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Six percent of US Air Force C-130 fleet remains out of service due to rainbow-fitting inspections
The US Air Force is focusing on inspections of C-130H (pictured) and J-model aircraft after cracks in the rainbow fitting forced the service to ground 27% of its fleet on 7 August. Roughly 6% of the fleet remains out of service for inspections. Source: IHS Markit/Jamie HunterTADTE 2019: Taiwan’s NCSIST unveils new MALE-class UAV development
The Aeronautical Systems Research Division of Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology is pursuing a new medium-altitude long endurance UAV development. Source: IHS Markit/Kelvin WongIsraeli corvette upgraded with ALPHA radar
Lahav leads another Saar 5 with the ALPHA radar during Exercise ‘Mighty Waves’ on 7 August, followed by the French frigate. Source: Jack Guez/AFP/Getty ImagesTADTE 2019: Taiwan advances Mobile Mortar System development
The Taiwanese MND Materiel Production Center's 202nd Arsenal has incorporated a range of enhancements to its 81/120 mm Mobile Mortar System. It is expected to enter initial operational training and evaluation imminently. Source: IHS Markit/Kelvin Wong
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Australia hands over Guardian-class patrol vessel to Samoa
The Australian government has handed over a Guardian-class patrol vessel to Samoa. The boat, which has been named Nafanua II , was handed over to representatives from the Samoan government at Henderson, Western Australia on 16 August.
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MDA issues RfI for THAAD ‘Advanced Capability Development’
The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has issued a request for information (RfI) for continued development of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) globally transportable, rapidly deployable ballistic missile defence weapon system. According to a Sources Sought notification released on 11
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Rafale seen with UAV kill marking
A marking has been spotted on a French Rafale fighter indicating it has shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The Rafale, which had the UAV stencilled next to bomb markings symbolising ground attack missions it has performed, was seen in a photograph released by the French Ministry of Armed
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TADTE 2019: Taiwan’s MPC readies new low-profile RCWS for Cloud Leopard
The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense’s (MND’s) Materiel Production Center (MPC) has unveiled a new remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS) that has been specifically designed to reduce the target profile of the Republic of China Army (RoCA)’s 8×8 CM-32 Cloud Leopard
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Taiwan proposes record-high defence budget for 2020
Taiwan’s Executive Yuan has approved a national defence budget of TWD411.3 billion (USD13.1 billion) for 2020. The new budget – announced amid rising tension with mainland China – represents a 5.2% increase over defence spending in 2019. The Ministry of National Defence (MND) said
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Turkey, US making progress on Syrian ‘safe zone’
Turkey and the United States are in the process of implementing their agreement to establish a Joint Operations Centre (JOC) in Sanliurfa to co-ordinate a ‘safe zone’ along the border in northeast Syria, the Turkish Ministry of Defence (MSB) said on 16 August. The announcement
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Paris Air Show 2019: Raytheon's new Skyler radar system
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Autonomous ambition: NavyX plots a course to machine-speed warfare
Faced with the need to redress and recover a capability debt, but limited in its number of manned ship platforms, the UK Royal Navy is advancing plans to accelerate the operational exploitation of autonomous techniques and technologies as a means to increase mass, lethality, and agility. Richard Scott reports -
Kingmakers: Venezuela’s armed forces and the national crisis
With Venezuela in a deep, complex, and increasingly urgent crisis since January, aggravated by external tensions with regional neighbours and the United States, the armed forces are likely to play a central role in the country’s future. Jim Dorschner reports -
Wheels vs tracks: Reviewing AFV trends
As conflicts have evolved, the requirements for AFVs have boosted cost, weight, and mission system needs. Sam Cranny-Evans and Jon Hawkes examine Western and Russian case studies in the continued evolution of the tracks versus wheels debate
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Six percent of US Air Force C-130 fleet remains out of service due to rainbow-fitting inspections
Approximately 6% of the US Air Force’s (USAF’s) Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules medium transport/multirole aircraft fleet remains out of service as the air force continues its rainbow-fitting inspections.The USAF announced on 7 August that 123 of 450 aircraft were temporarily removed from service after atypical cracks were found on the lower centre wing joint, or rainbow fitting, during programmed depot maintenance.
Weapons Weapons
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Indian MoD approves procurement of coastal batteries armed with BrahMos missiles
India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approved the procurement of locally developed Next Generation Maritime Mobile Coastal Batteries (NGMMCBs) and software-defined radios (SDRs) for the Indian Navy (IN). The MoD’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), which is headed by Defence Minister
C4iSR & Missions Systems C4iSR & Missions Systems
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USMC to demo G/ATOR with Iron Dome
US Marine Corps (USMC) leaders are in a race to field a capability to intercept mid-range rockets and artillery, and they are set to host a demonstration integrating Northrop Grumman’s AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) with components of Rafael’s Iron Dome system. In a
CBRNE & EOD Defence CBRNE & EOD Defence
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Thales targets April 2020 delivery for MMCM demonstrators
Thales is working to complete integration, testing, and qualification of Maritime Mine Countermeasures (MMCM) demonstrator systems planned to be delivered to France and the UK in April 2020. Being jointly funded by the two nations, the MMCM programme covers the design, development, integration, and
Jane's Defence Weekly Jane's Defence Weekly
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Six percent of US Air Force C-130 fleet remains out of service due to rainbow-fitting inspections
Approximately 6% of the US Air Force’s (USAF’s) Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules medium transport/multirole aircraft fleet remains out of service as the air force continues its rainbow-fitting inspections.The USAF announced on 7 August that 123 of 450 aircraft were temporarily removed from service after atypical cracks were found on the lower centre wing joint, or rainbow fitting, during programmed depot maintenance.
Jane's International Defence Review Jane's International Defence Review
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TADTE 2019: Taiwan’s NCSIST unveils new MALE-class UAV development
Taiwan’s primary defence research and development agency has unveiled a prototype of a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at the 2019 Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition (TADTE), which is being held from 15 to 17 August. A full-scale mock-up
Jane's Navy International Jane's Navy International
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Thailand conducts ceremonial launch for second Krabi-class OPV
Key Points The Royal Thai Navy has launched its second Krabi-class offshore patrol vessel The vessel will strengthen the service’s maritime border control and marine resources protection capabilities The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) has held a ceremonial launch ceremony for its second Krabi-class
Military Capabilities Military Capabilities
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US THAAD task force returns home from Romania
The US 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command’s 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) task force began withdrawing from Romania on 9 August, following its deployment there in April 2019, the US European Command (EUCOM) announced in a press release on
CBRN Assessment CBRN Assessment
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USFK confirms North Korea’s Hwaseong-15 ICBM can target all of US mainland
United States Forces Korea (USFK) has confirmed North Korean claims that the Northeast Asian country’s Hwaseong-15 (also spelled Hwasong-15) road-mobile, intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) can strike targets anywhere in the US mainland. The weapon, which was test-fired by North Korea
Terrorism & Insurgency Terrorism & Insurgency
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Martial law extension, activation of 11th Infantry Division, to reduce risk of large-scale terrorist attacks in Mindanao
Key Points Islamist militant capability has been degraded by increased pressure from the Filipino military, and although they will mount small IED attacks against security forces and engage in small-arms firefights, they are unlikely to conduct large assaults against cities over the next six
Jane's Intelligence Review Jane's Intelligence Review
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Azerbaijan’s partial replacement of troops with border guards likely indicates de-escalatory posture towards Armenia, reducing war risks
Key Points While the Border Guards commander claims that the order reflects their high standard of combat-readiness, IHS Markit assesses that Aliyev’s move is likely based on the calculus that, after winning Armenia’s recent early general election by a landslide, Prime Minister Nikol
Industry Industry
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Australia launches defence industry skills initiative
The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) has published a strategy to support the development of defence industry skills over the coming decade and beyond. The Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Workforce Strategic Vision 2019–2030 was released on 13 August. The DoD said the
