Military Capabilities
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Aero India 2019: HAL unveils rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicle
Indian aerospace and defence company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) unveiled a full-scale prototype of a locally designed rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at the Aero India 2019 defence exhibition being held in Bangalore on 20–24 February. Specifically designed to perform
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Indonesia proposes naval reorganisation to improve decision-making efficiencies
Key Points The Indonesian Armed Forces has submitted a request to further reorganise its navy Request seeks to reduce operational and leadership silos within the service The Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) has submitted a request to carry out a series of reorganisation efforts for its navy (Tentara
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Russia completes testing of ‘Poseidon’ thermonuclear torpedo
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced at the beginning of February the successful completion of underwater tests of its ‘Poseidon’ unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV). Factory trials are expected to begin in the summer of 2019. First revealed in late 2015, the since named
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ATEC files bid protest over US Army’s improved turbine helicopter engine award
Key Points ATEC filed a bid protest over the US Army choosing GE for ITEP This programme will replace not only all Black Hawk and Apache engines but will also power some FVL aircraft The Advanced Turbine Engine Company (ATEC) said on 19 February it filed a bid protest over the US Army selecting
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Belarusian special forces receive first Kaiman armoured reconnaissance vehicles
The Belarusian Special Operations Forces’ (SSO’s) 103rd Airborne Brigade has received its first batch of Kaiman armoured reconnaissance vehicles (ARVs), a Belarusian Ministry of Defence (MoD) source told Jane’s on 16 February. “On 15 February the 103rd Airborne
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EU member states lack solidarity and commitment for missions, says Military Committee chairman
National capitals in Europe are consistently failing to meet their force generation commitments for the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions and, as a result, are starting to place some of those missions at risk, said the EU’s top military official. “We face a
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US Air Force chief of staff unconcerned with F-35A gun inaccuracy
Key Points The US Air Force chief of staff is not concerned with the F-35A gun’s inaccuracy He said the aircraft’s primary task is to fuse information and adjust combat strategies on the fly The US Air Force’s (USAF’s) top officer is not concerned with Lockheed Martin
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Chile hires Finnish company for new icebreaker systems
Chile has hired Finnish naval technology company Surma to provide the electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) system for the country’s new icebreaker, which is currently under construction in the state-run shipyard ASMAR. “Surma will assist ASMAR
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Mitsubishi Electric to provide F-35 avionics maintenance from 2025
The Japanese Ministry of Defense’s (MoD’s) Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) announced on 13 February that the Pentagon has officially selected Japan to provide some avionics maintenance work for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) from
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Update: Germany’s TKMS holds launch ceremony for Singapore’s first Type 218SG submarine
Key Points TKMS has held a launch ceremony for the first Type 218SG boat on order for Singapore The country is on track to receiving its first custom-built naval submarine in 2021 German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) has held a launch ceremony for the first of four Type 218SG
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Virginia lawmakers lobby for F-22 unit at Joint Base Langley-Eustis
Virginia lawmakers are urging the US Air Force (USAF) to station the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor flight and maintenance formal training units (FTUs) at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, from its home at Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB), Florida. In a 14 February letter to USAF Secretary Heather
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India warns Pakistan of ‘strong response’ after attack on paramilitaries in Kashmir
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to send a “strong response” to Pakistan, which he holds responsible for a suicide car bombing that took place on 14 February in Indian-administered Kashmir killing 44 paramilitary personnel and badly injuring at least 24 others. “I
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US Air Force to declare IOC for nuclear control centre
The US Air Force (USAF) is on track to declare initial operational capability (IOC) by April for its Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) Center, according to a key officer. Major General Stephen Davis, US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) director of global operations, said on 14
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JGSDF certifies its first amphibious assault force in joint exercise with US marines
Japan certified its Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade (ARDB) during the 14th iteration of Exercise ‘Iron Fist’, which was conducted in Southern California by contingents of the US Marine Corps (USMC) and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF). The move means that Japan’s
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Singapore evolves ‘Total Defence’ framework in response to digital threats
The Singapore government has amended its decades-long ‘Total Defence’ framework to combat emerging threats to the country including state-sponsored cyber criminals, computer malware, and proliferators of ‘fake news’. Announcing the move via an official social media channel
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US DoD releases first Artificial Intelligence Strategy
The US Department of Defense (DoD) has released a document to summarise the 2018 strategy for artificial intelligence (AI) in response to the US President Donald Trump’s signing an executive order to launch the American Artificial Intelligence Initiative. Released on 12 February the strategy
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Facilities for IAF’s new Chinook helos to be ready in March 2021, says CAG
The facilities to accommodate 15 Boeing CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters on order for the Indian Air Force (IAF) at a base in northern India will not be operational until all platform deliveries have been completed, the country’s Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has revealed.
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Four EDA countries to ramp up shared-cost medical evacuation services
Private operators will carry out military medical evacuation (medevac) financed by four member states of the European Defence Agency (EDA) under a EUR120 million (USD135 million) framework contract. A fifth EDA country could also join the arrangement, an agency official told Jane’s on 14
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NATO’s rhetoric about no new nuclear missiles in Europe to counter Russia is unclear
NATO has insisted it has no plans to deploy new nuclear missiles in Europe in response to Russia’s nuclear-capable 9M729 ground-launched cruise missile, developed in violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. However, careful reading of fresh statements by allied
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North Macedonia’s path to accession still faces technical challenges
North Macedonia must still overcome a number of technical hurdles before it can join NATO as a fully functioning member, according to alliance officials. Aligning the Macedonian military with NATO’s integrated command and its air defence structure, for example, will be top priorities in the