The Royal Air Force’s Wing Commander Sarah McDonnell recently completed a qualifying course in Australia to operate the E-7 Wedgetail. Administered by the Royal Australian Air Force and Boeing Australia under the RAF’s E-7 Wedgetail AEW1 Programme, the course provided class-based instruction and simulator training to McDonnell and allowed her to fly Australia’s E-7A. The...
Category: News
US Reaffirms Security Cooperation With Central Asia Allies
The United States, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyz Republic reaffirmed their shared commitment to maintaining peace and sovereignty in Central Asia. Leaders of all six nations held the inaugural C5+1 Presidential Summit Tuesday on the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. During the meeting, the C5+1...
US, India, Israel, UAE Step Up to Promote I2U2 Initiative
The United States has signed a memorandum of understanding with Israel, India and the United Arab Emirates to form the I2U2 Private Enterprise Partnership. According to the MOU, the public-private partnership was established to promote and advance the mission of the I2U2 Group, which refers to India, Israel, the U.S. and the UAE. The group, whose...
New US Sanctions Hit Iranian UAV, Military Aircraft Manufacturing Industry
The Department of the Treasury has slapped sanctions on a multinational network comprised of seven individuals and four companies based in Iran, China, Russia and Turkey connected with Iranian development of unmanned aerial vehicles and military planes. The network is behind shipments and financial transactions supporting the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company or HESA, the...
NATO Conducts Twin Exercises on Use of Maritime Unmanned Systems in Military Operations
NATO is conducting two exercises in Portugal’s Troia Peninsula to train participants on integrating new maritime technologies into joint military operations and operating autonomous underwater vehicles. The Dynamic Messenger 23 drills commenced training activities on Monday under the joint leadership of NATO’s Allied Command Transformation in the United States and Allied Maritime Command in the...
Thales Shifts Expansion to Overdrive as It Seeks More Acquisitions After Three Buyouts
Thales remains open to pour capital on additional mergers and acquisitions after three new acquisitions worth about $4.3 billion, the French defense electronics group’s Chairman and CEO Patrice Caine told the Financial Times. The recent buyouts include the purchase of U.S. cybersecurity group Imperva for $ 3.6 billion in July, the largest since the 2017...
EU OKs Ammunition Supply to Ukraine With Groundbreaking Joint Procurement Deals
The European Defence Agency, in charge of the European Union’s Common Security and Defence Policy, has signed eight joint procurement contracts on 155 mm ammunition for Ukraine. The procurement marks the first time that the EU purchased weapons as a bloc. Twenty-five EU member countries and Norway signed a Collaborative Procurement of Ammunition agreement in...
Joint Multibillion-Dollar Jet Fighter Development Sets 2025 Timetable for Sensors
The Global Combat Air Program of multinational companies developing a new jet fighter has set a timetable for designing its sensors, Defense News reported Monday. The radar and other sensors of the planned sixth-generation warplane, involving defense contractors from the United Kingdom, Japan and Italy, account for up to 30 percent of the value of...
Israeli Company Smartshooter Establishes Subsidiary to Support Australian Defense Needs
Smartshooter subsidiary Smash Australia has received interest from Australia’s army and special operations command for its products designed to counter ground targets and small unmanned aircraft systems. The subsidiary showcased its products at the Army Robotics eXposition in Perth, on invitation by QinetiQ, which has integrated Smartshooter’s Smash Hopper remote-controlled weapon station into the Talon...
Thousands of NATO Personnel Join Baltic Sea Maritime Exercises
Northern Coasts, an annual maritime exercise hosted by the German navy, has commenced in the Baltic Sea. About 30 warships and 3,200 personnel from 14 nations, including the United States and NATO member states, will participate in activities designed to build skills in amphibious operations, air defense, sea-to-land strikes and securing sea lanes. The latest iteration...