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...
Category: National Security
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...
US Treasury Seeks to Enhance Foreign Investment Committee’s Compliance, Enforcement Powers
The Department of the Treasury has proposed boosting the authorities of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which reviews foreign investment in U.S. businesses for national security concerns. In a proposed rulemaking notice released on Thursday, the department said the changes would help CFIUS accomplish its national security mission while supporting the...
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...
US, Japan Universities to Advance Development of Responsible AI
The United States and Japan have announced a research partnership agreement to advance artificial intelligence capabilities. Top officials from the two countries sealed the AI teaming plan with a signing ceremony at the U.S. Department of Commerce Research Library in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. According to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, the latest collaborative effort reflects...
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...
Japan Orders Multimillion-Dollar Unmanned Ground Vehicles From Rheinmetall Canada; Pietro Mazzei Quoted
Rheinmetall will manufacture autonomous unmanned ground vehicles for Japan. The German defense company recently secured a multimillion-dollar contract from the Japanese Ministry of Defence to deliver Mission Master SP UGVs by early 2025. Japanese company Marubeni Aerospace, the program’s prime contractor, will train under and collaborate with Rheinmetall on the UGVs’ delivery and support. The...
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...
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...