The Department of Defense is wrapping up 2023 with billions of dollars in investments in capability building and stronger partnerships with international allies to maintain peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific. On Wednesday, the Pentagon published a fact sheet that enumerates steps the department has taken to advance the U.S. Indo-Pacific defense strategy and deter adversarial...
Hello, Guest!
Category: Asia
Post
Japan Patriot Missile Sale to US Boosts Indo-Pacific Stability, Envoy Says
Japan’s efforts to boost its military capability and ease military equipment sales will enhance Indo-Pacific stability, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said in a meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara on Wednesday. According to Military.com, Emanuel lauded Tokyo’s recent approval of the shipments of Japanese-manufactured Patriot missiles to the United States to replenish...
Post
US, Japan Sign New Agreement to Develop AI/ML Capabilities for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
The United States is collaborating with Japan to advance unmanned air vehicles by integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning. On Friday, the U.S. Department of Defense and the Japanese Ministry of Defense signed a project arrangement to work on research and development efforts on Overwhelming Response through Collaborative Autonomy. The project is part of a joint...
Post
L3Harris Team Bats for South Korea’s New AEW&C Missile-Tracking Aircraft
L3Harris Technologies has teamed with Korean Air and Israel Aerospace Industries’ Elta Systems to design and deliver the Republic of Korea Air Force’s next-generation airborne early warning and control aircraft. According to the Janes website, South Korea plans to acquire four AEW&C aircraft to counter North Korea’s rising ballistic missile activity. The L3Harris team’s proposed...
Post
Japan Announces Plans to Ship Patriot Interceptor Missiles to US
Japan has announced plans to send Patriot air defense missiles to the United States following the government’s decision to revise its arms export policy, according to a Reuters report. In a statement, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said the imminent weapons shipment will bolter Japan’s security and improve peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region....
Post
Formidable-Class Warships Set for Mid-Life Upgrade From ST Engineering
The Singapore Ministry of Defence has awarded a contract to ST Engineering Marine for the mid-life upgrade of the Republic of Singapore Navy’s Formidable-class warships. The contractor’s parent ST Engineering firm said the upgrade covers the frigates’ marine and electrical setups, including ship management and power generation systems. ST Engineering Marine will work progressively on...
Post
Treasury Sanctions Entities for Export of US-Made UAV Components to Iran
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control is imposing sanctions on companies and individuals based in the Middle East and East Asia for the export of American and foreign-made components to support Iran’s unmanned aerial vehicle production. In a notice published Tuesday, OFAC named Iran-based Hossein Hatefi Ardakani, Mehdi Dehghani Mohammadabadi...
Post
US Approves Proposed $59M Sale of Tactical Missiles to Japan
The Department of State has approved a proposed $59 million foreign military sale of AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II tactical missiles to Japan. According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Tokyo wants to purchase 44 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block IIs and 29 AIM-9X Sidewinder captive air training missiles. The deal also involves providing Japan with missile containers,...
Post
North Korean Hackers Launch New Global Espionage Campaign, Cybersecurity Researchers Say
Cisco Talos has uncovered a new cyber hacking campaign it has named “Operation Blacksmith.” Its researchers traced the activity to the North Korean Lazarus Group, regarded as an advanced persistent threat for its malicious cyber activities. The company said the hackers target the vulnerabilities of manufacturing, agricultural and physical security enterprises around the world using...
Post
US, Singapore Seek to Resolve Supply Chain Disruptions Threatening Defense Capabilities
The Department of Defense has signed an agreement with Singapore to address supply chain challenges better. Under the security of supply arrangement, the DOD and the Singapore Ministry of Defense will collaborate to meet their critical defense needs mutually. The bilateral deal will also enable the agencies to resolve disruptions threatening defense capabilities and promote...