The Department of State has approved a proposed $59 million foreign military sale of AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II tactical missiles to Japan. According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Tokyo wants to purchase 44 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block IIs and 29 AIM-9X Sidewinder captive air training missiles. The deal also involves providing Japan with missile containers,...
NATO has announced a 12 percent increase in its 2024 military spending, setting a budget of $2.2 billion to support defense operations across the globe. NATO member states also agreed to allocate $480.1 million for the alliance’s civil budget next year, providing for an 18.2 percent hike to cover personnel, operating costs and program expenditures...
The U.K. government announced on Thursday that it has signed a treaty with Japan and Italy for the Global Combat Air Programme to advance the development of a next-generation stealth jetfighter. U.K. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, along with his counterparts, Japan’s Minister Minoru Kihara and Italy’s Minister Guido Crosetto, signed the treaty in Tokyo. GCAP’s...
L3Harris Technologies has collaborated with Voyis Imaging and Wavefront Systems to enhance the capabilities of autonomous underwater vehicles that will be delivered to the naval forces of a NATO member state. Under the partnership, L3Harris integrated a combined payload of the Voyis Recon LS and the Wavefront Solstice 3000 multiple-aperture sonar into its Iver4 900...
German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall has secured a contract to modernize Austria’s Skyguard air defense systems. The company signed the contract valued at $570 million with the Austrian defense ministry in Vienna. Klaudia Tanner, Austrian minister of defense, was present during the event. “In this flagship project, Austria is at the absolute forefront of anti-aircraft and counter-drone defense in...
GM Defense has partnered with United Kingdom-based Jankel to provide defense, government and civilian customers with enhanced mobility solutions. Under a memorandum of understanding signed by the two parties, GM and Jankel will modernize the mobility platforms of military customers in the United States, the U.K., Europe and select locations across the globe. According to...
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions against third-country actors identified to be materially supporting Russia’s war campaign in Ukraine. According to the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the action implements the Group of Seven’s decision to take down the Kremlin’s military procurement networks, including individuals and entities that are helping secure...
New Zealand is seeking stronger ties with its Five Eyes partners under its new prime minister, Christopher Luxon. The Five Eyes was established by the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to share intelligence during World War II. According to Winston Peters, foreign minister of New Zealand, the government will reinvigorate...
The United Kingdom has officially handed command of the Standing NATO Maritime Group Two to Italy. The change of command took place in Taranto, Italy, on the outgoing flagship Royal Navy HMS Duncan. Present during the event were Royal Navy Cmdr. Paul Stroude, who led SNMG2 over the past five months, and Rear Adm. Pasquale Esposito...
The Department of State has approved a possible foreign military sale of submarine training devices to the Royal Australian Navy under the AUKUS Pillar One Optimal Pathway program. Under the proposed deal, to run for nine years with a ceiling value of $2 billion, the United States will also provide personnel training, planning and nonrecurring...
