Lithuania has awarded Saab a new contract for an additional mobile short-range air defense system valued at $116 million. Lithuania placed the first $123.3 million order for the air defense system in July after delivering Bolide missiles for the Lithuanian Armed Forces Air Defence Battalion’s existing MSHORAD. Under the new deal, the Baltic state will...
Author: Brianne Monterey (Brianne Monterey)
Saab, Korea Aerospace Industries to Collaborate on Seoul’s Airborne Early Warning Program
Saab has signed a memorandum of understanding with Korea Aerospace Industries to signify its commitment to advancing South Korea's Airborne Early Warning & Control 2 program. The Stockholm-based defense company is among the vendors vying for a contract under the program and, if selected, will work with KAI on GlobalEye, an AEW&C solution offering real-time information to warfighters, improving situational awareness and enabling early detection of threats. "[The MOU] will increase critical radar technology competence and create domestic capability and self-sustainability to secure strategic independence for the Republic of Korea in the airborne surveillance segment," said Markus Borgljung, Saab Business Area Surveillance deputy head.
Australian Joint Operations Official Swaps With New Zealand Counterpart to Expand Defense Cooperation
The joint operations commands of Australia and New Zealand have swapped their top officials with New Zealand Defence Force Maj. Gen. Hugh McAslan appointed the Australian Defence Force's deputy chief of joint operations. Australian Army Brig. Michael Bassingthwaighte started a deputy commander role at Joint Forces New Zealand in July. The Australian government said Tuesday that the high-level exchange aligns with an effort to further deepen relations between the two defense forces. According to Royal Australian Navy Vice Adm. Justin Jones, Australia's chief of joint operations, McAslan's appointment is a continuation of over a century of close military collaboration both regionally and globally.
Northrop Grumman, Terma Collaborate to Advance EW, Unmanned Systems, Other Key Capabilities
Northrop Grumman and Danish aerospace company Terma have entered a memorandum of understanding to advance several key capabilities, including electronic warfare, unmanned aerial systems and the F-35 Lightning II jet. The new MOU, which follows a collaboration to produce, modernize and sustain the F-35 jets, also includes an initiative to support small to medium businesses in Denmark looking to participate in the global supply chain of U.S. government contractors. Terma Executive Vice President Steen Lynenskjold said the new agreement follows a longstanding and strong relationship between the two businesses, bringing the partnership into new areas.
Planet Labs, Brazil Renew Earth Observation Monitoring Deal to Protect Rainforests
The Federal Police of Brazil has renewed Earth data and insights provider Planet Labs' contract to continue providing daily monitoring of the country's rainforests for another 12 months. The extension, granted under the Brasil MAIS Program, will see Planet Labs work with its local partner SCCON Geospatial, providing organizations in the South American nation with continuous monitoring of 8.6 million square kilometers of Brazilian territory and marine coast areas. With satellite imagery, the Brazilian police has collected $3 billion in fines associated with illegal logging, mining and other activities affecting the Amazon forest.
US, Australia, Japan Join Exercise to Ensure Free, Open Indo-Pacific
The naval services of the United States, Australia and Japan participated in a six-day multilateral exercise last week aimed at enhancing interoperability to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific. The event saw participant ships from the three nations, including U.S. Navy's USS Dewey Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, the HMAS Stuart Anzac-class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's JS Ariake Murasame-class destroyer. A wide range of training was held throughout, including combined communication, formation sailing and replenishment-at-sea.
IBM Opens Quantum Data Center in Germany, Its First Outside US
IBM opened a quantum data center in Germany on Tuesday, the first of its kind outside the United States and the second such facility in the world. A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the launch of the new location, with several government and company leaders in attendance, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, IBM Quantum Vice President Jay...
Royal Canadian Navy Completes Forward Rearmament of Halifax-Class Frigate in Australia
The Royal Canadian Navy rearmed the missiles on the HMCS Vancouver warship while the vessel was deployed in the Indo-Pacific. The exercise was performed at the Broome Port Jetty in Western Australia, which was made possible through close coordination with the Australian Defence Force and members of the Australian Defence Industry. The ammunition was transported using a CC-177 Globemaster from the Royal Canadian Air Force. HMCS Vancouver Commanding Officer Cdr. Tyson Bergmann said the dedication and effort of the vessel's sailors will be used as an example for future endeavors.
Canadian Firm to Supply Equipment for US Navy’s OK-410 Handling and Stowage Group Systems
The U.S. Navy has awarded Canadian Commercial Corp. a $110.7 million contract to procure OK-410 Handling and Stowage Group systems, overboard fairlead assemblies and spare parts for use on anti-submarine warfare combat systems in DDG-51 class and other ship classes. CCC will help source a contractor to supply the equipment, which will be produced in Peterborough, Ontario, through September 2029. Funding will come from Foreign Military Sales funds and Navy funds from fiscal 2024 other procurement, shipbuilding and conversion funds.
US Leads International Collaboration to Advance Emerging, Agricultural Technologies
The U.S. National Science Foundation and its counterparts from India, Japan and Australia have pledged to back research efforts to advance emerging and agricultural technologies that would benefit food security in the Indo-Pacific region. They hope to support multilateral research by launching an initiative called AI-ENGAGE, short for Advancing Innovations for Empowering NextGen AGriculturE, that will accept proposals that focus on artificial intelligence, communications, robotics and sensing. According to NSF chief Sethuraman Panchanathan, the four nations expect the collaborative research opportunity to introduce new ways to use these emerging technologies to secure the world's farms in the future.