01 December 2020
by Rory McKittrick
Austrian Minister of the Interior Karl Nehammer on 4 November announced plans to reform the national domestic intelligence service, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counterterrorism (Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz und Terrorismusbekämpfung: BVT), in response to the terrorist attack in Vienna on 2 November that killed four people.
Following the attack, Nehammer highlighted intelligence failures, indicating that the perpetrator – Kujtim Fejzulai – had been identified by the BVT before the attack. BVT director Erich Zwettler voluntarily resigned on 6 November following reports that the Slovakian and German intelligence agencies had provided actionable information on the assailant in July. Austrian media outlet Falter also reported on 10 November that the BVT was overburdened and understaffed, with approximately one-quarter of positions in the counter-terrorism department vacant before the incident.
Police officers on 3 November guard the scene of the small-arms terrorist attack on 2 November 2020 in Vienna, Austria. Substantial reforms of the intelligence services have been proposed to address failures exposed by the attack. (Thomas Kronsteiner/Getty Images)
28 March 2024
by Jon Grevatt
New Australian legislation aims to support defence trade between partners working on the AUKUS submarine. A visual concept of the submarine is pictured above. (BAE Systems)
Australia's parliament passed legislation on 27 March that will support the country's AUKUS partnership with the United Kingdom and United States but toughen rules on the transfer of technologies to other foreign countries.
The Department of Defence (DoD) in Canberra said the new Defence Trade Controls Amendment Act 2024 (DTC Act) will enhance the protection of “Australian technology and information as well as that of key partners”.
It added that the law will “fast-track the delivery of high-end capabilities to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) by streamlining trade and collaboration with our AUKUS partners, maintaining Australia's capability edge”.
The cornerstone of the legislation, which amends the existing Defence Trade Controls Act 2012, is the easing of red tape in defence trade between AUKUS partners by supporting the establishment of a “licence-free environment for Australian industry”, the DoD said.
26 March 2024
by Gareth Jennings
Saab has been contracted to deliver its Arexis electronic suite for the Luftwaffe's Eurofighter EK aircraft, a mock-up of which was displayed at the ILA Berlin Air Show in 2022 (pictured). (Janes/Gareth Jennings)
Airbus Defence and Space (DS) has contracted Saab to deliver its Arexis electronic warfare (EW) suite for the Luftwaffe's Eurofighter Elektronischer Kampf (EK) requirement, the Swedish company announced on 26 March.
The award came about nine months after Saab was selected in June 2023 by the Luftwaffe, along with its German partner for the Helsing project, to provide the Arexis suite for 15 of the service's existing Eurofighter Tranche 2/3/4 combat aircraft to provide them with an initial electronic attack (EA) capability. As the prime contractor for the Eurofighter EK programme, Airbus DS will integrate the suite.
Saab first told Janes
22 March 2024
by Meredith Roaten
Military Sealift Command Bob Hope-class large, medium speed roll-on/roll-off ship USNS Benavidez (T-AKR 306) (pictured) is supporting the Pentagon's mission to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza in the coming months. (US Navy)
A US Navy's large, medium speed roll-on, roll-off ship (LMSR) has been deployed in support of the US Army's joint logistics over-the-shore (JLOTS) operation to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza, according to a navy announcement on 21 March.
Bob Hope-class MV Roy P Benavidez (T-AKR 306) departed from Newport News, Virginia, on 21 March to meet up with the army's 7th Transportation Brigade, which is “on plan” to build a floating pier to transport aid within a 60-day timeline, a navy official told reporters on 20 March. The collaboration with the navy is a “routine” operation with the army, and the service is bringing lessons learned from the most recent international exercise in 2023, including how the command-and-control (C2) structure will work.
MV Roy P Benavidez
Austrian Minister of the Interior Karl Nehammer on 4 November announced plans to reform the national...
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