President Joe Biden is set to meet Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Washington to upgrade a decades-old security alliance in response to China’s growing threat in the Pacific. The two leaders are expected to unveil a plan to restructure the U.S. military command in Japan on April 10, during Kishida’s state visit in Washington. People...
Category: Defense Security Cooperation
Japan Plans to Export Future Next-Generation Fighters to Third Countries; Fumio Kishida Quoted
Japan has approved a plan to export its upcoming next-generation fighter jets to other countries. The government’s chief executive body greenlighted the proposed international arms sales on Tuesday and supported revising the country’s arms equipment and technology transfer guidelines, the Associated Press reported. The decision paves the way for Tokyo to supply partner nations and...
US, Lithuania Defense Leaders Meet to Discuss Weapons Acquisitions, Military Industry Development
Defense leaders from the United States and Lithuania have agreed to cooperate on defense industry development. Greta Monika Tuckute, Lithuania’s vice minister of national defense, met with James Hursch, director of the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency, on Thursday to discuss Vilnius’ increased defense spending. The northeastern European nation confirmed state budget guidelines last week...
US Army Partnership to Boost Canada’s Ammunition Production Capacity
The U.S. Army has inked an agreement with the Canadian Commercial Corporation to expand Canada’s domestic ammunition production capacity. Under the undefinitized contract action, the military branch will work with General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems Canada to ramp up the manufacture of 155 mm artillery rounds. CCC, Canada’s government-to-government contracting agency, said the joint...
New Defense Pact Seeks to Enhance UK-Australia Security Cooperation
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles and U.K. Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps have signed a new defense and security cooperation agreement to strengthen the partnership between Canberra and London on common issues and concerns. The U.K. government said the pact was signed during the annual Australia-United Kingdom Ministerial Consultations, or AUKMIN, held Friday...
NATO Ships Visit Stockholm After Sweden’s Accession as 32nd Alliance Member
The Standing NATO Maritime Group One has conducted its initial port visit to Stockholm following Sweden’s accession as the alliance’s 32nd member. Brig. Gen. Patrik Gardesten, deputy commander of the Royal Swedish Navy, described the event as “historical,” noting that the visit underscores Sweden’s new role in the organization. “We are ready to contribute to...
Mercury Systems, Lockheed Martin Sign Agreements to Strengthen Swiss Defense Manufacturing
Mercury Mission Systems International SA is working with Lockheed Martin to boost defense technology manufacturing in Switzerland. The companies signed two engineering development agreements, under which Mercury Systems will manufacture embedded computing technologies at its production facility in Geneva. The partnership is the direct result of the Swiss government’s purchase of F-35 Lightning II fighter jets...
BAE, ASC to Build Australia’s Fleet of Sovereign Nuclear-Powered Submarines; Charles Woodburn Quoted
BAE Systems is collaborating with ASC to deliver Australia’s sovereign nuclear-powered submarines. The Australian government selected the two companies to build a fleet of advanced attack submarines under its AUKUS security pact with the United States and the United Kingdom. Under the agreement, BAE and ASC will combine their skills, expertise and capabilities to produce...
Germany, Poland to Lead New Armored Vehicle Coalition in Support of Ukraine
Germany and Poland are activating an armored vehicle coalition to support Ukraine‘s fight against the Russian invasion. On Monday, the defense ministers of the NATO allies announced the coalition, which will officially begin operations on March 26. “This will be one of the most important coalitions to have been created. Our two countries are the...
US Clears $2.2B Bahrain Purchase of Abrams Main Battle Tanks
The U.S. Department of State has approved the government of Bahrain’s request to purchase Abrams main battle tanks for an estimated $2.2 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the procurement includes 50 M1A2 System Enhancement Program version 3 tanks, four M88A2 Hercules combat recovery vehicles and eight M1150 assault breacher vehicles. Other related items...