Chinese companies are boosting product research and development spending to veer away from copying foreign products. According to a Nikkei Asia report, listed companies in China spent $228 billion on R&D in 2022, a figure that has more than doubled over the last five years. These firms employ a total of 3.08 million researchers and...
Author: Arthur McMiler (Arthur McMiler)
National Intelligence Strategy Tackles US Rivalries With China
The United States’ strategic competition with China and Russia is among the key goals addressed in the National Intelligence Strategy released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on Thursday. The strategy also draws attention to the larger role the Intelligence Community must play in helping build a resilient critical infrastructure for the...
6 Defense Companies From Brazil, Saudi Arabia Eye Joint Venture
Four Brazilian and two Saudi defense companies have signed a memorandum of understanding for potential joint ventures and technology-sharing agreements during an investment forum held in Sao Paulo on Aug. 1. The Brazilian signatories are rocket and missile maker Avibras, weapons manufacturer Taurus, aircraft battery producer Ocellott and aviation specialist Avionics Services, while on the...
DSCA Opens Letters of Credit Option for US Allies
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency has broadened third-party financing options under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program by allowing partner nations the use of letters of credit in their purchases. The new Bank Letter of Credit policy follows the Credit Assured Payment Schedules term of sale codified in January providing FMS partners with a standby...
EO Empowers Treasury to Regulate US Tech Investments in China
President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday authorizing the Department of the Treasury to regulate U.S. technology investments in China and other countries of concern. The regulatory measure covers three technological sectors sensitive to national security, namely: semiconductors and microelectronics, quantum information technologies, and artificial intelligence. The EO follows extensive and thorough consultations by...
US, Iraq Commit to Security Cooperation, Regional Stability
A joint statement of the inaugural U.S.-Iraq Joint Security Cooperation Dialogue released Tuesday reaffirmed the two countries’ commitment to security cooperation and common interest in regional stability. Delegations from the Department of Defense and the Iraqi Ministry of Defense attended the dialogue in Washington, D.C. from Aug. 7 to 8. The dialogue discussed opportunities for...
Former Air Vice Marshal: Technology Funding Is Top Challenge for UK Armed Forces
Funding the technology to maintain proper munitions stockpiles outlined in the UK Defence Command Paper 2023 is the biggest challenge facing the British armed forces, Gary Waterfall, retired Royal Air Force air vice marshal, told Defense News. Deterrence before enemy threats occur, also cited in the document, has to be available at the military’s moment...
US Air Force to Further Expand Footprint in Australia
The United States has budgeted $26 million for the construction of a U.S. Air Force mission planning and operation center in Darwin, ABC News reported, citing U.S. budget filings. The facility is expected to expand American military assets in northern Australia, a growing presence seen as a proactive move against China’s military buildup. According to...
Washington Approves Finland’s Purchase of US-Israeli Missile System
The U.S. government has approved Finland’s purchase of the “David’s Sling” missile system that the United States jointly developed with Israel, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced Wednesday. The Finnish purchase is worth approximately $346.75 million, with Israel as the seller under the procurement agreement. The U.S. Missile Defense Agency and Israel’s Missile Defense Organization...
US Foreign Investment Committee Reports Record 2022 Filings
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States reviewed a total of 440 filings in 2022, compared with 436 in 2021. The Department of the Treasury, in a report it issued as CFIUS chair, said the record number of filings was based on the expanded export controls under FIRRMA, mandatory filings in some cases...