Sahara Thunder, a company identified as a front for Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, faces sanctions in the United States for facilitating the design, development, manufacture and sale of drones in support of Russia’s war in Europe. According to the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the Russian government...
Category: Middle East
UAE Receives Delivery of Fouth GlobalEye AEW&C Aircraft From Saab
The United Arab Emirates has accepted delivery of its latest GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft from Saab. The Swedish defense contractor shipped the advanced AEW&C aircraft on April 18, marking the fourth GlobalEye delivery in a span of four years. The company completed its commitment to supply the UAE’s first three AEW&C solutions...
Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan to Receive US Security, Humanitarian Assistance Under New Law
President Joe Biden has signed a bill into law providing seven federal agencies with additional funding to deliver assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The legislation also authorizes the president to transfer defense articles and services from the Department of Defense to foreign countries or international organizations and enables the implementation of sanctions against foreign...
Treasury Designates Companies, Individuals Supporting Iranian Cyberattacks on US Entities; Brian Nelson Quoted
The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has imposed sanctions on two companies and four individuals linked to Iran-backed cyber operations that targeted a dozen U.S. companies and government entities. The designated companies and individuals are Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Cyber Electronic Command front company Mehrsam Andisheh Saz Nik; IRGC-CEC-affiliated cyber...
US Expands Export Controls of Technologies to Russia, Iran Following Air Attack on Israel
The United States is expanding its list of items that require a license to be exported to Iran and Russia. On Monday, the Bureau of Industry and Security amended the Export Administration Regulations and added new items to the foreign direct product rules governing the two adversarial nations. FDP rules control the export of materials...
US Treasury Designates Entities, Individuals Involved in Iranian Drone, Missile Production
The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has designated 16 individuals and several entities for enabling Iran’s production of unmanned aerial vehicles and ballistic missiles used in a weekend attack against Israel. Companies and individuals subject to assets and trade restrictions include Oje Parvaz Mado Nafar Co. and its CEO Mohammad Sadegh...
Microsoft Invests $1.5B in Emirati Tech Company G42 to Accelerate AI Innovation in the Middle East
Microsoft is partnering with an Emirati company to develop artificial intelligence for various applications. The Redmond, Washington-based company said it will invest $1.5 billion in g42, an AI company headquartered in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft, is joining G42’s board of directors as part of the deal....
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,...
11 Companies Face US Export Restrictions for Supporting Adversarial Activities; Matthew Axelrod Quoted
The Bureau of Industry and Security has imposed export restrictions on 11 entities in China, Russia and the United Arab Emirates for acquiring U.S. products to support Chinese military modernization efforts and produce Shahed-series unmanned aerial vehicles. The organizations were added to the Department of Commerce’s Entity List, including Linkzol Technology, Xi’an Like Innovative Information...
Navy Awards $112M Super Hornet, Growler Spare Parts Order to Boeing
Naval Air Systems Command has ordered avionics parts and spares and special test equipment from Boeing for the F/A-18E/F Block III Super Hornet and E/A-18G Growler aircraft used by the United States, Kuwait and Australia. The order, worth $111.89 million, requires Boeing to provide products with long lead times and those that are no longer...