Boris Pistorius, Germany’s defense minister, has called on Berlin and Washington to increase military-related expenditure to 3 percent of each country’s gross domestic product. During a Thursday speech, Pistorius pointed out that neither the United States nor Germany has solved the challenge of producing ammunition at the pace of need. He hinted that Berlin may...
Category: General News
Poland’s First Clean Energy Training Center Opens With US Support
Poland has opened its first Clean Energy Training Center, a joint project of the Polish Ministry of Climate and the Environment and the U.S. Department of Energy, with technical support from the Tennessee-based Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Located in Warsaw, the CETC is geared as Central Europe’s hub for workforce training needed to expand nuclear...
US OKs Ukraine’s Request to Purchase HIMARS Missile Launchers
The United States has approved Ukraine’s request to purchase three High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems. The Department of State classified the proposed foreign military sale as an emergency case and waived the required congressional review for the arms deal, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The HIMARS shipment will cost around $30 million and...
Leonardo Sells Underwater Armaments Systems to Shipbuilder Fincantieri; Roberto Cingolani Quoted
Leonardo is divesting its business line responsible for making torpedos. The defense company signed a definitive agreement with Fincantieri, one of the biggest shipbuilders in Europe, for the sale of Underwater Armaments Systems for up to $447 million. In a press release, Leonardo said Fincantieri will pay a fixed amount of about $323 million for...
Report: US Plans Export Limit on AI Models as Shield Against Hostile Chinese, Russian Activities
The U.S. Department of Commerce is planning new export restrictions on proprietary artificial intelligence models for advanced systems to safeguard the technologies from hostile exploitation. Sources told Reuters on Wednesday that any new export control would likely affect China, Russia, North Korea and Iran. The plan supplements export limits already imposed on advanced AI chips...
US, Allies Release Joint Guidance for Procuring Secure, Verifiable Tech
The cybersecurity agencies of New Zealand, Australia, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom have published a joint guidance to help organizations procure secure-by-design technologies. According to the document “Choosing Secure and Verifiable Technologies,” a purchaser should assess a product and its manufacturer before buying to ensure it is within an organization’s risk tolerance....
Oracle to Hire Local Talent for Expanded R&D Capabilities in Morocco; Safra Catz Quoted
Oracle has signed an agreement with Morocco to expand its research and development capabilities in the North African country. Oracle CEO Safra Catz and Ghita Mezzour, the minister of digital transition and administration reform in Morocco, finalized the partnership on Thursday. In a statement, Catz said the collaboration will allow Oracle to tap a deep...
Sweden Looks to Strengthen Defense, Cybersecurity Partnership With US
Swedish government leaders are visiting the United States this week to strengthen trans-Atlantic cooperation on defense and cybersecurity. Carl-Oskar Bohlin, Sweden’s minister of civil defense, is scheduled to meet with representatives from the White House to discuss heightening geopolitical tensions and ongoing support for Ukraine. The delegation, including Swedish State Secretary Johan Berggren, is expected...
Australia to Invest Billions to Improve Northern Territory Bases; Pat Conroy Quoted
The Australian government will invest up to $11.83 billion over the next 10 years to upgrade military bases and defense capabilities in the Northern Territory. The investment under the 2024 Integrated Investment Program supports the latest National Defence Strategy. Pat Conroy, Australian minister for defense industry, said the government is increasing defense spending to provide...
Elbit Systems Seals $53M Deal to Supply European Customer With Turreted Mortar System
Elbit Systems said it will deliver mortar systems to an unnamed European customer under a $53 million contract award. The deal requires the Israeli firm to deliver the Crossbow unmanned turreted 120 mm soft recoil mortar systems to General Dynamics European Land Systems for installation on the client’s Pandur 6×6 APC wheeled armored vehicle. Work...