Japan is working on the basic principles and implementation road map for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s $6.7 billion, 10-year Space Strategic Fund and is expected to release the document soon, SpaceNews reported Tuesday. Japan’s cabinet approved the bill in November that created the fund to support JAXA’s development, technology demonstration and commercialization of advanced...
Category: National Security
UK Extends Armed Forces Chief’s Term to Sustain Ukraine Efforts
The United Kingdom has extended the term of Adm. Sir Tony Radakin as chief of defense staff until autumn 2025. According to a report from The Telegraph, Radakin was set to retire in November, but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak asked him to remain in his post for another year to continue his efforts in supporting...
US Sanctions Money Laundering Network Supporting Somali Militant Group al-Shabab
The United States has sanctioned a network of individuals and entities that raise and launder money for Somalia-based al-Shabaab. According to the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the al-Qaida affiliate is a militant group responsible for attacks in East Africa that have killed thousands of innocent civilians. The sanction targeted eight...
Northrop Grumman to Work With Diehl Defence to Enhance Germany’s Missile Defense Systems; Rebecca Torzone Quoted
Northrop Grumman said it will collaborate with Diehl Defence to provide Germany with advanced air and missile defense systems. The collaboration, which was formalized with the signing of a memorandum of understanding that Northrop Grumman announced on Tuesday, will enable the two companies to combine their expertise in exploring innovative solutions that would perfectly integrate...
US Approves Sale of RTX, Lockheed Martin Missiles to Poland’s Military
The United States has approved Poland’s request to purchase American-made missiles. On Tuesday, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced that the Department of State has given the green light to sell 745 AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-range Air-to-Air Missiles and 821 AGM-158B-2 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile Extended Range all-up-rounds to the government of Poland. The potential acquisition costs about $1.69 billion...
US State Department Clears $350M Helicopter Engines Sale to South Korea
The U.S. Department of State has approved a potential $350 million sale of six engines for MH-60R multi-mission helicopters, the engines’ maintenance and related items to South Korea. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered certification of the proposed sale to Congress on Friday. The DSCA said the military equipment sale will enhance the Korean MH-60R...
Ursa Space, Maiar to Deliver Enhanced Geospatial Analytics to UK Defense Customers
Ursa Space Systems and British company Maiar have joined hands to provide defense customers in the United Kingdom with enhanced geospatial and open source analytics. George Flick, vice president of U.S. government at Ursa Space, said the partnership aims to address customer demands for expedited data processing and response times. Ursa offers a platform designed...
Canada Secures Approval to Access US Military Satcom System
The U.S. Department of State has approved Canada’s request to access the Lockheed Martin-built Mobile User Objective Systems for $138 million to provide Canadian armed forces with satellite connectivity on the battlefield. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said General Dynamics is the prime contractor for the potential foreign military sale. General Dynamics, which provided the...
Lockheed Ships First F-16 Block 70 Jet Fighters for Bahrain
Lockheed Martin announced that the first ferry cell of three F-16 Block 70 jet fighters took off from Greenville, South Carolina, to Bahrain on Wednesday, making the Arab island nation the first Gulf Cooperation Council member armed with the warplane. The aircraft’s features include an active electronically scanned array fire control radar, advanced avionics, and...
Report: US Stalls AMD Bid to Supply China With AI Processor
The United States has reportedly stalled Advanced Micro Devices’ bid to sell an artificial intelligence chip with lower performance capability to China. Citing people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported that U.S. officials informed AMD that the AI processor was still classified as powerful. They advised the chipmaker to secure a license from the Department...