The United Kingdom has appointed Stephen Lovegrove as an adviser to the government, focusing on the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the U.K., and the United States. As AUKUS adviser, Lovegrove will work with partners from the three countries and help the British government harness the partnership’s defense and economic benefits. By the end of...
Category: Defense Security Cooperation
US Approves Netherlands’ $305M Helicopter Training FMS
The Dutch government has secured the U.S. Department of State’s approval of its $305 million foreign military sale request for CH-47 and AH-64 helicopter training and related equipment. According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the proposed sale will enable the Netherlands to maintain CH-47 and AH-64 training activities at Fort Cavazos in Texas. The...
NATO Agency Taps Planet Labs for Space-Based Surveillance Support
The NATO Communications and Information Agency has awarded Planet Labs a contract to access its SkySat satellite data. The San Francisco, California-based company will supply the data to the Alliance Persistent Surveillance from Space program supporting NATO missions. According to a Planet statement issued on Monday, the imagery that the company will provide will enable...
SKorea’s $3.5B Plan to Buy Apache Helicopters Gets All-Clear From US State Department
The South Korean government has received U.S. approval over its plans to acquire 36 AH-64E Apache helicopters and related support services from Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The AH-64E, Boeing’s latest iteration of the Apache, incorporates a network-centric, fully integrated weapon system and improved sensors, software and weapon performance. According to a notification from the Defense...
UK Awards 7 Research Contracts to Improve Nuclear Decommissioning Work
The United Kingdom’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has awarded $39 million in grants to develop new, safe and cost-effective nuclear decommissioning techniques. Seven consortiums who received the funding are studying three areas: supporting the academic research community to improve skills in the nuclear decommissioning sector, promoting research in radioactive waste management and decommissioning techniques, and igniting...
US, Ukraine Discuss Potential Cyber Collaboration in 2024 Dialogue
United States and Ukrainian officials met in Kyiv last week for the sixth round of the U.S.-Ukraine Cyber Dialogue to discuss threats affecting both nations and potential collaboration opportunities. The topics covered during the Aug. 14 dialogue included ways to improve policy on sanctions, cybercrime and cyber diplomacy, elevate cybersecurity and communication technology, and create...
Vessel Maintenance Training Underway at HMAS Stirling to Support Australia’s Nuclear Submarine Program
USS Emory S. Land, a U.S. Navy submarine tender with a mixed crew of American and Australian sailors, docked at the HMAS Stirling naval base south of Perth on Friday for a training exercise to support the host country’s nuclear submarine development program. The joint activity, called a Submarine Tendered Maintenance Period, is one of...
UK Launches First Satellite Under MoD’s Space-Based ISR Program
The United Kingdom Space Command launched Tyche, its first-ever dedicated Earth-imaging satellite, on Friday to gather intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data. The satellite, which will provide daytime images and videos of the Earth’s surface, forms part of the Ministry of Defence’s 10-year multibillion-dollar ISTARI program to improve the country’s space-based ISR capabilities. Tyche, manufactured by Surrey...
Germany’s PAC-3 MSE Acquisition Receives US State Department Approval
The U.S. Department of State has approved Germany’s planned acquisition of 600 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement missiles from Lockheed Martin. Lockheed’s PAC-3 missile portfolio addresses a wide range of threats using direct body-to-body contact, which delivers exponentially more kinetic energy to achieve greater fragmentation. PAC-3 MSE builds on the PAC-3 Cost Reduction Initiative...
US, Indonesia Build Naval Interoperability to Address Indo-Pacific Security Challenges
The Indonesian Navy and a U.S. Naval Special Warfare unit participated in a combined training exercise to improve bilateral relations, strengthen defense capabilities and promote interoperability in the Indo-Pacific region. The activity, which took place from July 1 to 26, included maritime tactics, close-quarters combat, sniper shooting, tactical combat casualty care, evacuation procedures and mission...