Jane's Defence Weekly - The Americas

The Americas

Upgraded Type 209 returns to Venezuelan Navy
The Venezuelan shipyard Diques y Astilleros Nacionales CA (DIANCA) re-delivered the S-31 Sabalo , a Type 209/1300 submarine, back to the Venezuelan Navy on...
20-Nov-2009

*US Army to conduct Hellfire live-fire test from Sky Warrior
The US Army's General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-1C Sky Warrior unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is expected to conduct a live-fire test of a Hellfire air-to-ground...
20-Nov-2009

*Mexico opts for C-295M transport aircraft
The Airbus Military C-295M has been selected as the Mexican Air Force's new medium transport aircraft, it was announced on 15 November. According to...
20-Nov-2009

US Air Force tests anti-drone lasers
The US Air Force (USAF) and Boeing have partnered to test a new mobile, ground-based solid-state laser that can shoot down small unmanned aircraft. ...
19-Nov-2009

*Modernisation programme pushes US Army Strykers to the limit
The growing demand for situational awareness and protection has pushed US Army Stryker infantry combat vehicles (ICVs) to their performance limits and an upcoming modernisation...
19-Nov-2009

BAE Systems' FMTV protest moves up a gear
BAE Systems' protest over a lucrative vehicle contract that it lost in August to Oshkosh Defense has taken another step as government auditors called US...
19-Nov-2009

Argentina moves closer to a Strategic Military Plan
Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner signed an Executive Order on 10 November initiating the country's new National Defence Politics Directive. The directive has...
19-Nov-2009

Gates looks to refocus US counter-IED efforts
US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has announced the creation of a Department of Defense (DoD) task force to focus on countering the improvised explosive...
18-Nov-2009

*USN Reaper sports new sensor fit
At least one of the US Navy (USN) MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) currently undertaking anti-piracy patrols from the Seychelles has been equipped ...
17-Nov-2009

*Boeing receives MagEagle study contract
The US Navy (USN) has awarded Boeing a USD275,000 study contract associated with its plans to operate the MagEagle Compressed Carriage (MECC) unmanned aerial...
17-Nov-2009

First 'optimised' JSF variant completes inaugural flight
The first conventional variant of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) to be 'optimised' with an improved structure and aerodynamics ...
17-Nov-2009

USN takes delivery of first H-72A training helicopter
The US Navy (USN) has taken delivery of the first of five Eurocopter H-72A training helicopters, EADS North America announced on 12 November. The...
16-Nov-2009

*USCG takes delivery of second Legend-class cutter
The second Legend-class National Security Cutter (NSC) was handed over to the US Coast Guard (USCG) on the 6 November at Northrop Grumman's yard ...
13-Nov-2009

*GAO warns Pentagon of possible tactical airlift shortfall
The US Department of Defense (DoD) must evaluate its tactical airlift inventory to avoid a shortfall in aircraft capable of moving medium and small loads...
13-Nov-2009

USAF to explore using cheaper jet fuel
The US Air Force (USAF) Petroleum Agency (AFPA) says it will conduct tests over the next 12 months to explore the viability of using commercially...
12-Nov-2009

*Oshkosh to supply US Army with another 1,000 M-ATVs
Oshkosh announced on 11 November it had received a USD438 million award from the US Department of Defense (DoD) for an additional 1,000 mine-resistant ...
12-Nov-2009

Paraguay shakes up military command in wake of coup allegations
Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo claimed that there were indications of a military coup being formulated by what he called pockets of the military command. ...
12-Nov-2009

Uruguayan Congress approves new radar for MoD
The Uruguayan Congress has approved a EUR6 million (USD9 million) loan for the Ministry of Defence from the Central Bank to fund the acquisition ...
12-Nov-2009

VIS-X moves forward after protest quashed
Northrop Grumman Cobham Intercoms (NGCI) announced on 10 November that work on the US Army's next generation of vehicle intercoms would restart after an ...
12-Nov-2009

Brazil boosts air surveillance assets
The Brazilian Air Force (Força Aérea Brasileira - FAB) is upgrading three VU-35A (Gates/Bombardier Learjet 35) VIP-configured aircraft operated by the Brasilia-based Grupo de ...
11-Nov-2009

Rolls-Royce awarded $8.5m USAF spare C-130J parts contract
The US Air Force (USAF) has awarded Rolls-Royce a USD8.5 million contract to provide spare engine parts for the Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules military ...
11-Nov-2009

MV-22B Ospreys deployed to Afghanistan for first time
Ten Boeing MV-22B Osprey tiltrotors arrived at Camp Bastion airfield in Afghanistan's Helmand province on 6 November, marking the first time the aircraft have ...
11-Nov-2009

A330 MRTT passes milestone with first night-time refuelling
Airbus Military completed its first night-time refuelling of the A330 Multirole Tanker Transport (MRTT) on 4 November. The aircraft is similar to one that ...
11-Nov-2009

*Boeing successfully tests Wedgetail countermeasures
The Boeing 737-derived Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft for Australia has successfully completed tests of its defensive-aids suite, the company announced ...
11-Nov-2009

Saab expresses concern over chances of F-X2 success
Saab has "won the battles but is in danger of losing the war" with regard to the Brazilian F-X2 fighter competition, a company spokesperson ...
09-Nov-2009

*France agrees to further Argentine defence modernisation
France is to modernise 10 of the Argentine Navy's Super Étendard aircraft to Super Étendard Modernisé standard as part of a series of defence ...
06-Nov-2009

Lockheed Martin wins Thunderbolt Lifecycle Program Support contracts
Lockheed Martin has received three contracts totaling USD7.7 million to modernise A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft under a new US Air Force acquisition programme. ...
06-Nov-2009

Afghan troop boost 'would need supplemental funding'
The top US military official says the White House will have to ask Congress for supplemental funding in Fiscal Year 2010 (FY10) if the Obama...
06-Nov-2009

US DoD looks to counter threats from larger IEDs
The US Department of Defense (DoD) is reinforcing its efforts to protect troops against dynamic roadside bomb threats, which now include some less sophisticated but...
06-Nov-2009

ANG to exclusively operate C-27Js
The US Air Force (USAF) has announced that the Alenia Aeronautica C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft that are due to enter service under the ...
05-Nov-2009

Salvadorian forces shift role
The Salvadorian armed forces are to re-engage in the internal security role, providing 6,500 troops to support public security forces, mainly in the fight ...
05-Nov-2009

Colombia's Congress approves budget
On 22 October the Colombian Congress approved the country's 2010 national budget, which includes allocating COP21.12 billion (USD11 billion) to the Ministry of Defence. ...
05-Nov-2009

Colombia, US sign defence co-operation accord
The Colombian and US governments signed the Defence and Security Co-operation and Technical Assistance Agreement on 30 October. The new agreement expands US access ...
05-Nov-2009

Ecuador orders two Mi-17s
Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa signed an order for two Mi-17 medium-lift helicopters as well as agreeing an energy co-operation accord with Russia on 27 ...
05-Nov-2009

Ecuadorian Air Force receives Mirage 50s
The Ecuadorian Air Force (FAE) received the first three of six Mirage 50s donated by the Venezuelan government on 29 October. The aircraft were ...
05-Nov-2009

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