Jane's Defence Weekly - Middle East/Africa

Middle East/Africa

Israel targets increased Arrow production
Israel is to accelerate its production of Arrow-2 anti-ballistic missile interceptors in case of a potential conflict with Iran, Defence Minister Ehud Barak said ...
20-Nov-2009

Armscor CEO suspended in wake of South African A400M cancellation
The chief executive officer (CEO) of South Africa's defence acquisition agency, Armscor, was suspended with immediate effect on 18 November, the board of directors ...
20-Nov-2009

Spain promises training support for Somali forces
Spain has volunteered to lead a proposed EU operation to train up to 2,000 Somali soldiers, police officers and coastguard personnel as part of a...
20-Nov-2009

*Dubai Air Show 2009: Saudi Arabia steps up efforts to gain offset work
Saudi Arabia is looking to reclaim momentum in defence research and development as one of the world's leading arms buyers by incorporating joint ventures in...
20-Nov-2009

US takes tougher line over Iran's nuclear recalcitrance
The United States has resumed discussions about new sanctions on Iran in light of the unwillingness of the Islamic Republic to accept international proposals ...
20-Nov-2009

Rift between insurgents goes unexploited in Somalia
The failure to cultivate alliances with moderate militias and to capitalise on growing ruptures in the alliance-of-convenience between extremist Islamist insurgent groups has prevented...
19-Nov-2009

Dubai Air Show: UAE buys two Saab 340 AEW aircraft
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will purchase two Saab 340 airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft for a total of SEK1.5 billion (USD21 million), the ...
19-Nov-2009

Kenya 'still safe haven for war crimes suspects'
Kenya's failure to hand over a top suspect in Rwanda's 1994 genocide, who is believed to have been harboured by the government for more than...
19-Nov-2009

Syria continues to resist IAEA over suspected nuclear site
Syria has declined requests for discussions on a suspected nuclear processing facility, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a report released on ...
19-Nov-2009

Dubai Air Show: Raytheon secures Kuwaiti Patriot upgrade contract
Kuwait has signed a USD20.5 million contract with Raytheon to support the upgrading of its Patriot Advanced Capability 2 (PAC-2) missile system to PAC-3...
18-Nov-2009

*Dubai Air Show: UAE signs for PC-21 trainer aircraft
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has signed a contract in excess of CHF500 million (USD500 million) for 25 Pilatus PC-21 turboprop trainer aircraft, the ...
18-Nov-2009

*IQAF receives third Combat Caravan
The Iraqi Air Force (IQAF) has taken delivery of its third Cessna AC-208B Combat Caravan, Alliant Techsystems (ATK) announced on 16 November. ATK, which...
18-Nov-2009

Egypt bolsters armour transport fleet
Egypt is to receive a new batch of M1070 heavy equipment transporters (HETs), allowing it to rapidly shift its heavy armour and artillery around ...
18-Nov-2009

RSAF investigates Tornado crash
A Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Panavia Tornado IDS strike aircraft crashed on 15 November, according to local media reports. The reports stated that ...
16-Nov-2009

Saudi intervention threatens escalation, say Yemeni rebels
Rebels in northern Yemen have urged a ceasefire after nearly two weeks of Saudi air and artillery strikes against their positions, warning that further foreign...
13-Nov-2009

Iran asks Russia to allow S-300 sale to proceed
Iran has pressed for the sale of Russian S-300 air defence systems to the Islamic Republic to go forward, with a plea on 11 November...
13-Nov-2009

*Panhard completes vehicle deliveries to Kuwait
France's Panhard General Defense has completed deliveries of 20 VBL (Véhicule Blindé Léger) Mk 2 4x4 light armoured vehicles to the Kuwaiti Interior Ministry. ...
13-Nov-2009

International shipping faces longer-range Somali piracy threat
Somalia-based pirates are attacking vessels further into the Indian Ocean, which analysts say is both an endorsement of the effectiveness of deterrence operations in ...
12-Nov-2009

Iraqi-Kurdish security collaboration stalls as northern tensions grow
Few advances have been made towards the establishment of joint patrols in northern Iraq to ease tensions between Arabs and Kurds that could ignite ...
12-Nov-2009

Controversy over South Africa's A400M withdrawal continues
The fallout over South Africa's decision to withdraw from the A400M development programme continues, with a demand by the board of South Africa's defence ...
12-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...
11-Nov-2009

Saudi forces clear Yemeni rebels from border area
Saudi Arabia is continuing a week of air and artillery strikes against rebels based in its southern border zone in a significant militarisation of ...
09-Nov-2009

US orders annual assessment of Iran's military and nuclear capabilities
US lawmakers will be provided with an annual assessment of Iran's military strength and capabilities under a provision in the defence spending bill signed ...
09-Nov-2009

Czechs court Iraq with L-159s
Seeking low-cost options to enhance its air capabilities, Iraq is turning away from US manufacturers and towards the Czech Republic, which sent a high-level ...
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

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

*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

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

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

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