Jane's Defence Weekly

Europe

European Afghan troop boost waits on Obama
The UK government's growing campaign to persuade its European allies to boost their commitment in Afghanistan by 5,000 troops hinges on increased US deployments, NATO...
20-Nov-2009

Hellenic Navy to accept Greek-built submarines
The Hellenic Navy is to accept three Greek-built Papanikolis-class Type 214 submarines from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) in an effort to resolve the dispute ...
20-Nov-2009

Belgium accepts new Airbus A330-300
The Belgian Air Component (BAC) officially accepted into service its new Airbus A330-300 personnel and freight transport aircraft on 19 November, the Ministry of ...
20-Nov-2009

*A400M runs its engines for the first time
The Airbus Military A400M transport aircraft ran its fitted engines for the first time on 18 November, the company has announced. The four Europrop ...
20-Nov-2009

UK plans LPPV downselection 'before year-end'
Four contenders for the next phase of the competition to replace the British Army's much criticised Snatch Land Rovers are to be announced "before ...
20-Nov-2009

*UK helo revamp could see major Chinook buy
Government ministers are set to announce later this month a radical recasting of the UK's helicopter procurement, organisation and basing plans in a new rotary-wing...
20-Nov-2009

German cabinet extends Bundeswehr mission mandates
The German government has extended the mandates of the Bundeswehr (German armed forces) in deployments abroad including Afghanistan and Lebanon, but not its participation ...
20-Nov-2009

*Aselsan completes Volkan production for Turkish Leopards
Turkish company Aselsan has completed the production of 171 Volkan fire-control systems for the country's Leopard tanks. During a 12 November ceremony to mark ...
20-Nov-2009

EDA nations finally agree to pool airlift capabilities
A majority of the European Defence Agency's (EDA's) 26 member nations have agreed to pool their military air transport assets to boost Europe's airlift ...
19-Nov-2009

Baltic nations mull Nordic defence alliance proposals
Baltic and Scandinavian foreign affairs and defence officials have held exploratory discussions on a future common foreign and security policy. Foreign Ministry officials from...
19-Nov-2009

Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine seal joint brigade deal
Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to create a joint peacekeeping brigade that will promote Kiev's transformation towards Western-standard ...
19-Nov-2009

*Portugal poised to receive first C-295 MPAs
The Portuguese Air Force (Força Aérea Portuguesa - FAP) will receive the first of five Airbus Military C-295 Persuader maritime patrol aircraft (MPAs) by...
19-Nov-2009

*RAF withdraws helicopters from Northern Ireland
The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) has withdrawn its Westland/Aerospatiale SA 330E Puma HC.1 transport helicopter force from Northern Ireland, the Ministry of Defence ...
18-Nov-2009

Contenders submit Warrior upgrade bids
Both BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin have formally submitted their bids for the UK Ministry of Defence's (MoD's) Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme (WCSP). BAE...
18-Nov-2009

US, Czech Republic edge closer to BMD replacement deal
The US and Czech governments have embarked on a new process of negotiations that could result in the stationing of a land-based variant of the...
18-Nov-2009

Italy signs Typhoon support contract
Eurofighter has signed a EUR600 million (USD892 million) contract with the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) to provide support for the Typhoon ...
17-Nov-2009

France orders helicopter pilot night-vision goggles
Thales Angénieux will provide the French military with 1,500 night-vision goggles for its helicopters, the company announced on 13 November. Deliveries of the HELIE...
17-Nov-2009

*Astute makes maiden voyage
The UK Royal Navy's (RN's) first new Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) departed Barrow-in-Furness on 15 November for HM Naval Base Clyde in Faslane, ...
16-Nov-2009

Russia and US look to progress in nuclear talks
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his US counterpart, Barack Obama, discussed the replacement for the START I nuclear arms reduction treaty at the sidelines of...
16-Nov-2009

*UK Merlin arrives in Afghanistan
The first of an expected six Royal Air Force (RAF) AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin HC.3/3A transport helicopters has arrived in Afghanistan to boost the UK's ...
16-Nov-2009

*AW149 makes first flight
The AgustaWestland AW149 multirole utility helicopter made its maiden flight on 13 November, the company has announced. The 20-minute flight took place at AgustaWestland's ...
16-Nov-2009

*Astute to embark on sea trials
HMS Astute , the first of class of a new generation of nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) for the UK's Royal Navy (RN), was taking...
13-Nov-2009

*RAF ponders 25% cut in personnel
UK air force chiefs are looking to implement a series of drastic economy measures, including a 25 per cent cut in Royal Air Force ...
13-Nov-2009

US/Russia START talks threatened by inspections dispute
Negotiations between Russia and the US over a replacement for the START I nuclear arms reduction treaty are faltering over disagreements on inspection and ...
13-Nov-2009

Izhmash looks to AK-74 successor
Kalashnikov manufacturer Izhmash will shortly unveil a replacement rifle for the AK-74, General Director Vladimir Grodetsky has announced. The new weapon will be between...
13-Nov-2009

Italian Army orders weapon-locating radar
Selex Sistemi Integrati will provide the Italian Ministry of Defence with five weapon-locating radar systems and associated logistics support under a contract announced on ...
13-Nov-2009

*Lynx Wildcat makes maiden flight
The AgustaWestland AW159 Lynx Wildcat (formerly Future Lynx) helicopter made its maiden flight from the company's Yeovilton facility in southwestern England on 12 November. ...
13-Nov-2009

*Mantis completes first flight trials
The BAE Systems Mantis long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has completed its initial flight trials at Woomera in southern Australia, the company announced on ...
13-Nov-2009

*A330 MRTT makes first hose-and-drogue contact
The Airbus Military A330-200 Multirole Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft has made its first 'wet' contact with a receiver aircraft using its hose-and-drogue system, the ...
13-Nov-2009

France orders more Rafales
French Defence Minister Hervé Morin has approved an order of a further 60 Dassault Rafale multirole combat aircraft for the French air force and ...
13-Nov-2009

Russian PAK-FA first flight likely delayed until early 2010
The Russian PAK-FA (Perspektivnnyi Aviatsionnyi Kompleks - Frontovoi Aviatsyi) T-50 fifth-generation fighter aircraft will not fly by the end of this year, sources close ...
13-Nov-2009

EADS to modify mini-UAV systems before French delivery
EADS Defence is to perform pre-deployment modifications to the DRAC (Drone de Reconnaissance au Contact) mini-UAV system it will deliver to the French Army,...
12-Nov-2009

Russia grounds naval aircraft after Tu-142M3 crash
The prosecutor's office of the Russian Pacific Fleet has opened an inquiry into a breach of air safety regulations following the crash of a ...
11-Nov-2009

Hungarian company eyes Raytheon missile upgrade market
Hungarian missile repair depot Arzenál has begun upgrading Raytheon AGM-65 missiles for Poland, the first time such work has been carried out on the ...
11-Nov-2009

Swedish Gripen pilots begin aerial refuelling training
The Swedish Air Force (SwAF) has undertaken aerial refuelling training with its Saab JAS 39C/D combat aircraft for the first time, it announced on ...
10-Nov-2009

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