India is to deliver two Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) HSA 315B Cheetah/Cheetal utility helicopters to Afghanistan in January, regional media reported on 11 December. The new-build helicopters, which will be used for observation and reconnaissance purposes, are being supplied to the Afghan Air

Afghan National Army (ANA) artillery units are operating with a new computerised fire-control system that has been developed by Ukranian Defense Consulting (UDC). The Universal Battery Level Fire Direction System (UBLFDS) was first trialled by NATO mentor teams prior to handing over to the ANA.

Key Points A command-and-control system and testing plans are to be delineated in the contract The deal is expected to be worth USD91 million EADS subsidiary Astrium and Raytheon have signed a teaming agreement that formalises the companies' plans to compete for the roles of lead system engineers

Raytheon UK is preparing to unveil what it believes to be the "world's first" handheld tactical improvised explosive device (IED) confirm/diagnose system for dismounted soldiers and small- to medium-sized unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). The system, known as GroundEye, spins off existing

Key Points Despite numerous international declarations, no coherent multilateral counter-terrorism framework exists in South Asia, with bilateral ad hoc co-operation being the only effective mechanism. China has successfully institutionalised counter-terrorism co-operation in South Asia by signing

France has launched Operation 'Sangaris' to stabilise the chaotic Central African Republic (CAR) and secure the strategic land routes to Cameroon, Chad, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The operation, which has faced little resistance, is being conducted under the auspices of a UN

EVENT Around 300 environmentalist activists protested peacefully outside parliament buildings in the Albanian capital Tirana on 12 November. A second protest was staged at the nearby US embassy following a diplomatic request for Albania to host and dismantle Syrian chemical weapons. The Mjekes

In a series of statements released on its Twitter account on 4 December, the Sunni Islamist militant group Liwa Ahrar al-Sunna Baalbek claimed responsibility for the assassination of senior Hizbullah commander Hassan al-Laqis. He was attacked by two gunmen as he travelled home in the Hadath district

BAE Systems is to cut almost 1,800 jobs from its UK-based Maritime - Naval Ships business, and will cease shipbuilding operations at its Portsmouth facility in 2014. At the same time, the company has reached agreement with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on a series of measures to restructure its