced on 20 January that it had found missile system components on an aircraft that was about to leave Kiev's Zulyany airport for Iran. The DPSU said that, during an inspection of the aircraft on 19 January, its personnel had found 17 boxes with

South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) launched a 122 m frigate on order for the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) on 23 January. The vessel, which has been ordered under a THB14.6 billion (USD396 million) contract inked between the Thai government and DSME in August 2013,

Retired US Marine Corps General James Mattis was confirmed by the Senate and sworn in as the next secretary of defense on 20 January. The Senate voted favourably on his nomination, 98-1, several hours after President Donald Trump officially took office. Immediately after his own swearing in, Trump

Key Points President Trump wants a "state-of-the-art missile defense system" to defend against potential ICBM threats from North Korea or Iran Republicans in Congress are likely support new investments in missile defences President Donald Trump, who took office on 20 January, called for

A helicopter of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force's aviation wing crashed in southeast China's Fujian Province on 19 January, killing both pilots, the China Military Online website reported on 23 January. Three other people suffered minor injuries and four houses were damaged as a result of

The US Department of Defense (DoD) announced on 20 January that more than 100 Al-Qaeda fighters had been killed during an air strike on a Syrian training camp conducted the day before. The disclosure on the final day of the Obama administration said the Shaykh Sulayman camp in Idlib Province, which

TWO people - kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) militants off the coast of the town of Pangutaran in the Philippines' Sulu province on 25 October - were released by the group in the town of Indanan on 19 January, GMA Network reported. Reports did not specify whether a ransom was paid for their

An undisclosed number of Anti-UAV Defence Systems (AUDS) have been supplied to US forces and are now in operational service. The AUDS has been developed in a collaborative effort by a UK defence consortium comprised of Blighter Surveillance Systems, Chess Dynamics, and Enterprise Control Systems

EVENT Cameroon's government on 18 January banned the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium (CACSC) and the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) from operating in the country. The CACSC has called for a return to a two-state federation, while the SCNC has long advocated for both