Greece’s negotiations with France are advancing on Athens’ planned purchase of an additional fourth Belharra-class frigate developed by Naval Group. Greek National Defence Minister Nikos Dendias disclosed the talks on the warship following his signing of an agreement with his visiting French counterpart, Sébastien Lecornu, on Monday to purchase 18 French Exocet missiles. Weapons Procurement...
Author: Arthur McMiler (Arthur McMiler)
Philippines to Buy Leonardo Training Helicopters Under $120M Deal
AgustaWestland Philadelphia, a U.S. subsidiary of Italian defense company Leonardo, will be the principal contractor of a potential $120 million foreign military sale of TH-73A training helicopters to the Philippines. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which notified Congress of the Department of State’s FMS approval on Tuesday, said other items covered in the FMS include...
NATO Exercise Tests Coordinated Allied Cybersecurity Response
The Czech Republic hosted a NATO exercise from April 7 to 11 to strengthen the alliance’s Virtual Cyber Incident Support Capability, or VCISC, designed as a clearing house for mutual allied assistance in cyberattacks. Government and national agencies from 20 allies participated in the exercise on coordinated action against malicious cyber activities targeting critical national...
Rocket Lab Secures Spot in UK Hypersonic Contract Vehicle
The U.K. Ministry of Defence has included Rocket Lab USA in its Hypersonic Technologies and Capability Development Framework, or HTCDF. The move allows the Long Beach, California-based company to bid for contracts and task orders in the program valued at $1.3 billion. Rocket Lab said it plans to seek projects that will deploy its launch...
Australia Launches Research on Ground-Satellite Quantum Link
Australia has unveiled a collaborative research project focusing on an optical ground-to-satellite quantum link. The Department of Defence said the Australian Army would fund the technology demonstration. Tanya Monro, head of the Defence Science and Technology Group, said the collaboration, which involves DSTG, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, and two universities, contributes to Australia’s...
Taiwan Advocates for More Realistic Combat Training Exercises
Taiwan’s latest Quadrennial Defense Review emphasizes the need for enhanced training for its military forces in preparation for a potential Chinese invasion. The initiative comes in response to opinions from U.S. observers and advisers who believe that current Taiwanese defense training is insufficient and lacks battlefield realism, Defense News reported. Rupert Hammond-Chambers, a defense and...
NATO Seeks Deeper Partnership With EU on Regional Security
Radmila Shekerinska, NATO deputy secretary general, stressed that the European Union can play a vital role in ensuring that allied forces can be rapidly deployed and their positions sustained throughout Europe. In a meeting with Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the European Union’s commissioner for sustainable transport and tourism, Shekerinska also underscored the importance of discussions with the...
Accenture Expands Into Maritime Sector Via Fincantieri JV
Global professional services company Accenture is expanding its footprint in Italy through a joint venture with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. The JV, Fincantieri Ingenium, is geared toward developing advanced digital capabilities in the cruise, naval defense and port infrastructure sectors. Initial development efforts include Navis Sapiens, a digital ecosystem for optimizing ships and onshore infrastructure operational...
Kongsberg Partners With LOTN for Slovakian F-16 Maintenance
Kongsberg Aviation Maintenance Services has partnered with the Slovakian aircraft repair company LOTN, short for Letecke opravovne Trencin, to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul services for Lockheed Martin F-16 aircraft in Trencin, Slovakia. Kongsberg said the collaboration, which will also include logistics support, aims to cover services for both new and legacy F-16. F-16 Transition...
Elbit Books $100M General Dynamics Contract for AFV Turret Systems
Elbit Systems will provide its UT30 MK2 unmanned turret systems to General Dynamics’ ASCOD armored fighting vehicles. General Dynamics European Land Systems is supplying the AFVs to an unidentified European NATO customer. The systems will be installed on the vehicles under a contract valued at about $100 million, Elbit said Wednesday. Firepower and Survivability According...