The Turkish Parliament’s foreign affairs commission has approved Sweden’s bid to join NATO, likely clearing the way for Stockholm to gain membership into the military alliance after nearly two years of delay. Reuters said the panel voted to advance the bid for consideration by the Parliament’s general assembly, which could deliberate on the matter after...
Category: Defense Security Cooperation
UK Sending Air Defense Missiles to Protect Ukraine’s People, Critical Infrastructure
The United Kingdom has started shipping air defense missiles to Ukraine to help the country protect its people and critical infrastructure from Russia’s drone attacks and bombing runs. The UK Ministry of Defence announced the new package of defense assistance following intensified assaults in Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa from hundreds of Russian drones and missiles....
British Troops To Spearhead 2024 NATO Rapid Response Task Force
The United Kingdom’s 7th Light Mechanised Brigade Combat Team will be deployed in 2024 as the core of the British leadership role in NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force starting Jan. 1. The brigade, dubbed “Desert Rats,” led NATO’s Strategic Reserve Force when it was activated in Kosovo in 2022. Its components include a...
DOD Looks Back on Decisive Year for Advancing US Defense Strategy in Indo-Pacific
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...
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...
EPE, Skydio UAS to Bolster New Zealand Army’s Reconnaissance, Surveillance Capabilities
EPE New Zealand has received a contract to provide the New Zealand Defence Force with enhanced reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities. Under the agreement with the New Zealand Ministry of Defence, EPE will collaborate with U.S.-based Skydio to deliver the X2D unmanned aircraft system to the New Zealand Army. The advanced micro UAS will improve the...
BAE’s F-35 Aircraft Maintenance Facility in Australia Gets Investment Boost
The Australian government has more than doubled its investment in BAE Systems Australia’s F-35 Lightning II aircraft maintenance facility in Hunter Valley, New South Wales, signing a Stage 2 facility services deed with the company. The funding, worth $75.4 million, is in addition to the $68.6 million that Canberra initially committed in 2022 to the...
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...
F-16s Poised to Defend Ukrainian Airspace as Pilots Advance Training
The first group of six Ukrainian combat pilots has completed basic F-16 flight training with the British Royal Air Force and is now in Denmark for advanced drills on the aircraft, the U.K. government said Tuesday. Ukraine will also receive the first Dutch delivery of 18 F-16 jets “within weeks if not days,” according to...
US Approves Sale of $1B Defense Training to Saudi Arabia
The Department of State has approved the potential foreign military sale of training and related equipment to Saudi Arabia. The proposed sale covers a range of training offered by the Department of Defense and the U.S. Air Force, including flight training for the Royal Saudi Air Force and other Saudi military services. The possible foreign...










