A proposed 6.6 percent cut in New Zealand’s defense budget could stall the Oceanian nation’s bid to join the AUKUS military alliance, according to a Reuters report on Wednesday. Wellington is planning to reduce its proposed defense spending for the year ending June 2025 to $3.03 billion from the current year’s $3.25 billion, based on...
Author: Arthur McMiler (Arthur McMiler)
$435M Order Jumpstarts New Maestral Shipbuilding Partnership; Pierroberto Folgiero Quoted
Abu Dhabi-based defense and technology company Edge Group and Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri have signed an agreement to form a shipbuilding joint venture called Maestral, which has already booked a contract from the United Arab Emirates Coast Guard. The order, worth $435 million, calls for the delivery of 10 offshore patrol vessels. Edge, which holds a...
Eurodrone Project Advances to Critical Design Review With Preliminary Check Completed
The Eurodrone program, seeking to deliver the first unmanned aerial system for non-segregated airspace flight, is advancing to its critical design review, following the completion of the project’s preliminary design check. The completed initial review included technical assessments and evaluations, including wind tunnel testing and checks on digital twin technological capabilities. According to Airbus Defence...
Israeli-Made Heron UAV for Luftwaffe Takes First Flight in Germany
An unmanned aerial vehicle developed and produced in Israel and designed with Germany’s military requirements in mind took its maiden flight in German air space on Wednesday, with senior officials of the German Armed Forces present. Airbus, one of the contractors for the German Heron TP drone, said the remotely powered aircraft system was developed...
US-Japan Hypersonic Missile Collaboration Seeks to Advance Regional Defense Capability
The U.S. Department of Defense said it has signed the Glide Phase Interceptor Cooperative Development Project Arrangement with the Japanese Ministry of Defense to provide defense capability against hypersonic missiles while at their glide flight. Under the agreement, Japan will spearhead the GPI project’s rocket motors and propulsion parts development for the interceptor. DOD said...
Fluor Expands in India to Beef Up Global Operations Support; Dan Spinks Quoted
Global engineering and construction company Fluor has inaugurated its second office in India to enhance support for its projects worldwide. Located at Notus IT Park in Vadodara, western India, the new office adds about 300 employees to the Texas-headquartered company’s workforce. “Fluor’s expansion into Vadodara underscores our commitment to India, allowing us to grow our...
UK to Start Contract Bids for $1.3B Hypersonic Missile Development; James Cartlidge Quoted
The United Kingdom has announced that 90 large and small industry and academic organizations are eligible to bid for contracts to support the development of the country’s hypersonic missile capabilities. The suppliers, which were included in the Hypersonic Technologies and Capability Development Framework agreement, can compete eight lots with a $1.26 billion maximum value...
IBM, Honda Eye Joint R&D on Advanced Semiconductor Processes
Honda Motor and IBM are planning a long-term collaboration on research and development for advanced semiconductor processes, such as brain-like computing and technologies for lower-cost, high-performing chiplets, to support the production of software-defined vehicles. The companies outlined their plan in a memorandum of understanding that they jointly announced on Tuesday. According to the announcement, the...
Redwire Bares VLEO Satellite Assembly in Belgium; Peter Cannito Quoted
Space infrastructure developer Redwire is building a very low Earth Orbit satellite at its facility in Belgium using a design it plans to develop by participating in the European Space Agency’s Skimsat VLEO mission. Called Phantom, the new spacecraft will be built for wide-ranging space missions, including intelligence and Earth science, the Jacksonville, Florida-based company...
Poland’s First Clean Energy Training Center Opens With US Support
Poland has opened its first Clean Energy Training Center, a joint project of the Polish Ministry of Climate and the Environment and the U.S. Department of Energy, with technical support from the Tennessee-based Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Located in Warsaw, the CETC is geared as Central Europe’s hub for workforce training needed to expand nuclear...