The United Kingdom plans to build six additional warships to support Royal Marines’ special operations. According to a government press release, the new vessels will expand the number of multirole support ships developed under the Royal Navy shipbuilding program to 28, backed by increased defense spending. The MRSS units in the pipeline include Type 26...
Category: Europe
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Romania Wins US Approval to Purchase Tactical Missiles for F-16 Jets
Romania has secured approval from the United States to acquire air-to-air missiles for its F-16 fighters under a proposed foreign military sale worth $340.8 million. On Tuesday, the Department of State endorsed the eastern European country’s request to purchase 300 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II tactical missiles, 40 missile guidance units, 40 captive air training missiles...
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UK to Start Contract Bids for $1.3B Hypersonic Missile Development; James Cartlidge Quoted
The United Kingdom has announced that 90 large and small industry and academic organizations are eligible to bid for contracts to support the development of the country’s hypersonic missile capabilities. The suppliers, which were included in the Hypersonic Technologies and Capability Development Framework agreement, can compete eight lots with a $1.26 billion maximum value...
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Raytheon UK Names James Gray as Chief Executive, Managing Director
Raytheon UK has selected James Gray to succeed Jeff Lewis as chief executive and managing director. The appointment will take effect on June 1, when Lewis retires after over five years in the company, including a year as chief operating officer. Gray has been the managing director of Raytheon UK’s cyber, space and training business...
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Lithuania Accepts New Delivery of Javelin Anti-Tank Missiles From US
The Lithuanian Armed Forces has accepted a new shipment of Javelin anti-tank weapon systems from the United States. The Ministry of National Defence confirmed the approximately $16.6 million weapons delivery on Tuesday. According to Defence Minister Laurynas Kasciunas, the anti-tank missiles will bolster the Lithuanian military’s combat capacity and deterrent effect. “The United States of...
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UK Completes Flight Tests for Secure Quantum Navigation Technology
The United Kingdom demonstrated the security of advanced quantum-based navigation systems during recent commercial flight trials. Quantum technology firm Infleqtion, in partnership with BAE Systems and QinetiQ, completed the trials at the Ministry of Defence’s Boscombe Down site in England. The companies used the Tiqker optical atomic clock and an ultracold-atom-based quantum system on a...
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Redwire Bares VLEO Satellite Assembly in Belgium; Peter Cannito Quoted
Space infrastructure developer Redwire is building a very low Earth Orbit satellite at its facility in Belgium using a design it plans to develop by participating in the European Space Agency’s Skimsat VLEO mission. Called Phantom, the new spacecraft will be built for wide-ranging space missions, including intelligence and Earth science, the Jacksonville, Florida-based company...
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Canada Commits $76M to Germany’s Initiative Supporting Ukraine
Canada has pledged $76 million to a German initiative to accelerate the delivery of air defense systems to Ukraine. The move is in response to Russia’s aerial attacks targeting Ukrainian critical infrastructures such as hospitals and power plants. The contribution was announced during a bilateral meeting between Canadian Minister of National Defence Bill Blair and...
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Airbus, Babcock to Provide Sustainment Support for France’s EC145 Helicopters
The French government has selected Airbus Helicopters and Babcock to support the Interior Ministry’s EC145 light utility aircraft fleet. Under the 12-year deal, the two companies will provide technical support, spare parts, logistics solutions, technical data management and software support to sustain the aircraft’s missions, mostly involving rescue operations, air medical transport and law enforcement....
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German Defense Minister Urges Washington, Berlin to Increase Defense Spending as Russia-Ukraine War Persists
Boris Pistorius, Germany’s defense minister, has called on Berlin and Washington to increase military-related expenditure to 3 percent of each country’s gross domestic product. During a Thursday speech, Pistorius pointed out that neither the United States nor Germany has solved the challenge of producing ammunition at the pace of need. He hinted that Berlin may...