Jane's Defence Weekly - Middle East/Africa

Middle East/Africa

US auditors fear withdrawal from Iraq may not meet deadlines
The US military's withdrawal from Iraq has so far either met or exceeded goals, but government auditors have identified "crucial challenges" that could thwart efforts...
06-Nov-2009

South Africa calls time on A400M
The South African government decided on 4 November to withdraw from the A400M military transport aircraft programme due to delays and spiralling acquisition costs, although...
06-Nov-2009

UN suspends support to Congolese army units suspected of civilian murders
UN peacekeepers will suspend logistical and operational support to some army units in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following an investigation into massacres of ...
06-Nov-2009

UN report accuses Sudan of violating arms embargo
The Sudanese government is among the major actors in Darfur repeatedly and consistently violating the UN arms embargo and continuing to exercise their military options,...
06-Nov-2009

*Tel Aviv within range as Hamas tests new rocket
Revealing a significant enhancement to its capabilities since the Israeli offensive in Gaza in late 2008/early 2009, the Palestinian militant movement Hamas has successfully test-fired...
06-Nov-2009

EASF prepares for training exercises despite structural problems
East African defence chiefs met on 2 November to prepare for new manoeuvres by the 12 participating countries in the Eastern Africa Standby Force ...
05-Nov-2009

USN submarine conducts 'historic' exercise with South African Navy
The US Navy (USN) Los Angeles-class attack submarine (SSN) USS San Juan arrived in South Africa on 4 November for a first-ever joint submarine...
05-Nov-2009

Palestinian president orders resignation of former PLO officers
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has ordered the forced retirement of as many as 2,800 senior military officers formerly allied with the Palestinian Liberation Organisation...
05-Nov-2009

Israel accelerates search for new advanced jet trainer
The Israel Air Force (IAF) is urgently seeking a new advanced jet trainer (AJT), fearing it will be unable to sustain its ageing fleet...
05-Nov-2009

Iraq assesses fallout from Baghdad bombings
Dozens of senior security and military personnel have been arrested following twin bombings of government installations in Baghdad on 25 October: the latest indication ...
30-Oct-2009

*Israel F-35 modification plans deferred for cost containment
Israel has decided to defer a requirement to integrate indigenous munitions and an additional fuel tank on the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-35A ...
30-Oct-2009

Exercise highlights Gulf states' air ambitions
The 'Gulf Spears' air exercises for the six Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) states opened in Kuwait on 26 October amid continued concerns about Iran's ...
30-Oct-2009

Reaper begins counter-piracy patrols from Seychelles
One of the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) under the operational control of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) has...
30-Oct-2009

New US shipment of arms may not help Somali government
A new shipment of US-purchased small arms and light weapons destined for the Somali transitional government and African Union peacekeepers supporting it has docked ...
30-Oct-2009

Raytheon secures Stunner development contracts
Raytheon was awarded two contracts totalling more than USD100 million in early October by Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems for the continued development of the...
30-Oct-2009

Diehl conducts successful surface-launched IRIS-T test
Germany's Diehl BGT Defence successfully carried out the first flight of its IRIS-T SL (surface launched) medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) on 9 October, according ...
30-Oct-2009

SANDF welcomes latest budget figures
South Africa's defence budget is to increase in the medium term, contrary to expectations earlier this year, which could help advance key plans and ...
29-Oct-2009

French industry pins hopes on Sarkozy visit to Saudi Arabia
President Nicolas Sarkozy will make a new attempt to revive France's bruised trade relations with Saudi Arabia with a state visit on 17 November ...
29-Oct-2009

Boeing and Saudi Arabia in talks on Poseidon MPA purchase
Saudi Arabia is in the early stages of discussions with Boeing regarding the possible procurement of P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (MPAs), the company ...
29-Oct-2009

UK signs defence accord with Algeria in pursuit of further sales
The UK is working to make up for lost time since lifting an arms embargo against Algeria in 2005, signing a military co-operation accord ...
28-Oct-2009

Polish contingent concludes Golan mission
Poland has completed a 25-year deployment to the Israel-Syria border as part of the UN Disengagement Observer Force in the Golan Heights. Most of...
28-Oct-2009

US and Israel start largest joint missile-defence exercise
The US and Israel launched their largest-ever joint military exercise - 'Juniper Cobra 2010' - on October 21, simulating a response to multiple missile attacks...
23-Oct-2009

South Africa postpones A400M $2m remittance after rising costs
Delays and escalating costs of the Airbus Military A400M transport have prompted South Africa to postpone the remittance of ZAR1.5 billion (USD2 million) in ...
23-Oct-2009

Explosions shine light on Israeli-Hizbullah intelligence war
A recent string of explosions in southern Lebanon has provided a rare glimpse into the intelligence war waged between Israel and Lebanon's guerrilla movement ...
23-Oct-2009

Hizbullah deploys missile on Lebanese soil
In a dramatic enhancement of its capabilities, Lebanese guerrilla movement Hizbullah has deployed a surface-to-surface missile (SSM) for the first time on Lebanese soil,...
23-Oct-2009

US donates military aid to help Mali fight Al-Qaeda
The United States is donating tactical vehicles, communication devices and military equipment worth USD5 million to the Malian armed forces to support any offensive ...
22-Oct-2009

Guinea under West African arms ban as international pressure grows
Mounting international pressure on Guinea's military junta leader to stand down as a candidate in January elections has resulted in a regional arms embargo ...
22-Oct-2009

Iran seeks permission to pursue suicide bombers into Pakistan
Iran has asked Islamabad's permission to cross into Pakistani territory to hunt for perpetrators of an 18 October suicide bombing in Sistan-Baluchistan province that killed...
21-Oct-2009

US and East African countries launch major exercise
Some 1,200 soldiers from the United States and five countries in the East African Community (EAC) - Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda - ...
21-Oct-2009

Libya moves closer to sealing aircraft deal with Russia
More details have emerged about the contents of the contracts signed between Russia and Libya as part of a massive modernisation of the North ...
21-Oct-2009

Algeria confirms assassination of senior Al-Qaeda operative
The Algerian government has dealt a significant blow to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) with the assassination on 7 October of Mourad Louzai, ...
20-Oct-2009

Zuma vows no change in South African peacekeeping role
South Africa will continue to commit troops and resources to peacekeeping operations, President Jacob Zuma said on 18 October at the 10th anniversary of ...
20-Oct-2009

Egypt requests F-16 sale
Egypt has requested the sale of 24 Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 50/52 combat aircraft and associated weapons and equipment from the United States, the ...
19-Oct-2009

Somali Islamists threaten to attack Kenya over recruitment allegations
Kenya's government has rejected allegations that it is interfering in Somali affairs by recruiting fighters to join the battle against extremist insurgents who control most...
16-Oct-2009

Pakistan attacks Taliban strongholds in Waziristan
Pakistan Army artillery units on 16 October bombed positions held by the Taliban in two locations in southern Waziristan near the Afghan border, prompting ...
16-Oct-2009

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