The Standard Missile (SM)-3 Block IIA missile, pictured above launching from the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii, is jointly developed by the US and Japan. The MDA said the GPI joint development will be pursued in a construct similar to that used for the SM-3. (US MDA)

Japan and the US have firmed up their co-operation to jointly develop a Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI).

According to the Japan Ministry of Defense (MoD), the two countries signed a partnership agreement on 15 May to promote collaboration on research and development of the GPI.

The development of the GPI will be initiated in 2024 and it is scheduled to be completed in the 2030s, the MoD said. The GPI is envisaged to improve Japan's integrated air and missile defence (IAMD) capabilities, and deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-US alliance, the MoD added.

The MoD said it will work “closely with the US Department of Defense to ensure the success of this joint development, and will strive to strengthen the alliance through joint development”.

Guyana recently took delivery of Metal Shark 115 Defiant patrol boat. (Metal Shark)

Metal Shark is augmenting its footprint in the Caribbean with a recent boat-building contract with Jamaica, and a delivery of a patrol boat to Guyana.

The Louisiana-based shipyard will be building and maintaining 22 Metal Shark 36 Fearless speedboats for the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), according to a recent contract between the yard and the JDF, Metal Shark confirmed on 2 May.

The Fearless vessels, acquired via direct purchase, will be operated by the JDF Coast Guard, the shipyard said. The Fearless has a length of 11 m, a max speed of 55 kt, and comes equipped with a Furuno navigation package with radar, a FLIR thermal imaging camera, and Ullman shock-mitigating seating, according to Metal Shark's release.

The fleet of new boats will assist the coastguard with “law enforcement, patrolling, and interdiction missions within Jamaica's exclusive economic zone”, the company said.

For more information on Jamaican defence operations in the region, please seeCaribbean militaries train for Haiti mission .

BrahMos Aerospace showcased a scaled version of the Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jet armed with three BrahMos cruise missiles at the DSA 2024 exhibition. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)

BrahMos Aerospace – a joint venture (JV) between India and Russia – has outlined its plans to export its supersonic cruise missiles to Southeast Asian countries at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur from 6 to 9 May.

Speaking with Janes at the show, a spokesperson for BrahMos Aerospace said the company has offered its cruise missiles to countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

“We [BrahMos Aerospace] are in talks with all these countries, and they have shown good interest in the missile,” the spokesperson added.

Janes understands that Malaysia and Indonesia are looking to procure air-launched variants of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile to arm their Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets.

Vietnam plans to procure the shore-based anti-ship missile version of the BrahMos to counter the Chinese aggression in the South China Sea.

The spokesperson confirmed that BrahMos Aerospace has initiated the delivery of the BrahMos system to the Philippines.