Jane's Defense News

Russia may upgrade parts of its T-72 and T-90 main battle tank (MBT) fleets with the automatic target tracker (ATT) and fire control computer (FCC) installed in the Armata T-14 MBT, which is now entering production at UralVagonZavod's Nizhny Tagil facility. The installation of the ATT and the FCC

A number of new and updated training systems for Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC) were in evidence at the 2016 Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) exhibition in Orlando in December. ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH showcased its Joint Fires

Soldiers from the Netherlands' 11 Luchtmobiele Brigade (11th Airmobile Brigade) will join the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) to staff a new Long Range Reconnaissance Task Group (LRRTG). Dutch Ministry of Defence spokesman Colonel Jos van der Leij

EVENT Nearly 2,000 locals staged violent protests in the San Román district of the city of Juliaca, Puno, between 28 and 30 November over rising organised crime. The protests resulted in arson attacks on at least 30 nightclubs and bars, which the protesters claimed were owned by organised

The first of 18 Airbus Helicopters NH90 Sea Lion maritime helicopters for the German Navy made its maiden flight on 8 December, the company announced. The flight, which took place at Airbus Helicopters' Donauwörth production facility in southern Germany, marked the completion of a major

Russian president Vladimir Putin enacted a new doctrine on information security into effect on 5 December that covers technical intelligence, the defence industry, "information-psychological influence" and political destabilisation. The 17-page Presidential Decree 646 sets out Moscow's

AT LEAST 93 unidentified prisoners were freed after a group of approximately five suspected Islamist militants attacked a jail in the town of Niono in Mali's Segou region on 6 December, Reuters reported. Two guards were also wounded in the attack. Three prisoners were re-captured by security forces.

While the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) held their own against the Taliban in 2016, they suffered high casualties and still require more years of training, General John W Nicholson, commander of US Forces - Afghanistan and the NATO-led 'Resolute Support' mission, said on 7

A Leonardo (Alenia) C-27J Spartan demonstrator, on a tour that includes Bolivia and Argentina, is showcasing the model to the local authorities after requests from the two countries for proposals for a medium transport of about 10 tons, and appears to be competing directly with the Airbus Defence

Key Points Sentient's ViDAR system is designed to meet a growing maritime surveillance requirement Recent trials, including 'Unmanned Warrior 2016', have demonstrated the system's ability to support a range of tasks Sentient Vision Systems' ViDAR (Visual Detection and Ranging) maritime

Chile has signed for six Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk helicopters to be delivered in 2018, the manufacturer announced on 7 December. The contract signing followed a type selection made by the Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aérea de Chile: FACh) in September, in which the Black Hawk beat off

Curtiss-Wright announced on 7 December that it had acquired Teletronics Technology Corporation (TTC). TTC is involved in flight test instrumentation systems and data acquisition, and has worked on defence programmes including the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter and Boeing

Spain's Expal has demonstrated its EIMOS mortar system integrated on a four-seat URO VAMTAC ST5 light utility vehicle. During the live-fire exercise EIMOS operated alongside Expal's wider battle management and surveillance systems. The demonstration was the second that the system has undertaken,

EVENT Two Burundian colonels and one captain were arrested between 29 November and 1 December in association with a failed assassination attempt against Willy Nyamitwe, spokesman for President Pierre Nkurunziza, on 28 November. All three officers were former members of the armed wing of the

Japan's Supreme Court overturned on 8 December a high court ruling that ordered the government to suspend night-time and early morning flights by the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) at Atsugi air base due to noise pollution, Kyodo news agency reported. The court also denied state compensation for

Brazil on 1 December formally received its SGDC (Satélite Geoestacionário de Defesa e Comunicações Estratégicas) communications satellite in Cannes, France. The satellite is planned to be launched from Kourou in French Guyana in February or March 2017, and is expected to be

The Islamic State's use of suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (SVBIEDs) has presented such a serious challenge to Iraqi forces trying to capture Mosul that the US-led coalition has disabled five of the city's five bridges to make it harder for them to get to the east bank of the

China's People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has been flight testing what appears to be a new long-range air-to-air missile (AAM), according to images posted on Chinese online forums. Published on the social media platform Weibo on 20 November, the photographs show a PLAAF Shenyang Aircraft

An official report into Australia's whole-of-government engagement in Afghanistan has identified 17 lessons that could enhance the effectiveness of any future multi-departmental, multi-agency international stabilisation mission to which Canberra may commit itself. The explanations accompanying some

Congress appears likely to alter the stated US missile defence policy by changing a landmark 1999 legislation to call for 'robust' defences against complex threats, instead of defences against a 'limited' threat. The change in language is significant as for 17 years it has shaped discussion over US