Jane's Defense News

Greek military vehicles venture Hellenic Vehicle Industry (ELVO) has reportedly signed a co-operation agreement with Egypt relating to the refurbishment of armoured vehicles: an agreement that calls into question the future of a company that was believed to be in liquidation. The Association of

Key Points There was a noticeable surge in violent incidents between Hamas and Gaza-based Salafist jihadists throughout April and early May. The intensification was perpetuated by a variety of actors and drivers, internal and external to Gaza, and notably including the Islamic State. Although a

Samtel Avionics has appointed Puneet Kaura as managing director and chief executive officer, the Indian company announced on 2 June. Kaura was previously executive director of the firm, which is headquartered in New Delhi. Samtel Avionics said in a statement that Kaura will be expected to develop

An Indian Air Force (IAF) BAE Systems Hawk Mk 132 advanced jet trainer crashed in eastern India on 3 June during a routine flight, an IAF spokesman in New Delhi said. Both pilots ejected safely from the aircraft, which took off from Kalaikunda air base before crashing at Baharagora some 50 km to

Iran's defensive defence doctrine has been "tested" by the ongoing wars in Iraq and Syria, according to the recently declassified executive summary of the US intelligence community's latest report to Congress on Iran's military power. ANALYSIS The document was almost a carbon copy of the

EVENT Jabhat al-Nusra militants attacked two Hizbullah outposts near the outskirts of the town of Arsal and the village of Nahle in Beqaa governorate on 2 June. The town of Arsal itself is somewhat of an Islamist militant stronghold, and given its proximity to the Syrian border, the town and

Key Points President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria was sworn into office on 29 May. Buhari is almost certain to prioritise the fight against Boko Haram and corruption in the public sector, with a greater focus on the oil and gas industry. Southern groups are increasingly likely to call for

Jabhat al-Nusra militants attacked two Hizbullah outposts near the outskirts of the town of Arsal and the village of Nahle in Beqaa governorate on 2 June. In a statement released on its Twitter account, Jabhat al-Nusra claimed to have seized weapons and killed all of the Hizbullah fighters found in

The US Department of Defense (DoD) is reviewing its processes for handling anthrax after mistakenly shipping live samples to at least 51 laboratories. The Pentagon realised in late May that it had accidentally shipped live anthrax samples - among inactivated samples - to at least 51 laboratories in

Dmitry Rogozin, Russia's deputy prime minister, has acknowledged that the construction of surface ships for the Russian Navy has "idled" due to the non-delivery of gas turbine engines from Ukraine, RIA Novosti reported 3 June. The situation has affected, among others, the Project

Key Points Russian Su-24 fighters have made more than a dozen low-level passes by USS Ross since 30 May USN officials characterised the encounters as routine and non-aggressive Several Russian Su-24 attack fighters have flown past a US Navy (USN) Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer

It came as little surprise that China's top envoy to the 14 th Shangri-La Dialogue, Admiral Sun Jianguo, deputy chief of the People Liberation Army's (PLA's) General Staff Department, asserted that his country's ongoing island building in the South China Sea was well within its sovereign rights and

Sikorsky - the rotary-wing division of United Aircraft Corporation (UTC) - is considering consolidating its sites and reducing its 15,000-strong workforce by around 1,400, it emerged on 2 June. Employees were informed that reductions could be made at facilities in Poland (where Sikorsky has owned

Key Points The European Union has launched a new naval operation in a renewed initiative to counter the precipitous rise in irregular migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean. Islamist militias in Libya are likely to take illicit taxes from organised crime groups involved in the

South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced plans on 2 June to invest in the development of Batch III Incheon-class frigates and guided air-to-surface missiles. DAPA said in a statement that the two military programmes would undergo indigenous development: the frigate

Key Points The state department has approved sale to Japan of four E-2D Advanced Hawkeye AEW&C aircraft The E-2D would enter service by 2019, augmenting Japan's 13-aircraft E-2C fleet The US Department of State has approved sale to Japan of four Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne

The US Army has awarded about USD57 million between BAE Systems Land and Armaments and General Dynamics Land Systems for conceptual design work on a future fighting vehicle (FFV) that could potentially replace the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle. Work on this effort is to run through November

Key Points Protecting the USN's shipbuilding plans against budget cuts remains a top priority for the service's civilian chief The US navy secretary asserted that savings can be found within the Pentagon's administrative offices The US Navy's (USN's) top civilian leader has pledged to continue

The US Air Force (USAF) on 2 June released a request for proposal (RfP) for development of a domestically produced heavy rocket for military satellite launches. "Proposals must be submitted … no later than 23 June," said the RfP. Lieutenant General Samuel Greaves, the USAF's Space

The outlook for defence spending in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates – unlike that of their neighbours – remains positive, according to IHS analysis. “Despite Saudi Arabia’s heavy exposure to oil price fluctuations, there have been very few signs of any