The United States government is awarding up to $6.4 billion in direct funding to Samsung. On Monday, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo visited the company’s new semiconductor manufacturing facility in Taylor, Texas, where she announced the investment. “We’re saying for the first time ever, Samsung can conduct in the United States of America core...
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Category: Geopolitical Issues
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Iraq Secures US Approval for Proposed $140M Aircraft Contractor Logistics Support
The United States has approved the Iraqi government’s request for aircraft contractor logistics support worth $140 million. Under the proposed foreign military sale, Baghdad will receive aircraft sustainment services for its C-172 and AC/RC-208 fleet. The requirements include technical and proficiency training for Iraqi maintainers and aircrews, spare and repair components, engineering and technical services,...
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China Announces New Round of Sanctions on US Companies Over Arms Sales Deal With Taiwan
China has sanctioned U.S. companies General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. and General Dynamics Land Systems over arms deals with Taiwan, which it considers a breakaway province. The economic action bans senior executives from both defense technology providers from entering China and freezes access to company assets in the country. General Dynamics operates Gulfstream and jet...
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Saudi Arabia Looks to Improve Surveillance Capability With $101M Proposed FMS
The United States has cleared a potential $101.1 million sale of multifunctional information distribution systems to Saudi Arabia. The Department of State approved Wednesday Riyadh’s latest request to purchase 50 MIDS-low volume terminal Block Upgrade 2 terminals and 100 MIDS-LVT BU2 retrofit kits. According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the new order will be...
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NATO Adopts New Force Augmentation Concept Offering More Flexibility to Allies
NATO’s North Atlantic Council has approved a new framework providing more flexibility for partner nations to augment the alliance’s forces. The concept, dubbed Partners Augmentation Forces to NATO, was announced at the opening of the Military Strategic Partnership Conference scheduled from April 8 to 12 in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, National Defense Magazine reported Tuesday. NATO’s Allied...
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RTX, ProjectXYZ Named as Prime Contractors for US-Ukraine HAWK Deal
RTX and ProjectXYZ are the principal contractors for the potential $138 million sale of sustainment-related articles and services to Ukraine for the HAWK Phase III Missile System. According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the Department of State has approved Kyiv’s request to procure HAWK sustainment support. Requested products and services include engineering and integration...
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Poland Strengthening Military’s Drone Capabilities Based on Learnings From Ukraine-Russia War
Poland is incorporating lessons learned from the war between Ukraine and Russia into its military by strengthening drone capabilities. Warsaw plans to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles at every level of its armed forces, including at the smallest formations of soldiers. In a statement to Defense News, a spokesperson for the National Ministry of Defense said...
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Norway Responds to ‘Deteriorating’ Security Environment With Increased Defense Spending Plan
Norway wants to increase defense spending in preparation for a potential conflict with Russia. “As our security environment is deteriorating, we need to spend more on and pay more attention to defense and preparedness,” said Trygve Slagsvold Vedum, the country’s minister of finance. Under the Norwegian government’s long-term defense plan, about $60 billion will be invested over...
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US Sanctions UAE-Based Shipper Oceanlink Maritime Over Ties With Iran
The United States has issued a new round of sanctions targeting an organization involved in shipping commodities on behalf of Iran‘s General Staff of the Armed Forces and Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics. According to a press release, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control is blocking the use of 13...
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US Turns Over First ISR-Capable Beechcraft King Air 350ER to Canadian Government
The United States has delivered the first of three Beechcraft King Air 350ER aircraft to Canada for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations. The Army Program Executive Office’s Aviation Fixed Wing Project Office turned over the ISR platform on Feb. 22 at L3Harris Technologies’ facility in Greenville, Texas. L3Harris won the contract in November 2020 to...