The U.S. Navy’s Mine Countermeasures Squadron 7, or MCMRON 7, joined its South Korean counterpart in a 10-day mine detection and neutralization exercise that ended Wednesday. The Republic of Korea Navy deployed its Mine Squadron 52 in the collaborative naval defense effort called the Korea Spring Exercise held off the southeast Korean coast. The drills...
Category: Defense Security Cooperation
Think Tank Urges Rethink of Australian Defense Strategy Amid Shifting Dynamics With Key Ally, the US
A new report from the think tank Strategic Analysis Australia examines how Australia must reassess its defense policies due to an increasingly demanding United States, a key ally. Titled “Defence 2025: Dollars and Decisions,” the five-chapter report, released Thursday, analyzes Canberra’s $38 billion annual defense budget. It begins by questioning how Australia can operate strategically...
Greece Eyes Fourth Frigate From France After Missile Purchase
Greece’s negotiations with France are advancing on Athens’ planned purchase of an additional fourth Belharra-class frigate developed by Naval Group. Greek National Defence Minister Nikos Dendias disclosed the talks on the warship following his signing of an agreement with his visiting French counterpart, Sébastien Lecornu, on Monday to purchase 18 French Exocet missiles. Weapons Procurement...
Philippines to Buy Leonardo Training Helicopters Under $120M Deal
AgustaWestland Philadelphia, a U.S. subsidiary of Italian defense company Leonardo, will be the principal contractor of a potential $120 million foreign military sale of TH-73A training helicopters to the Philippines. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which notified Congress of the Department of State’s FMS approval on Tuesday, said other items covered in the FMS include...
NATO Exercise Tests Coordinated Allied Cybersecurity Response
The Czech Republic hosted a NATO exercise from April 7 to 11 to strengthen the alliance’s Virtual Cyber Incident Support Capability, or VCISC, designed as a clearing house for mutual allied assistance in cyberattacks. Government and national agencies from 20 allies participated in the exercise on coordinated action against malicious cyber activities targeting critical national...
Space Threat Information Provider Expands Monitoring Capabilities With UK Hub
The Colorado-based nonprofit Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center has expanded its space threat monitoring capabilities with the launch of its UK Global Hub. Space ISAC Executive Director Erin Miller said the UK Global Hub “reinforces our commitment to protecting space assets worldwide and ensures that our members benefit from real-time information sharing, no matter...
Ukraine Deploys Lithuania-Funded Precision Weapons
The Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence has announced the delivery of advanced Ukrainian-made long-range precision weapons to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The ministry said the weapons, funded through an $11 million bilateral agreement signed in December, are already operational on the frontlines. Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė reaffirmed her country’s commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty....
Israel to Acquire Additional Eitan Engines in Potential $180M Deal With US
The U.S. Department of State has approved a potential $180 million foreign military sale of Eitan powerpack engines to Israel. According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the new possible deal expands on a previously approved $85.5 million agreement that fell below the congressional reporting threshold. On top of additional Eitan 8V199TE21-D powerpack engines and...
Taiwan Advocates for More Realistic Combat Training Exercises
Taiwan’s latest Quadrennial Defense Review emphasizes the need for enhanced training for its military forces in preparation for a potential Chinese invasion. The initiative comes in response to opinions from U.S. observers and advisers who believe that current Taiwanese defense training is insufficient and lacks battlefield realism, Defense News reported. Rupert Hammond-Chambers, a defense and...
NATO Seeks Deeper Partnership With EU on Regional Security
Radmila Shekerinska, NATO deputy secretary general, stressed that the European Union can play a vital role in ensuring that allied forces can be rapidly deployed and their positions sustained throughout Europe. In a meeting with Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the European Union’s commissioner for sustainable transport and tourism, Shekerinska also underscored the importance of discussions with the...