Canada has pledged $76 million to a German initiative to accelerate the delivery of air defense systems to Ukraine. The move is in response to Russia’s aerial attacks targeting Ukrainian critical infrastructures such as hospitals and power plants. The contribution was announced during a bilateral meeting between Canadian Minister of National Defence Bill Blair and...
Category: General News
Airbus, Babcock to Provide Sustainment Support for France’s EC145 Helicopters
The French government has selected Airbus Helicopters and Babcock to support the Interior Ministry’s EC145 light utility aircraft fleet. Under the 12-year deal, the two companies will provide technical support, spare parts, logistics solutions, technical data management and software support to sustain the aircraft’s missions, mostly involving rescue operations, air medical transport and law enforcement....
Japanese Defense Minister Highlights Need for Anti-Drone Capability to Defeat UAS Threats
Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said his country is doubling down on anti-drone capability development efforts after a video analysis showed that a drone was used to capture footage of Japan’s defense-related activities and facilities. The footage, posted on a Chinese social media platform over a month ago, showed upgrades being made on the helicopter...
German Defense Minister Urges Washington, Berlin to Increase Defense Spending as Russia-Ukraine War Persists
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...
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...