Key Points Technology transfer issues remain a major sticking point for Turkey's T-Loramids air and missile defence programme Recent confusion over integration of the eventual system into NATO systems could indicate the country is pulling back from its down-selection of the Chinese HQ-9 system.

Key Points US Navy Office of Naval Research's Mission Planning Application is part of the Advanced Processing Build programme for submarines ONR hopes to demonstrate the software during a one-year demonstration on board the DDG 51 cruiser USS Mobile Bay, beginning in 2015 The US Navy (USN) Office

The United States will have to spend USD348 billion on nuclear weapons modernisation over the next 10 years if it wants to maintain a triad of nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarines, and bomber aircraft, according to a 22 January report from the Congressional Budget

Key Points Cost of living and income inequality concerns feature prominently in Israel's electoral campaign but policy prescriptions are vague. Regardless of who wins the election, the government is likely to seek increased competition in the banking and real estate sectors, although regulatory

Key Points Iraq has not asked the US-led coalition to assist the operation to clear Tikrit of Islamic State militants Iranian-backed Shia militias, rather than US-trained Iraqi Army units, make up the majority of the forces involved in the operation US officials have said the Iraqi government has

Key Points A new US policy could facilitate military UAV exports to more countries The policy is the latest in a series of efforts to "modernise and reform" US export controls for the aerospace and defence industry The Obama administration on 17 February unveiled a new policy that could

Key Points A strategic Islamist Tuareg leader and kidnap kingpin, Iyad ag Ghaly, has reportedly returned to northern Mali after an absence of almost two years. The multiplicity of actors in northern Mali makes a binding peace agreement elusive, which poses a high risk of intermittent fighting

China has announced that its defence budget will increase by 10.1 per cent to CNY886.9 billion (USD141.6 billion) for 2015. The 10.1 per cent nominal terms increase is slowest rate of growth since 2010. However, slowing inflation means that real terms growth is maintained at around 9 per cent in