The U.S. Department of State has approved two potential foreign military sales to Israel, amounting to over $7.4 billion. The first sale, valued at $6.75 billion, includes munitions, guidance kits, fuzes and related equipment. The second sale involves AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and equipment worth $660 million. The larger sale includes 2,166 GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs, 2,800...
Category: Middle East
Thales Alenia Space to Develop Emirates Airlock Module for Lunar Gateway
Thales Alenia Space has signed a contract with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre to design and develop the Emirates Crew and Science Airlock Module for the upcoming Lunar Gateway cislunar space station. Signed in Abu Dhabi, the agreement is expected to strengthen the United Arab Emirates’ space program and scientific and engineering communities. According...
Riyadh Wooing Defense Companies With Incentives, Saudi Official Says
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Military Industries has invited defense companies to explore business opportunities in Saudi Arabia. GAMI Governor Ahmad Abdulaziz bin Al-Ohali, addressing participants at a recent defense and aerospace conference in Antalya, said the agency has partnered with industry stakeholders to create investment incentives for companies serving local and international defense markets....
Leonardo Expands Agreement With Saudi Arabia to Advance Aerospace, Defense Tech
Italian defense company Leonardo has signed a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Arabia, expanding a collaborative agreement to advance aerospace and defense technologies. The agreement was sealed during bilateral meetings between Italy and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Sunday. Under the latest MOU, Leonardo will work with domestic businesses and other organizations in the...
Official: US Navy Working on Anti-Drone Laser System
The U.S. Navy is currently testing a new shipborne directed laser energy weapon, Vice Adm. George Wikoff, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, Fifth Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces, disclosed at the recent Manama Air Power Symposium in Bahrain. Wikoff refrained from providing specifics about the ship and the laser system but mentioned that...
GM Defense to Supply Armored Vehicles to Qatar Military
GM Defense is set to supply the Qatar Armed Forces and Special Forces Command with its next-generation Suburban Shield armored vehicles. Built on the foundation of General Motors’ commercial trucks and sport utility vehicles, the Suburban Shield serves as an armored protected mobility solution tailored for diplomatic security and VIP transport. The manufacturer said the vehicle incorporates...
Liberty Defense to Showcase AI-Powered Threat Detector in the Middle East
Liberty Defense, a company specializing in artificial intelligence-powered security detection technologies, is preparing to showcase its HEXWAVE scanner to a U.S. allied nation in the Middle East. The trial, co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Irregular Warfare Support Technical Directorate, aims to evaluate the system’s effectiveness in detecting explosive threats. Bill Frain, the CEO...
Elbit Systems Secures German Order for PULS Rocket Artillery Launchers
Germany’s federal parliament, the Bundestag, has approved approximately $68 million to purchase five rocket artillery launchers from Israel’s Elbit Systems. The military selected the equipment, known as PULS, short for Precise and Universal Launching System, over a competing proposal from Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall, Defense News reported. A Federal Ministry of Defence spokesperson said that...
Israel Opens New AI, Autonomous Systems Office to Streamline R&D Efforts
Israel has inaugurated a new office focused on artificial intelligence and autonomous systems. The Israeli Ministry of Defense launched the AI and Autonomy Administration during a ceremony on Tuesday, led by its director general, Eyal Zamir, and attended by several other government and military officials. Zamir, a retired major general, has advocated for a collaboration integrating...
US OKs Potential Sale of MK 54 Torpedoes to Saudi Arabia
The United States has approved a potential sale of MK 54 MOD 0 lightweight torpedoes to Saudi Arabia. The deal, worth an estimated $78.5 million, includes 20 torpedoes, spare parts, and engineering, training and logistical support. According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the sale aims to upgrade Saudi Arabia’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities and enhance...