Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles and U.K. Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps have signed a new defense and security cooperation agreement to strengthen the partnership between Canberra and London on common issues and concerns. The U.K. government said the pact was signed during the annual Australia-United Kingdom Ministerial Consultations, or AUKMIN, held Friday...
Author: Arthur McMiler (Arthur McMiler)
Bundestag OKs Germany’s Purchase of Australian-Made Rheinmetall Armored Vehicles
The Bundestag, Germany’s federal parliament, has approved Germany’s purchase of over 100 Boxer Heavy Weapon Carrier vehicles that Rheinmetall Defence Australia will build at its Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence in Queensland, Canberra announced on Thursday. Describing the procurement as the country’s “single largest defense export,” the Australian Department of Defence said the deal will...
Germany Boosts Air Defense With $1.2B Patriot Missile Systems Purchase From RTX; Tom Laliberty Quoted
RTX announced on Thursday that its subsidiary Raytheon has signed a $1.2 billion contract with Germany for the supply of Patriot air and missile defense systems to enhance the country’s air defense capabilities. The deal follows the $5.6 billion agreement that the NATO Support and Procurement Agency signed in January with COMLOG, a joint venture...
QinetiQ Demos New Uncrewed Aerial Targets in New Mexico Tests
QinetiQ has completed flight tests on the first two uncrewed aerial targets it is developing for the U.S. Department of Defense under the High Energy Laser Measurement Rattler program and a company-funded research and development project. The Rattler Supersonic Target tests were conducted at the White Sands Missile Range’s High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility...
Charles Fielden to Head QinetiQ’s Intelligence, Cyber and Information Advantage Business; Shawn Purvis Quoted
QinetiQ US has appointed Charles Fielden as executive vice president and general manager of the McLean, Virginia-based defense solutions company’s intelligence, cyber and information advantage department. Shawn Purvis, QinetiQ president and CEO and a Potomac Officers Club member and Wash 100 winner, said Fielden brings in more than 25 years of experience as an Intelligence...
US Clears $2.2B Bahrain Purchase of Abrams Main Battle Tanks
The U.S. Department of State has approved the government of Bahrain’s request to purchase Abrams main battle tanks for an estimated $2.2 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the procurement includes 50 M1A2 System Enhancement Program version 3 tanks, four M88A2 Hercules combat recovery vehicles and eight M1150 assault breacher vehicles. Other related items...
HII Secures $305M Contract to Support United States Forces Korea Intelligence Activities; Todd Gentry Quoted
McLean, Virginia-based defense company HII announced that its Mission Technologies division has booked a $305 million contract from the Defense Intelligence Agency for intelligence analysis services to support United States Forces Korea in determining enemy capabilities, threats and activities in the Korean Peninsula region. The DIA award, a recompeted with a five-year term, is an...
Rheinmetall Expands Portfolio to Autonomous Light Hybrid Vehicles With Dutch Startup Acquisition
German automotive and arms manufacturer Rheinmetall announced that its Dutch subsidiary, Rheinmetall Defence Nederland, has acquired the startup REEQ, a manufacturer of lightweight tactical vehicles, for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition expands the Rheinmetall Vehicle System Division’s portfolio to hybrid technology, with the REEQ military vehicles’ fully electric drive train drawing power from a mobile...
Croatia Expands Black Hawk Helicopter Fleet With US Funding Assistance
The United States will shoulder half of Croatia’s $500 million purchase of eight UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters that Washington approved in January. Zagreb made the announcement after it signed the procurement’s letter of acceptance on Wednesday. The remainder that Croatia will cover, which amounts to over $273.8 million, will be disbursed from 2025 to 2027,...
General Atomics to Supply Taiwan With SkyGuardian Drones in $250M Deal
The U.S. Air Force has awarded a $250 million contract to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. Inc. for the delivery of four MQ-9B SkyGuardian unmanned air vehicles, two ground control stations, spare parts and related equipment to Taiwan. The San Francisco-based GA-ASI will work at its Poway, California facility, with completion expected in August 2027. The...