Singapore has raised its defense budget for fiscal year 2025 by 12.4 percent to $17.5 billion. According to a Defense News report, while this adjustment addresses project delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen stated that future growth will be moderated to keep defense spending within 3 percent of the island...
Category: Asia
Post
SandboxAQ Extends Support as UN AI Hub Founding Member
The United Nations International Computing Centre has accepted artificial intelligence-powered solutions provider SandboxAQ as a founding member of the AI Hub, a primary AI solutions provider and resource center for the U.N. system and international partners. The AI Hub will act as a center of excellence, gathering experts to assist the intergovernmental organization in using...
Post
ICT Trade Group: India Must Work With Industry for Workable Data Privacy Rules
India needs to work closely with industry to make the implementation of the government’s Digital Personal Data Protection rules more workable and aligned with best practices, according to the Washington-based trade group Information Technology Industry Council. ITI, which advocates for the information and communications technology industry, has some of the world’s leading innovation companies as...
Post
US B-52 Bombers Conduct Joint Weapons Drop Exercise in Turkey
Two US B-52H Stratofortress bombers assigned to the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron at Royal Air Force Fairford have completed a combined Bomber Task Force mission in Turkey. Called Spartan Sword, the Thursday mission involved Turkish F-16s escorting the bombers before they conducted inert weapons drops with Turkish Joint Terminal Attack Controllers 150 miles northwest of...
Post
US Approves $2.7B Emergency Arms Sales to Israel
The U.S. Department of State has approved two separate emergency foreign military sales to Israel, totaling an estimated $2.7 billion in munitions, guidance kits and related support. The larger sale, valued at $2.04 billion, includes over 35,000 MK 84 or BLU-117 general-purpose bomb bodies and 4,000 I-2000 Penetrator warheads. It also encompasses spare parts, transportation support, engineering...
Post
Japan Negotiates With Indo-Pacific Allies to Improve Weapon Exports
Japan is actively engaging with its allies in the Indo-Pacific to strengthen defense industrial ties and ensure peace and stability in the region. Defense Minister Gen Nakatani noted that the discussions reflect Japan’s efforts to bridge the significant gap between its defense policies and weapon exports. Tokyo has made notable strides in foreign relations in...
Post
Aselsan CEO Sees Export Opportunities for Turkey’s ‘Steel Dome’
Turkish defense firm Aselsan is advancing its Steel Dome system and eyeing potential exports, according to CEO and President Ahmet Akyol. Speaking to Breaking Defense during the 2025 International Defence Exhibition & Conference in Abu Dhabi, Akyol highlighted the system’s potential for sales to its NATO allies and neighboring Gulf nations. Akyol stressed Aselsan’s readiness...
Post
EDGE’s KATIM, Nokia to Develop Secure Communications for UAE
Nokia and EDGE Group subsidiary KATIM have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on secure telecommunications networks for defense and mission-critical applications in the United Arab Emirates. Under the agreement, Nokia and KATIM will collaborate on developing and providing military 5G and portable 5G solutions that meet stringent security and reliability requirements for the...
Post
Northrop, Hanwha Partner to Support South Korea’s Mine Countermeasure Initiative
Northrop Grumman has signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korean conglomerate Hanwha to advance Seoul’s Mine Countermeasures Helicopter program. The deal continues the U.S. aerospace company’s long history of working with the country’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration. The deal with Hanwha follows the collaboration between Northrop and defense and aerospace communications company Genohco in...
Post
Thales, Milrem, EM&E Forge Robotics Alliance for UAE Defense
Milrem Robotics, EM&E Group and Thales Belgium have signed a memorandum of understanding to pursue defense robotics opportunities in the United Arab Emirates. The agreement will initially focus on combining EM&E’s SECUTOR remote weapon station and Thales’ 70 mm rocket systems with Milrem’s THeMIS unmanned ground vehicle. Thales said the integration seeks to enhance THeMIS’...