The U.S. Department of Commerce has expanded its Validated End User program to include foreign data centers, allowing for general authorization of imported designated items rather than requiring multiple individual permits for exporters. The Bureau of Industry and Security within the department said data centers seeking to be part of the VEU program must pass through an interagency review, a rigorouse process that aims to establish safeguards that prevent the diversion or misuse of U.S. technology in ways that could harm national security. “This update will contribute to the development of a trusted ecosystem for the responsible use of advanced computing and artificial intelligence,” said the BIS announcement.
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Author: Arthur McMiler (Arthur McMiler)
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Lockheed Martin Secures $3.2B FMS Contract to Supply Missiles to Japan, the Netherlands, Finland and Poland
Lockheed Martin has secured a $3.2 billion Foreign Military Sales contract from the U.S. Air Force to supply joint air-to-surface standoff missiles and long-range anti-ship missiles to Japan, the Netherlands, Finland and Poland. The company will work on the single-source contract in Orlando, Florida, with completion expected in July 2032. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida is the contracting activity, according to a U.S. Department of Defense announcement on Friday.
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AUKUS to Step Up Australian Training for Nuclear Submarine Program
Australian defense and civilian personnel will receive further nuclear reactor training in the United Kingdom in support of Canberra's nuclear-powered submarine project under the AUKUS trilateral security partnership. U.K. Defence Secretary John Healey, who issued the announcement after a meeting with his AUKUS counterparts in London on Thursday, emphasized the importance of partnerships amid increasing global threats. "Our government will stand shoulder to shoulder with our Australian and U.S. partners, with new U.K. leadership in AUKUS and a commitment to boost jobs and growth."The Potomac Officers Club will host its first-ever GovCon International Summit on Oct. 10. Join the panel discussions on international partnerships, coalition warfare and emerging technologies and how they are reshaping the defense landscape. Register today!
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Joint G7 Guidance Seeks to Foil Russian Evasion Tactics on Export Curbs
The G7 leading industrialized nations have issued a joint guidance for businesses on preventing Russian evasion of export controls and sanctions, the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security announced on Tuesday. BIS Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew Axelrod stressed that preventing Russian acquisition of components for missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles is a G7 "top priority” that cannot be achieved without industry partnership. For this reason, the guidance was issued to provide the information that companies need "to identify and respond to Russia's changing evasion tactics," he said.
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DRS Laurel Technologies to Supply Anti-Ship Missile Defense Radars to US Navy, Japan
DRS Laurel Technologies, a subsidiary of Leonardo DRS, has secured a $66 million firm-fixed-price U.S. Navy contract for the manufacture and delivery of AN/SPQ-9B anti-ship missile defense radar systems. The award includes options providing a potential total value of nearly $236 million for the supply of the radars to the U.S. Navy and Japan under...
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HII Grooms South Australian Defense Industry’s Capabilities for Nuclear Submarine Requirements
HII Nuclear Australia has launched a $684 million supplier capability uplift program to drive the development of the defense industry supply chain in South Australia, focusing on capabilities to support Canberra’s nuclear submarine initiatives. HII said in a statement on Monday that five companies have been selected to participate in the program, the initial effort...
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Lithuania Prepares to Host Northrop Grumman Ammunition Factory
The Lithuanian government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Northrop Grumman to develop, manufacture and supply medium-caliber ammunition in the Baltic country. A Northrop Grumman ammunition production project could bring significant U.S. investment to Lithuania, its Ministry of National Defence said in a statement Monday. Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said partnering with companies...
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Italy Boosts Defense Procurement Outlay to $10.38B With More F-35 Jetfighters
The Italian government has earmarked $10.38 billion of its 2024 budget of $23.3 billion for defense procurement, up 16.8 percent from 2023. According to Defense News, the budget provides $7.8 billion to acquire 15 F-35As and 10 F-35Bs, bringing Italy’s F-35 fleet to 115 aircraft. The report said the Italian Air Force will operate the...
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Austal Australia Forges Commercial Partnership With Greenroom Robotics
Austal Australia has established a strategic commercial partnership with Greenroom Robotics, advancing their previous collaboration in the completed Patrol Boat Autonomy Trial for the Royal Australian Navy. The latest partnership will extend the two companies’ cooperation to develop watercraft-based products, services and technologies geared toward crew reduction and safer operations of autonomous vessels that Austal...
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Kongsberg Expands Missile Production Capacity With New US Factory
Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace plans to build a U.S. missile production facility in James City County, Virginia, following the Norwegian company’s establishment of a similar factory in Australia. The Pennsylvania facility will be equipped to assemble, upgrade and repair Naval Strike Missile and Joint Strike Missile. It was established on Kongsberg’s expectation that it could...