Microsoft is partnering with an Emirati company to develop artificial intelligence for various applications. The Redmond, Washington-based company said it will invest $1.5 billion in g42, an AI company headquartered in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft, is joining G42’s board of directors as part of the deal....
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Category: Middle East
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Iraq Secures US Approval for Proposed $140M Aircraft Contractor Logistics Support
The United States has approved the Iraqi government’s request for aircraft contractor logistics support worth $140 million. Under the proposed foreign military sale, Baghdad will receive aircraft sustainment services for its C-172 and AC/RC-208 fleet. The requirements include technical and proficiency training for Iraqi maintainers and aircrews, spare and repair components, engineering and technical services,...
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11 Companies Face US Export Restrictions for Supporting Adversarial Activities; Matthew Axelrod Quoted
The Bureau of Industry and Security has imposed export restrictions on 11 entities in China, Russia and the United Arab Emirates for acquiring U.S. products to support Chinese military modernization efforts and produce Shahed-series unmanned aerial vehicles. The organizations were added to the Department of Commerce’s Entity List, including Linkzol Technology, Xi’an Like Innovative Information...
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Navy Awards $112M Super Hornet, Growler Spare Parts Order to Boeing
Naval Air Systems Command has ordered avionics parts and spares and special test equipment from Boeing for the F/A-18E/F Block III Super Hornet and E/A-18G Growler aircraft used by the United States, Kuwait and Australia. The order, worth $111.89 million, requires Boeing to provide products with long lead times and those that are no longer...
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Saudi Arabia Looks to Improve Surveillance Capability With $101M Proposed FMS
The United States has cleared a potential $101.1 million sale of multifunctional information distribution systems to Saudi Arabia. The Department of State approved Wednesday Riyadh’s latest request to purchase 50 MIDS-low volume terminal Block Upgrade 2 terminals and 100 MIDS-LVT BU2 retrofit kits. According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the new order will be...
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Italy’s Fincantieri Prepares for Opportunities in Undersea Market Growth; Pierroberto Folgiero Quoted
Italian ship manufacturer Fincantieri is preparing for the anticipated growth of the undersea market over the coming years, according to company CEO Pierroberto Folgiero. In an interview with Breaking Defense, Folgiero predicted that the market would be worth up to $400 billion by 2030. “Underwater will be what was space 40 years ago,” the CEO...
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US Sanctions UAE-Based Shipper Oceanlink Maritime Over Ties With Iran
The United States has issued a new round of sanctions targeting an organization involved in shipping commodities on behalf of Iran‘s General Staff of the Armed Forces and Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics. According to a press release, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control is blocking the use of 13...
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Italian Navy Replaces US as Head of International Red Sea Task Force
The Italian Navy has assumed command of Combined Task Force 153, taking over from the U.S. Navy. Italy’s Capt. Roberto Messina formally replaced his American counterpart, Capt. David Cole, during a change of command ceremony at the Combined Maritime Forces headquarters in Manama, Bahrain, on Wednesday. In his address at the event, Messina said he...
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Elbit Systems Books New Order for C4I Platform Installation in European Artillery Unit
Israeli defense company Elbit Systems announced that a European country has ordered its Artillery Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence solution. Under the C4I purchase order, Elbit will provide digital fires capabilities to the unnamed buyer’s 155 mm howitzer battalions through the integration of the company’s artillery suite featuring the Torch-X Fires solution and E-Lynx...
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Defense Industry Seeks Clarification on Ottawa’s Arms Export Freeze to Israel
Canadian arms exporters to Israel with permits approved before Jan. 8 can proceed with the transaction, even as Canada’s House of Commons passed on March 18 a measure temporarily halting such sales over human rights concerns from Tel Aviv’s military actions in Gaza. The Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries, however, still wants specific...