Defence Notes

UK MoD “getting a grip” of budgets as three UK air programmes slip into the red

The E-7 Wedgetail, Future Combat Air System and the Protector programmes were highlighted as items of concern from a recently published UK Infrastructure and Projects Authority report.

Trump enters the White House promising into bring the US military to a “golden age”

The returning US president also reiterated a commitment to supply the services with “made-in-America” capabilities and to end conflicts worldwide.

Incoming Irish government backs plans for larger defence force

It has been more than six weeks since the Irish general election. After long negotiations, a coalition of two of the three largest parties and independents has resulted in a Programme for Government (PfG) which will form the basis of a government almost guaranteed to be formed on 22 January.

Uncrewed Vehicles

Shaping the future of defence: What 2025 holds for the global drone market

The UAV market is experiencing unprecedented growth, with innovations in technology and battlefield applications driving demand across military sectors. From the battlefields of Ukraine to NATO exercises and beyond, drones are transforming how wars are fought and supported.

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Naval Warfare

Philippines turns to Korea for CMS and new corvettes

28th August 2019

The Philippines has selected Hanwha Systems to install an integrated combat management system (CMS) on three former US Coast Guard cutters in service with the …
Military Logistics

USNS Puerto Rico completes acceptance trials

28th August 2019

The future USNS Puerto Rico Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) vessel has completed US Navy acceptance trials, manufacturer Austal announced on 26 August. The trials …
Naval Warfare

GD awarded Royal Navy Dreadnought work

27th August 2019

General Dynamics Mission Systems has been awarded $64.8 million for the Strategic Weapon System Fire Control Subsystem hardware for the Royal Navy’s second Dreadnought-class nuclear …
Digital Battlespace

USAF launched second GPS III satellite

27th August 2019

The US Air Force has launched its second GPS III satellite, part of a constellation of up to 32 satellites that will bolster the US’ …
Naval Warfare

USN awards LRIP contract for ESSM weapons

27th August 2019

The US Navy has awarded Raytheon a $190 million low-rate initial production contract for Block 2 versions of the Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM). Block 2 …
Naval Warfare

Boarding party time for RNZN crews

27th August 2019

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is seeking to procure specialist tactical equipment for personnel conducting naval boarding operations. In an RfT released in August, …
Naval Warfare

Insight: Will Royal Navy surface fleet jockey for future missile swaps?

23rd August 2019

With the UK MoD moving to further define the requirements for its Interim-Surface Ship Guided Weapon (I-SSGW) system in a 19 August contract notice, the …
Defence Notes

MSPO 2019: New buys set to end pain of Polish fighter troubles

23rd August 2019

A series of past accidents, resulting in the loss of several MiG-29 fighter jets, have led the Polish MoD to conclude that further use of …
Defence Notes

Podcast: Best bits: Turkey's sales drive in Brazil, trends in the air defence market and Australian UAVs

23rd August 2019

Welcome to Episode 31 of The Weekly Defence Podcast. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more. Sign up to an early email alert of future podcasts here.
Defence Notes

Opinion: Who becomes the world’s supplier of affordable fighters now?

23rd August 2019

Over the past few decades, Asian nations that were either friendly to or aligned with the US were some of the biggest customers for lightweight …
Defence Notes

South Korea to scrap military intel-sharing pact with Japan

22nd August 2019

South Korea said on 22 August that it would terminate its military intelligence-sharing pact with Japan – a move Tokyo immediately protested against – in …
Land Warfare

US kill vehicle terminated

22nd August 2019

The US DoD is terminating development of an improved kill vehicle for its existing long-range interceptor missile, citing ‘technical design problems,’ and will instead launch …
Naval Warfare

Indonesia selects Bofors 57 Mk3 naval gun

22nd August 2019

The Indonesian navy has selected BAE Systems’ Bofors 57 Mk3 naval gun system for its fleet of KCR-60 fast-attack vessels. The initial contracts with government-owned …
Naval Warfare

TADTE 2019: Taiwan’s LPD scheduled for completion in 2022

22nd August 2019

The Republic of China Navy’s (ROCN) new LPD, being acquired under Project Hung Yun, began construction in May. The vessel will mark the start of …
Special Operations

SOF seeks low-cost armor-piercing ammo

21st August 2019

The US military is seeking industry help to identify or develop low-cost armor-piercing ammunition in a number of calibers of particular interest to United States …
Digital Battlespace

First system-level tests of USN EASR completed

21st August 2019

Raytheon and the US Navy have completed the first system-level tests of the SPY-6(V)2 Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar (EASR) at the Surface Combat System Center at …
Naval Warfare

Boeing contracted to add sixth workstation to USN, RAAF Poseidons

21st August 2019

Boeing has received awards worth $34.5 million to deliver a sixth mission crew workstation retrofit to previously delivered US Navy and Royal Australian Air Force …
Defence Notes

Opinion: Is there an absence of interest in UK defence?

21st August 2019

Boris Johnson has been UK Prime Minister for almost a month, yet it is still hard to understand what his vision for defence is, or …
Defence Notes

SDB increases capability of RAAF F-35A

21st August 2019

The capability of the Royal Australian Air Force’s F-35A Joint Strike Fighters has quadrupled since the introduction of the GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb (SDB), according …