The United States and Finland signed a defense cooperation agreement in Washington on Monday, a pact that U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken said would enable the two countries’ militaries “to collaborate more efficiently and more effectively.” According to the official, the DCA opens more opportunities for joint troop training and bolsters NATO’s interoperability. Under the agreement,...
The New Zealand Army will deploy uncrewed aircraft systems and remote ground sensors starting in 2024, with the country’s Ministry of Defence awarding purchase contracts for the equipment to three companies. The ministry announced on Thursday that the contracted suppliers include EPE New Zealand for backpack portable quadcopter micro UAS and remote ground systems. U.S.-based...
NATO’s Counter Hybrid Support Teams gathered in Finland last week for a training session on responses to conventional and non-conventional tools that the alliance’s adversaries use to pursue their hostile objectives. According to David van Weel, NATO assistant secretary general for emerging security challenges, the NATO Hybrid Symposium discussions “focused on how to better prepare...
Italian defense firm Leonardo and the French-German KNDS Group have signed an agreement for the joint implementation of Italy’s main battle tank procurement program patterned after the Leopard 2A8. Under the partnership, the two companies will collaborate on the MBT’s development, manufacturing and maintenance, including support platforms. The Leonardo-KNDS alliance also seeks to open additional...
BAE Systems Australia said on Thursday that weeklong tests of its laser scanning solution to form 3D models of pipe components of Hunter-class frigates indicated that the technology can help streamline the development of the Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac class replacement. The Hunter warships are set to be built by ASC Shipbuilding at the Osborne...
The U.K. government announced on Thursday that it has signed a treaty with Japan and Italy for the Global Combat Air Programme to advance the development of a next-generation stealth jetfighter. U.K. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, along with his counterparts, Japan’s Minister Minoru Kihara and Italy’s Minister Guido Crosetto, signed the treaty in Tokyo. GCAP’s...
The UK Space Agency has awarded Raytheon NORSS, RTX’s U.K. unit, a contract for the supply of data on space objects in low-Earth orbit. Raytheon NORSS will work on the contract using its Low-Earth Orbit Camera Installation’s ground-based sensors for routine data collection on LEO objects, such as space debris, commercial satellites and defense systems. ...
The U.S. Department of State has approved the planned sale of Javelin missiles worth an estimated $80 million to Romania. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress on Tuesday about the possible foreign military sale, with Raytheon and Lockheed Martin as the prime contractor. Romania’s purchase order includes 263 Javelin FGM-148F missiles and 26 Javelin...
Cisco Talos has uncovered a new cyber hacking campaign it has named “Operation Blacksmith.” Its researchers traced the activity to the North Korean Lazarus Group, regarded as an advanced persistent threat for its malicious cyber activities. The company said the hackers target the vulnerabilities of manufacturing, agricultural and physical security enterprises around the world using...
German automotive and arms manufacturer Rheinmetall Group will supply Ukraine with artillery ammunition worth about $153 million, a procurement from an unnamed NATO ally supporting Kyiv against the Russian invasion. The new contract follows a German-funded Rheinmetall deal announced in November to supply Ukraine with 32 battle tanks, driver-training tanks and armored recovery vehicles. The...
