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RAN MH-60R fires first Hellfire
An Australian Sikorsky MH-60R helicopter fired an AGM-114 Hellfire missile (in the form of ATM-114Q-1 training missiles) for the first time at the US Navy's Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Centre, the Australian DoD announced on 30 July. Source: Commonwealth of AustraliaIraq focuses on swift delivery of Russian weaponry
A TOS-1A multiple rocket launcher seen during a 2010 parade in Moscow. Source: Wikimedia Commons/GoodvintRussia lays keels for three nuclear subs
Russia laid the keels of a new Borey-class SSBN and two Yasen-class SSNs on 27 July. Meanwhile Borey-class boat Vladimir Monomach (pictured) completed its first set of state sea trials on 25 July. Source: SevmashUK casts doubt on Harpoon future beyond 2018
The GWS60/Harpoon system is fitted to the RN's 13 Type 23 frigates. Shown here is a High Seas Firing from HMS Argyll. Source: UK MoD
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ATK Sales Up Ahead of Spinoff, Merger
Alliant Techsystems (ATK) reported its first quarter earnings on 31 July, noting an 18% spike in sales at USD1.3 billion year over year and a 24% increase in operating profits. Much of that increase came on the back of the company's Sporting Group, which is set to be spun-off by the end of the year
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Brazilian company Flight Tech claims country's first UAV export deal
Joining an increasingly crowded field of countries vying for sales in the international unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market, São Paulo based Flight Tech (FT Sistemas) announced a deal to provide Horus FT-100 Mini-UAVs to an undisclosed African nation. The company also did not disclose the
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Curtiss-Wright reports sales uptick
Curtiss-Wright, a US aerospace and defence contractor, reported on 31 July that sales had increased 9% largely because of strong performance in the company's energy and commercial divisions. Defence sales slumped 1% for the second quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. Commercial
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Finmeccanica reports improved order book
A series of large helicopter contracts increased Finmeccanica's new order intake by 43% during the first half of the year, although the Italian defence and security group was hit by the enforcement of a half billion euro bank guarantee relating to the Indian AW101 VIP helicopter programme during the
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HDS and ATK sign ammo contracts
Hellenic Defence Systems (HDS) signed a series of contracts with ATK on 30 July to provide HDS with production support as the company restructures. The first contract with ATK concerns the co-production of 94,670 30 mm combat rounds and 14,450 30 mm training rounds for the Greek Army Aviation's 29
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Mexican Navy to invest USD125.5 million on shipyards
Ministry of the Mexican Navy (SEMAR) will be spending USD125 million to modernise its two primary shipyards at Tampico and Salina Cruz, according to locally reported government planning documents. The plan calls for the funds to be spent through the end of December 2016. The two yards are the sites
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Sands of time - China's 'salami slicing' in South China Sea
China is aiming to extend the land in the reefs it controls in the disputed Spratly Islands, building an airstrip and port, amid condemnation from the Philippines and Vietnam. James Hardy looks at the long-term consequences of Beijing's construction. -
Ramping up relief
With natural disasters projected to intensify in the Asia-Pacific region in future decades, regional militaries are required to develop capability to deal with the threat more effectively and cohesively. Jon Grevatt reports -
Briefing: Tense transitions
Transitions in East Asia's security and geopolitical landscape are introducing new challenges into longstanding competitions and increasing the range of plausible scenarios for miscalculation, escalation and crises across the Western pacific. Tate Nurkin reports
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Russia lays keels for three nuclear subs
Russia laid the keels of three new nuclear submarines to celebrate Russian Navy Day on 27 July. The boats laid down were the fifth Dolgoruky (Borey)-class (Project 955A) nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) Knyaz Oleg and the fourth and fifth Severodvinsk (Yasen)-class nuclear-powered
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RAN MH-60R fires first Hellfire
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has completed its first test firings of the AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missile from an MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopter, the Department of Defence said on 30 July. The test firings - of two ATM-114Q-1 training missiles - were conducted at the US Navy's (USN's)
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China builds listening station in Hong Kong
The existence of a People's Liberation Army (PLA) communications installation atop Hong Kong's tallest mountain - the 957 m-high peak of Tai Mo Shan - recently came to light. Construction began around 2010, with a geodesic dome first appearing in satellite imagery in 2011. The facility has been
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Analysis: The strange case of Iraq's missing uranium
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militant group made world headlines on 10 June when it rolled into Mosul, routing the security forces that were supposed to defend the city and robbed the bank of some USD400 million in gold. Now there is news that they also took other things:
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Escalating drug-related violence in Mexico's northeastern border state of Tamaulipas elevates risks of collateral injury, property damage
EVENT The Public Security Secretariat of Mexico's northeastern state of Tamaulipas issued a warning on Twitter on 29 July for the public to avoid the area of the General Bravo-Reynosa highway/Boulevard del Maestro/Avenida Mil Cumbres triangle in Reynosa, a city next to the United States border.
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Iraq focuses on swift delivery of Russian weaponry
Key Points Russian officials have said that TOS-1A rocket launchers are being delivered to Iraq under a USD1 billion arms deal The acquisition of Russian artillery and ground attack aircraft raises questions about the tactics that the Iraqi military intends to use against the Sunni areas that are
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Strong constitution - Japan looks to reset its policy on self-defence
Key Points The government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is planning to reinterpret the Constitution of Japan to allow the military to help an ally under attack. Constitutional reinterpretation is one of a number of wide-ranging changes to Japan's military and strategic posture that focus on the
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The cruellest month: July sees spike in attacks on airports
Key Points There were just 210 fatalities among the more than 3 billion passenger journeys undertaken in 2013 - but the picture for 2014 is already bleaker after the loss of two Malaysia Airlines B-777s (MH370 and MH17) plus Air Algerie AH5017, an MD-83 which crashed on 24 July en route from
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Expanded EU and US sanctions will push Russia into recession and raise retaliation risk against Western firms
Key Points The EU and US have significantly expanded their sanctions regimes against Russia, targeting state-owned banks and banning the sale of defence equipment and technologies used in the oil sector. The new sanctions are likely to have a significant impact on the Russian economy, pushing it
