The U.K. Ministry of Defence has appointed Jacobs as a strategic environmental and technical adviser to help redevelop surplus military land for community use. The initiative is part of the Defence Estate Optimisation portfolio, a $6.5 billion government program to modernize and make defense infrastructure more sustainable. As a consultant, Jacobs will provide environmental and...
Author: Xavier Dolan (Xavier Dolan)
US Approves Possible $105M Sale of Military Air Traffic Radars to Poland
The U.S. Department of State has greenlit a potential sale of mobile ground control approach systems to Poland worth an estimated $105 million. Poland seeks to purchase GCA systems with UHF radios, interrogators, test equipment, navigation tools, spare parts and technical documents. Training and other logistical and program support are also part of the package....
Australia’s Defence Intelligence Group Turns to Industry to Manage Data Surge
Australia needs industry support to design, develop and sustain capabilities to manage the anticipated surge in intelligence data over the next decade, according to Maj. Gen. Brett Mousley, head of intelligence capability for Defence Australia’s Defence Intelligence Group. At a DIG briefing held at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra, Mousley highlighted the need...
Report: China Used Meta’s Open-Source AI Model to Develop Military Chatbot
Researchers from three Chinese institutions, including two linked to the People’s Liberation Army’s Academy of Military Science, have developed an artificial intelligence tool for the military called ChatBIT using Meta’s open-source LLaMA large language model, Reuters reported. According to the report, an academic paper published in June details how the researchers used an earlier version...
Australia Taps Thales as Strategic Partner for Ammunition Production
The Australian government has selected Thales Australia as one of its strategic partners under the newly published Australian Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Plan. As a key collaborator, the company will help boost the country’s defense capabilities, particularly in enhancing Defence Australia’s GWEO stockpile, strengthening domestic munition manufacturing and supply chain, and speeding up the...
Saab to Support British Army’s Oman Training Operations
The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense and Saab have signed a contract modification worth $26 million to support the British Army’s training operations in Oman. The new agreement expands on a $72 million instrumented live training contract signed in April. The three-year contract seeks to provide the army with live simulation systems support across its...
LightPath Technologies Secures European Defense Contract for Infrared Lens Assemblies
Optics and imaging systems provider LightPath Technologies has secured a follow-on order and letter of intent from a European defense customer seeking infrared lens assemblies for first-person-view drone applications. President and CEO Sam Rubin emphasized the significance of the deal, saying it validates the company’s efforts to obtain a European Defense license and expand its...
AUKUS Nations Conduct First ‘Maritime Big Play’ Exercise
Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States recently participated in the inaugural Maritime Big Play exercise, a series of experiments and demonstrations focused on enhancing the capabilities and interoperability of uncrewed maritime systems. According to Madeline Mortelmans, U.S. acting assistant secretary of defense for strategy, plans and capabilities, the Maritime Big Play exercise has...
Norway to Work With Raytheon, Kongsberg on New NASAMS Radar
The Norwegian Ministry of Defence has partnered with RTX company Raytheon and Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace to develop a new radar for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System. The new sensor will reportedly be based on Raytheon’s GhostEye family of radars with an increased range. “We can’t provide performance specifics, but the radar’s capabilities will...
New Zealand’s NH90 Helicopters to Receive Navigation, Communication Upgrades
The New Zealand Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with NATO Helicopter Industries to provide software and hardware upgrades for its NH90 helicopter fleet. NHI is a partnership between Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo Helicopters and Fokker Aerostructures. According to the ministry, the project will focus on equipping the helicopters with new navigation systems to meet...