Jane's Defence Weekly - Your first line of defence

Your first line of defence

Cover Story

AgustaWestland receives lift with Indian AW101 contract

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has signed a EUR560 million (USD765 million) contract for 12 AgustaWestland AW101 medium-lift helicopters to transport VIPs, the company announced...

12-Mar-2010

EU debates future of structured defence co-operation
The 27 EU nations gathered in mid-March to consider the future of "permanent structured co-operation in defence" (PSC-D), although no conclusions were reached. ...
19-Mar-2010

NATO reaps benefit of 'nuanced' approach in Afghanistan
NATO's 'nuanced' approach in Afghanistan, which aims to reintegrate some elements of the Taliban into civilian life, is bearing fruit, the chief spokesman for ...
19-Mar-2010

Skolkovo selected for Russia's new 'Silicon Valley'
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev has announced that Russia's future 'Silicon Valley' will be located in the Moscow suburb of Skolkovo. The creation of this ...
19-Mar-2010

Yemen ceasefire holds with prisoner release despite claims of Houthi delays
Northern Yemen's Houthi rebels announced on 18 March that they would hand over more than 175 prisoners captured during the latest round of fighting ...
19-Mar-2010

Australia calls for stronger US ties to support modernisation
Australia's capacity to deliver the military modernisation objectives outlined in its defence White Paper are closely linked to a continued successful partnership with the United...
19-Mar-2010

Czech Republic looks to upgrade air defence systems
The Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD) has launched a programme to modernise its air defence capability, aiming to replace the Army of the Czech ...
19-Mar-2010

US prepares to deploy Valiant Angel data management system
Intelligence specialists in US Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) are preparing to field the Valiant Angel system to Afghanistan this month, which is designed to optimise...
19-Mar-2010

Russia plans four test-launches of Bulava missile in June
The Russian Navy will conduct at least four test-launches of the troubled Bulava ballistic missile from nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarines (SSBNs) at the end of ...
19-Mar-2010

UK confirms reduction in A400M orders
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has reduced its Airbus Military A400M transport aircraft order by three, a spokesman has confirmed. "We are ...
19-Mar-2010

Greece to acquire Type 214 subs to resolve TKMS contract dispute
Hellenic Shipyards in Greece is to build two more Type 214 submarines for the Hellenic Navy under plans to resolve a contractual dispute between the...
19-Mar-2010

*F-35B completes first vertical landing
The world's first international stealth fighter acquisition project - the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter programme - reached a major milestone on 18 March...
19-Mar-2010

Raytheon launches missile defence business
Raytheon has created a new product line for missile defence products, the company announced on 17 March. Frank Wyatt, formerly in charge of Raytheon's ...
19-Mar-2010

North Korea's missile stockpile up to 1,000
North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea - DPRK) has increased its short- and medium-range missile stockpile to 1,000 and is increasingly likely to ...
19-Mar-2010

ALTB testing proceeds despite project uncertainty
The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and Boeing are planning two more tests of the Airborne Laser Test Bed (ALTB) in the next few months,...
19-Mar-2010

EADS would consider re-entering KC-X tanker contest
After dropping out of the US Air Force's (USAF's) bidding competition to build a new aerial-refuelling tanker, EADS North America says it may leave behind...
19-Mar-2010

NATO mulls Afghan security transfer plan
The 28 NATO nations will review a draft plan for transferring primary security to Afghanistan's military and police forces when allied defence ministers gather ...
19-Mar-2010

Dassault chief indicates interest in Anglo-French UAV project
Dassault Aviation would be keen on building a medium-altitude long endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with British aircraft manufacturers if France and the ...
19-Mar-2010

CV90 proves last-minute growth potential
In the latest twist of the UK's Future Rapid Effect System Specialist Vehicle (FRES-SV) Scout programme, BAE Systems has told Jane's that it ...
19-Mar-2010

Thales UK wins contract to support UK RN Daring destroyers
Thales UK is to support the UK Royal Navy's six Daring-class destroyers' fully integrated communications systems (FICS) under a seven-year contract, it was announced ...
19-Mar-2010

*USN admiral nominated to lead JSF programme
US Navy Vice Admiral David Venlet is the new nominee to become the director of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme, ...
19-Mar-2010

NATO inaugurates HUMINT centre
NATO opened its first Human Intelligence Centre of Excellence (HUMINT CoE) in Oradea, Romania, on 16 March. The centre - which was opened in ...
18-Mar-2010

Darfur peace process in flux as rebels regroup during Doha talks
Sudan's government was working to salvage a peace deal with one of the Darfur rebel alliances on 18 March as a month-old pact with ...
18-Mar-2010

Somali government signs power-sharing deal with leading militia
Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) has signed a deal to give leaders of a powerful southern-based Sufi militia senior government positions in return for ...
18-Mar-2010

US seeks Gulf support in push for Iranian sanctions
Iran's Gulf state neighbours could use their petro-influence to help persuade China to join the rest of the UN Security Council in considering sanctions ...
18-Mar-2010

As withdrawal continues, US assesses need for strong presence in northern Iraq
The United States is assessing the need for a brigade headquarters in northern Iraq due to continued strains in relations between the Arab and ...
18-Mar-2010

Threats drive new vehicle plans for Israel's Engineering Corps
The Israel Defence Force (IDF) Army Headquarters will establish a fourth combat engineering battalion and expand its explosive ordnance disposal capabilities to guard against ...
18-Mar-2010

Slovenia to open AMV renegotiations with Patria in June
Renegotiations on the Armoured Modular Vehicle (AMV) contract between Slovenia and Finnish group Patria are expected to commence before the end of June, the ...
18-Mar-2010

*UK confirms reduction of Nimrod MRA.4 order
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has cut by one the number of new-build BAE Systems Nimrod MRA.4 airframes it plans to receive, reducing ...
18-Mar-2010

*First Polish-assembled Black Hawk rolls off production line
Sikorsky unveiled the first S-70i Black Hawk utility helicopter assembled at Polskie Zaklady Lotnicze Mielec (PZL Mielec), Poland, on 15 March. This first S-70i,...
18-Mar-2010

*F-35B demonstrates 'free air' hover
The Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II short take-off, vertical landing (STOVL) combat aircraft demonstrated its capability to hover for the first time on 17 ...
18-Mar-2010

Navistar to retrofit MaxxPro Dash with independent suspension
US Marine Corps (USMC) MaxxPro Dash armoured vehicles in Afghanistan are to be refitted with new independent suspension systems to bolster their off-road mobility. ...
17-Mar-2010

Sahel leaders plan co-ordinated response to Al-Qaeda threat
Seven Sahel countries met on 16 March in the Algerian capital Algiers to consolidate military efforts to counter Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), ...
17-Mar-2010

Palestinian Authority to opt out of US training programme
Confident in its ability to conduct its own training, the Palestinian Authority (PA) has drafted a secret security plan that would end direct US...
17-Mar-2010

USJFCOM report focuses on cyber threats, economic issues
US Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) released its Joint Operating Environment (JOE) report on 15 March, which this year touches on cyber issues and the global...
17-Mar-2010

defence weekly

AgustaWestland receives lift with Indian AW101 contract