The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control is imposing sanctions on companies and individuals based in the Middle East and East Asia for the export of American and foreign-made components to support Iran’s unmanned aerial vehicle production. In a notice published Tuesday, OFAC named Iran-based Hossein Hatefi Ardakani, Mehdi Dehghani Mohammadabadi...
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Category: National Security
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BAE Systems Selects AMS to Repair, Restore Ukraine’s Artillery Systems
BAE Systems has signed an agreement with AMS Integrated Solutions to provide artillery systems support within Ukraine. Under the deal, finalized in Kyiv, the partner companies will repair BAE-built artillery systems donated by the United Kingdom to the Ukrainian armed forces. The arrangement calls for AMS to use its existing maintenance facilities in Ukraine to...
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US Expects Canada’s Defense Bill Update to Increase Military Spending
The United States is confident that Canada’s upcoming defense policy update will increase military spending to boost capabilities and meet its responsibilities as part of NATO. David Cohen, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, shared in a recent interview that sources from Ottawa made assurances that the policy change will address concerns among military officials over...
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UAS Purchases To Sharpen New Zealand Army’s Surveillance Capabilities
The New Zealand Army will deploy uncrewed aircraft systems and remote ground sensors starting in 2024, with the country’s Ministry of Defence awarding purchase contracts for the equipment to three companies. The ministry announced on Thursday that the contracted suppliers include EPE New Zealand for backpack portable quadcopter micro UAS and remote ground systems. U.S.-based...
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NATO Increases Military Budget to $2.2B to Better Address Security Challenges
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...
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US Hands Sanctions to New Entities Supporting Russia’s War Campaign
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...
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North Korean Hackers Launch New Global Espionage Campaign, Cybersecurity Researchers Say
Cisco Talos has uncovered a new cyber hacking campaign it has named “Operation Blacksmith.” Its researchers traced the activity to the North Korean Lazarus Group, regarded as an advanced persistent threat for its malicious cyber activities. The company said the hackers target the vulnerabilities of manufacturing, agricultural and physical security enterprises around the world using...
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US Approves Potential $2B Sale of Submarine Trainers to Australia
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...
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Rheinmetall Secures New Arms Supply Contract for Ukraine
German automotive and arms manufacturer Rheinmetall Group will supply Ukraine with artillery ammunition worth about $153 million, a procurement from an unnamed NATO ally supporting Kyiv against the Russian invasion. The new contract follows a German-funded Rheinmetall deal announced in November to supply Ukraine with 32 battle tanks, driver-training tanks and armored recovery vehicles. The...
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Saab to Supply Underwater Drones to Kuwait
The U.S. Navy has awarded Sweden-based defense and aerospace company Saab a contract to supply a Double Eagle Semi-Autonomous Remotely Operated Vehicle to the Kuwait Naval Force. The SAROV order, which was processed through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program, is worth $16 million and expected to be delivered by September 2025, according to the online...