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...
Category: Geopolitical Issues
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...
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...
Lockheed Martin Conducts Spy-7 Radar Live Track Test for Japan’s Aegis-Equipped Ships
Lockheed Martin detected space objects using its AN/Spy-7(v)1 radar for Aegis system-equipped vessels during the technology’s first live track demonstration. From the company’s facility in Moorestown, New Jersey, the solid-state radar transmitted data to Amazon Web Services for processing. “The Spy-7 radar product line uses technology from the long-range discrimination radar program to enhance overall strength against evolving threats,” said Chandra...
Italian Navy Replaces US as Head of International Red Sea Task Force
The Italian Navy has assumed command of Combined Task Force 153, taking over from the U.S. Navy. Italy’s Capt. Roberto Messina formally replaced his American counterpart, Capt. David Cole, during a change of command ceremony at the Combined Maritime Forces headquarters in Manama, Bahrain, on Wednesday. In his address at the event, Messina said he...
Australia Defense Export Catalog Highlights Increasing Business Participation in 2024
Canberra has published the 2024 Australian Defence Export Catalogue, listing more businesses that deliver defense services and capabilities to foreign customers, an increase of 20 percent from the previous iteration. According to Defence Australia, the business growth reflected in the catalog highlights the federal government’s commitment to helping local defense companies access the international market...
US, 4 Other Countries to Lead Work on Global Military AI Guardrails
The United States, Canada, Portugal, Bahrain and Austria will spearhead a one-year program to seek new safety standards for military use of artificial intelligence and automated systems. Breaking Defense reported that the countries were chosen during the inaugural plenary meeting of delegates from 46 out of the 53 countries that endorsed the U.S. Political Declaration...
US, Japan Conduct Joint Exercise on Shipboard Cruise Missile Operations
The U.S. Navy and the Japan Self-Defense Force have conducted tomahawk land attack missile training aboard the USS McCampbell destroyer and a naval facility in Yokosuka, Japan. The Surface Combat Systems Training Command hosted the JSDF for the four-day exercise that trained Japanese naval officers to coordinate shipboard cruise missile operations. The event provided a...
Denmark to Sell 24 F-16 Fighter Jets to Argentina
Denmark has agreed to sell 24 Lockheed Martin-made F-16 fighters to Argentina. The two countries signed a letter of intent on March 26 in Buenos Aires, with Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen and Argentine Defence Minister Luis Alfonso Petri representing their respective sides. In a statement, Lund Poulsen confirmed the “possible sale,” noting that...
Royal Air Force Unveils Autonomous Collaborative Platforms Strategy
The U.K. Royal Air Force has released a new strategy aiming to speed up the adoption of disposable, attritable and survivable autonomous collaborative platforms. One goal of the RAF Autonomous Collaborative Platforms strategy is to integrate the three ACP tiers into the service’s force structure by 2030 and deploy them along with crewed platforms as...