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Brazilian Army releases its new strategic plan
The Brazilian Army has recently released its strategic plan paper covering the period from 2020 to 2023. The document directs the force’s investment effort over the next four years, continuing the army’s transformation process. The document covers 15 main actions and a total of 34
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Egypt inaugurates major Red Sea base complex
Egypt formally inaugurated a strategically significant new base complex on 15 January in an event attended by high-ranking dignitaries from allied Arab states. Berenice (Barnis) Military Base is located on the Red Sea coast approximately 90 km north of the Halayib Triangle, an Egyptian-controlled
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Beijing accuses Taiwan’s ruling party of ‘provoking’ growing sentiment in China to reunify the island ‘by force’
Following the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP’s) re-election in the 11 January Taiwanese presidential poll, the Chinese State Council’s Taiwan Affairs Office has accused the DPP and what it referred to as “Taiwanese separatist forces” of “provoking” a
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ReCAAP reports uptick in Asian piracy cases as concerns emerge over Singapore Strait
The Asian region saw a slight increase in piracy cases throughout 2019, but the number of incidences in the Singapore Strait increased significantly compared with 2018. According to figures released by the intergovernmental body, Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery
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Sikorsky-Rheinmetall, Boeing teams submit proposals for Germany’s STH helicopter
The Lockheed Martin Sikorsky-Rheinmetall and Boeing teams submitted their proposals, the CH-53K and H-47, respectively, on 13 January for Germany’s heavy transport helicopter (Schwerer Transporthubschrauber: STH) project to replace the Luftwaffe’s existing CH-53G/GS/GA/GEs. Lockheed
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Tokyo calls on Beijing to rein in military activities in East China Sea
Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono has called on China to rein in its military activities in the East China Sea ahead of President Xi Jinping’s planned spring visit to Japan. In a speech given on 14 January at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, DC, Kono
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China Coast Guard ship makes first-ever official visit to Philippines
A China Coast Guard (CCG) ship has paid an official visit to Philippines for the first time ever and taken part in exercises with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in an effort to improve bilateral ties amid tensions between Beijing and Manila over territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The
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Italian Army orders new weapon systems to offset recent funding woes
The Italian Army signed several contracts in late December 2019 for the acquisition of new high-tech weapon systems. This follows the launch by army chief Lieutenant General Salvatore Farina of five challenges, the fourth of which is ‘capabilities and systems’ aimed at modernising the
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France pledges more troops for Sahel as US reconsiders Africa deployments
France has pledged to deploy 220 more troops to help suppress the Islamist insurgency in the Sahel, while the US is considering reducing its commitment. Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley told AFP on 13 January that US resources “could be reduced and then shifted,
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Indian Navy pruning procurements due to budget cuts
Faced with a continuing financial resource crunch, the Indian Navy (IN) is cutting back on some of its procurement plans: a move that, according to senior officers, will adversely affect the service’s long-delayed modernisation and operational efficiency. Official sources told Jane’s on
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Malaysia looking into joint production of defence equipment with Turkey
Turkey has officially offered Malaysia the opportunity to collaborate in the development and production of both a next-generation fighter and an advanced jet trainer/light attack aircraft following Ankara’s removal from the US-led F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme. The proposals are related
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Surface Navy 2020: Great power competition presents most difficult navy challenge, US surface force commander says
The re-emergence of power competition is presenting the US Navy (USN) with its hardest challenge, according to Vice Admiral Richard Brown, commander of the US Naval Surface Forces and commander of the Naval Surface Force, US Pacific Fleet. “The most difficult challenge we face is great power
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Surface Navy 2020: Unmanned capability matters more than battle-force inclusion, US surface force commander says
The attributes of unmanned platforms matter more than whether they are counted as battle-force ships, according to Vice Admiral Richard Brown, commander of the US Naval Surface Forces commander and Naval Surface Force, US Pacific Fleet. USN officials have been debating whether to count unmanned
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Expansion of RAN’s Training Systems Centre at Randwick complete, says Australian DoD
The Department of Defence (DoD) in Canberra has announced that the AUD24-million (USD16.5-million) extension of the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) Training Systems Centre at Randwick Barracks by St Hilliers, Sydney, was completed on 13 January: in time for the first navy training course
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Indian Navy to adopt new fuel type to improve performance and reduce pollution
The Indian Navy (IN) announced on 13 January its decision to adopt a better quality of fuel for use by its surface and underwater platforms to enhance their performance and lower carbon emissions. Developed in collaboration with India’s public sector Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), the
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Surface Navy 2020: Geography and Iranian accuracy put USN surface fleet at greater risk
The relatively close maritime quarters of the Gulf and the accuracy of the Iranian weapons, particularly ballistic missiles, put US Navy (USN) large surface combatants operating in the region in greater jeopardy, according to Bryan Clark, military analyst and senior fellow at the Center for
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Saudis expelled from US training
An investigation into all Saudi nationals undergoing military training in the United States in the wake of the shooting at Pensacola Naval Air Station on 6 December has resulted in 21 being sent home, Attorney General William Barr announced on 13 January. Lieutenant Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, a
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US Army examines basing Multi-Domain Task Force troops on the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands
The US Army is investigating plans to field a Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) in the Indo-Pacific region next year and looking at options to base some of the soldiers and their weapons on the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy spoke with reporters on 10 January about standing up the
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Israel tests advanced Iron Dome
The Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD) announced on 12 January that a series of trials of an improved Iron Dome air defence system had been completed successfully. The live-fire interception tests were led by Rafael, the system’s manufacturer, and conducted at a test range in southern Israel,
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Russia to spend RUB1.5 trillion on State Defence Order in 2020
The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) plans to spend about RUB1.5 trillion (USD24.54 billion) on the implementation of the State Defence Order (Gosoboronzakaz-2020) this year, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told a teleconference on 10 January. Almost 68% of this – RUB1.02 billion – is to
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