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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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Afghan military units continue to struggle with key logistics efforts
The Afghan National Army (ANA) and contractor Textron are struggling to maintain M1117 Armoured Security Vehicles for the army's Mobile Strike Force (MSF), highlighting deeper logistics and training issues that officials have long warned could plague the nascent force. A 29 July report from the US
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Airbus plans to divest Dassault Aviation stake
Airbus Group has confirmed that it is actively looking to divest its 46% holding in French aerospace firm Dassault Aviation. Confirmation that it "continues to pursue disposal options for its investment" came in Airbus' half year results statement on 30 July. Airbus (formerly EADS) holds
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BAE Systems announced SIG acquisition and lacklustre first half results
BAE Systems has announced an agreement to acquire US firm Signal Innovations Group (SIG); the UK organisation's first US acquisition since 2011. SIG - which is destined for inclusion in the Intelligence and Security wing of BAE Systems Inc - provides imaging technologies and analytics to US
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Brazil adds BAE Systems' RG32M to VBMT-LR competition
The Brazilian Army has begun evaluating BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa's RG32M LTV (Light Tactical Vehicle) 4x4. The army's Evaluations Center (CAEx) is studying the vehicle as part of the VBMT-LR (Viatura Blindada Multitarefa-Leve de Rodas) competition. The VBMT-LR programme will buy an
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CARAT Singapore 2014 highlights greater interoperability between Singapore and US navies
Key Points The Singapore phase of the 20th 'Co-operation Afloat Readiness and Training' exercise will feature a combined torpedo firing exercise between the Republic of Singapore Navy and the US Navy The complexity of this exercise highlights the high level of interoperability and confidence
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Clean slate? Decommissioning chemical weapons in Syria
Key Points Syria's declared chemical weapons arsenal has been removed from the country, although there is growing evidence that Damascus has violated its new international commitments. Toxic industrial chemicals are reportedly still being used systematically in the country's civil war, as weak
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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.
Military Capabilities Military Capabilities
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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
