Japan has increased its defense aid program budget for fiscal year 2025 by 60 percent compared to the previous year. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba allocated $51 million under the Official Security Assistance framework to help the country’s international allies and partners acquire military technologies to enhance their national security and promote regional stability, according to...
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Category: National Security
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White House Halts Proposed Nippon Steel-USS Merger
President Joe Biden has halted Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel’s planned acquisition of U.S. Steel due to national security concerns. On Friday, the Biden administration issued an order prohibiting the proposed takeover of the American steel company. The order referenced a report from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which assessed that the...
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Israel Opens New AI, Autonomous Systems Office to Streamline R&D Efforts
Israel has inaugurated a new office focused on artificial intelligence and autonomous systems. The Israeli Ministry of Defense launched the AI and Autonomy Administration during a ceremony on Tuesday, led by its director general, Eyal Zamir, and attended by several other government and military officials. Zamir, a retired major general, has advocated for a collaboration integrating...
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US OKs Potential Sale of MK 54 Torpedoes to Saudi Arabia
The United States has approved a potential sale of MK 54 MOD 0 lightweight torpedoes to Saudi Arabia. The deal, worth an estimated $78.5 million, includes 20 torpedoes, spare parts, and engineering, training and logistical support. According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the sale aims to upgrade Saudi Arabia’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities and enhance...
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US Approves Japan’s $3.6B Plan to Acquire Advanced Medium-Range Missiles From RTX
Japan’s potential acquisition of RTX business Raytheon’s Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles and related equipment has received approval from the U.S. Department of State. In a statement released Thursday, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Tokyo’s possible $3.64 billion foreign military sale request covers the delivery of 1,200 AIM-120D-3 and AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM and up to 24...
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NATO Wants to Further Tighten Monitoring in the Baltic Sea
NATO is considering additional security measures in the Baltic Sea following recent incidents that have damaged underwater infrastructure in the region. After consulting with member states on Monday, the alliance announced that one of the proposed measures is mobilizing the Maritime Centre for Security of Critical Undersea Infrastructure, established in May, to address potential threats....
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Report: Kremlin Pursuing AI Collaboration With China, Other BRICS Members
Russian President Vladimir Putin has directed his government and Sberbank, the largest bank in Russia, to work with China on developing artificial intelligence. The directive, published on the Kremlin’s website on Wednesday, follows Putin’s announcement in December regarding Russia’s intention to collaborate with other BRICS member countries to advance AI technology, according to a Reuters...
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Austria in Talks With Italy to Acquire New Leonardo Fighter Jets
Austria has decided to purchase M-346 FA fighter jets to replace its decommissioned fleet of Saab 105 aircraft. Klaudia Tanner, the Austrian defense minister, announced the Bundesheer’s plan on Saturday to acquire 12 M-346 FA jets from Italian aircraft manufacturer Leonardo. The agreement will be structured as a government-to-government contract with Italy. The two nations are...
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Embraer’s C-390 Millennium Aircraft Lands 10th Customer
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer Defense & Security has announced a contract to sell two C-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft to an undisclosed customer. The deal expands the list of Millennium customers to 10. Under the contract terms, Embraer will reconfigure the ordered aircraft to meet the client’s specific requirements and will provide training, support services and...
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F-35A Fleet Completion Leads Australian 2024 Military Buildup
The Royal Australian Air Force has received nine new F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft, increasing its total fleet to 72. The milestone highlights the rapid capability buildup of the Australian Defense Force in 2024, the Australian Ministry of Defence said. The newly acquired aircraft will complement the RAAF’s existing fleet of EA-18G Growler and F/A-18F...