The defense ministers of Sweden and Denmark signed a letter of intent in Copenhagen on Monday to extend further support to Ukraine via a donation of additional Swedish-made Combat Vehicle 90s. Sweden donated 50 CV90s to Kyiv in early 2023 and signed a preliminary agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in August for the production...
Category: Defense Security Cooperation
US Signs Defense Cooperation Agreement With Finland
The United States and Finland signed a defense cooperation agreement in Washington on Monday, a pact that U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken said would enable the two countries’ militaries “to collaborate more efficiently and more effectively.” According to the official, the DCA opens more opportunities for joint troop training and bolsters NATO’s interoperability. Under the agreement,...
US Thumbs Up Potential $1.9B Sale of Black Hawk Helicopters to Greece
The U.S. Department of State has endorsed a proposed $1.9 billion foreign military sale of UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to Greece. According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Athens’ shopping list includes 35 UH-60M Black Hawks and 80 T700-GE 701D engines. Seventy engines will be shipped installed with the helicopters while 10 units will be...
US Approves Italy’s Acquisition of M142 HIMARS Rocket Launchers for $400M
Italy is set to acquire M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems to aid in maintaining stability in Europe. The U.S. Department of State approved on Friday the possible foreign military sale of 21 HIMARS rocket launchers and related equipment valued at $400 million to the Italian Army. Lockheed Martin, as the primary contractor, will manufacture...
BAE Systems Selects AMS to Repair, Restore Ukraine’s Artillery Systems
BAE Systems has signed an agreement with AMS Integrated Solutions to provide artillery systems support within Ukraine. Under the deal, finalized in Kyiv, the partner companies will repair BAE-built artillery systems donated by the United Kingdom to the Ukrainian armed forces. The arrangement calls for AMS to use its existing maintenance facilities in Ukraine to...
US Expects Canada’s Defense Bill Update to Increase Military Spending
The United States is confident that Canada’s upcoming defense policy update will increase military spending to boost capabilities and meet its responsibilities as part of NATO. David Cohen, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, shared in a recent interview that sources from Ottawa made assurances that the policy change will address concerns among military officials over...
Military Allies Convene in Finland Symposium for Defense Against Hybrid Threats
NATO’s Counter Hybrid Support Teams gathered in Finland last week for a training session on responses to conventional and non-conventional tools that the alliance’s adversaries use to pursue their hostile objectives. According to David van Weel, NATO assistant secretary general for emerging security challenges, the NATO Hybrid Symposium discussions “focused on how to better prepare...
US Approves Proposed $59M Sale of Tactical Missiles to Japan
The Department of State has approved a proposed $59 million foreign military sale of AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II tactical missiles to Japan. According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Tokyo wants to purchase 44 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block IIs and 29 AIM-9X Sidewinder captive air training missiles. The deal also involves providing Japan with missile containers,...
NATO Increases Military Budget to $2.2B to Better Address Security Challenges
NATO has announced a 12 percent increase in its 2024 military spending, setting a budget of $2.2 billion to support defense operations across the globe. NATO member states also agreed to allocate $480.1 million for the alliance’s civil budget next year, providing for an 18.2 percent hike to cover personnel, operating costs and program expenditures...
New UK Treaty With Japan, Italy Advances Global Combat Air Programme’s Stealth Fighter Jet
The U.K. government announced on Thursday that it has signed a treaty with Japan and Italy for the Global Combat Air Programme to advance the development of a next-generation stealth jetfighter. U.K. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, along with his counterparts, Japan’s Minister Minoru Kihara and Italy’s Minister Guido Crosetto, signed the treaty in Tokyo. GCAP’s...