Pakistan’s government plans to acquire FC-31 Gyrfalcon fighter aircraft from China. According to Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu of the Pakistan Air Force, the South Asian nation’s upcoming fleet of FC-31s will begin operations in the near future. The PAF chief mentioned the acquisition of the fifth-generation fighters on Monday during the induction of...
Category: Defense Security Cooperation
US Alliance Plan Sustained Red Sea Defense Operations Against Rebel Attacks
The United States, its allies and partners will continue to defend commercial vessels in the Red Sea from Houthi rebel attacks, Navy Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of Naval Forces Central Command, said in a Department of Defense statement. His remarks follow a Thursday incursion by Iran-backed Houthis, who flew and detonated a maritime drone...
BAE Systems To Build M777 Titanium Structures for US Army
BAE Systems said it has signed a $50 million deal with the U.S. Army to build new M777 howitzer structures, with a target of fulfilling initial deliveries in 2025. The negotiations are ongoing to finalize the details of the agreement and its total value, but the current terms allow BAE to start delivering on the...
NATO Selects RTX-MBDA Joint Venture to Expand Patriot Missile Production in Europe
COMLOG, a joint venture between Raytheon and MBDA Germany, has received a potential $5.6 billion contract from the NATO Support and Procurement Agency to supply select European countries with the new Patriot GEM-T missiles. Under the agreement, COMLOG will expand the production of GEM-T missiles, also known as Patriot Advanced Capability 2 missile interceptors, in...
US, Qatar Extend Al Udeid Air Base Operation for 10 Years
The United States has reached an agreement with Qatari officials to maintain American military presence at Al Udeid Air Base, people familiar with negotiations confirmed. The agreement grants Al Udeid, which can house over 10,000 American troops, another 10 years of operations. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III visited the site in December and thanked...
Korea Seals Agreement to Acquire More F-35As From Lockheed
South Korea has finalized a contract with Lockheed Martin to purchase 20 more F-35A fighters, adding to the 40 aircraft it acquired between 2019 and 2022. The Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration greenlit the acquisition three months after obtaining clearance from the U.S. Department of State in September, paving the way for the Asian country...
Turkish Parliamentary Commission Supports Sweden’s NATO Bid
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...
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...










