Archive: News & Articles

The current pandemic challenges the very global order. Rather than a history-defining moment, COVID-19 is a strong trigger in a global metamorphosis that began even before the virus locked us at home. One of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century, Zigmunt Bauman, left us a warning that seems to perfectly reflect today’s crisis: […]

The U.S Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a US$13.3bn contract to design and build a Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD). This is part of a programme to replace its ageing MINUTEMAN III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) system. The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Centre announced that the effort will span eight-and-a-half years to include weapon […]

Gerhard Heiming The Lithuanian State Border Guard Service (Valstybės sienos apsaugos tarnyba) has selected several variants of the SBS-900 X-band SharpEye long-range radar for remote coastal surveillance. Hensoldt UK’s coastal-based radars are specifically designed to meet the stringent operational requirements of port and river traffic operators in addition to government agencies responsible for the protection […]

Yury Laskin The Indian Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh arrived in Moscow for a three day on Monday and today, he will be among guests invited to watch the 75th anniversary of the Victory parade at the Red Square, where 80 Indian troops are to join the Russian columns. After arriving, Mr Singh tweeted that […]

J C Menon India has asked Russia to expedite the delivery schedule of the five S-400 TRIUMP Surface-to-Air missile systems, amid heightened tensions along its borders. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is currently visiting Moscow to hold discussions at the highest level to ensure that the deliveries will not be delayed due to coronavirus and other geo-political […]

Jack Richardson  The NATO Communications and Information Agency has released an Invitation for Bids to provide system engineering, integration and testing support to NATO’s Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Programme until 2029. The €60m contract will have a duration of four years (with an option for a further four) and also include a preliminary transition period […]

J C Menon The US Senate Armed Services Committee, in its FY 2021 National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA), has proposed purchasing 95 F35s, an additional 14 aircraft above the administration’s request, enabling the forces to modernise and equip themselves with the fifth-generation aircraft. This breaks down as US$5.5bn for 60 F-35A conventional-takeoff-and-landing aircraft, US$1.2 bn for […]

Jack Richardson Kazakhstan is using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to patrol and monitor illegal border movement and slow the spread of coronavirus. The country’s leading drone service provider KazUAV, a member of Japan-based Terra Drone Corporation, has been working to keep communities safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic. KazUAV has been helping the Nur-Sultan Police Department […]

Estonia has decided to join the Finish and Latvian vehicle development programme for sustained mobility enhancement. The countries have now signed a joint technical arrangement agreement. The joint development programme aims towards a common armoured wheeled vehicle system. For this, Patria is delivering the 6×6 vehicle platform. “Estonia joining the development programme is great news […]

Jiří Šedivý was presented as new EDA Chief Executive The EDA Steering Board appointed Jiří Šedivý, former Czech Defence Minister, as new EDA Chief Executive upon recommendation of the Head of the European Defence Agency Josep Borrell. He will take office in April 2020. Jiří Šedivý has extensive experience in the defence domain, having served […]

IMPLEMENTING THE EUROPEAN CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES The year 2019 was an important implementation year for the 11 EU Capability Development Priorities approved in 2018 as part of the revised Capability Development Plan (CDP). This covered the following domains: enabling capabilities for cyber responsive operations space-based information and communication services information superiority ground combat capabilities enhanced […]

A new RAND study concludes that Norway will take on a greater role in defending NATO’s northern flank. This conclusion results in Norway’s strong engagement with the Alliance and an “impressive mix of high-end capabilities for a nation of its size,” statements that were made by key NATO Allies who were asked for their perspective […]

Hours ago, the 14th Russian Air Force transport aircraft IL-76 landed at the military base south of Rome to bring urgently needed aid to Italy. The first aircraft bearing the slogans “From Russia with Love” landed on Sunday March 22, shortly after Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte made a desperate telephone call to Vladimir Putin. […]

With Spain’s ratification of the NATO Accession Protocol today, Macedonia has taken the major (final) step of becoming a member of NATO. “The Spanish Senate unanimously ratified the Protocol,” Macedonia’s Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov said during a joint press conference with Spanish Ambassador Emilio Lorenzo Serra, according to the English version of Republica. “On behalf […]

According to a report by the National Audit Office (NAO) the British Ministry of Defence’s ten-year equipment plan is underfunded by €3.3 billion. The ministry plans to spend €210.3 billion on equipment and support over the period 2019 to 2029. This compares with a budget of €207 billion. If all identified risks materialize, the deficit […]

The European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex will launch a rapid border intervention to assist Greece in dealing with the large numbers of migrants at its external borders. The Greek government officially asked Frontex to launch a rapid border intervention at its sea borders in the Aegean yesterday. Frontex has already increased surveillance capacity […]

Representatives of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense and the Turkish Commission on Defense-Industrial Cooperation signed an intergovernmental protocol on further steps to implement joint projects in the field of armaments and defense technology. Both countries also set priorities for 2020. “7th meeting of the Joint Ukrainian – Turkish Commission on Defense-Industrial Cooperation took place in […]

On January 7 the new Conservative-Green government coalition in Austria swore in Klaudia Tanner as Austria’s first woman Defence Minister. She previously headed the Lower Austrian Farmers’ Union when she was asked by the young Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (OEVP) to take over the long neglected and chronically underfunded Ministry of Defence. The former interim defence […]

Yesterday the European Defence Agency (EDA) published its annual Defence Data 2018 report. The report details spending by the 27 EDA member states. According to this data total defence expenditure stands at €223 billion (€225 billion in 2007), representing a 3% increase on 2017. This level of spending represents 1.4% of GDP and 3.1% of […]

Recent Russian weapons’ involvement in Middle East military conflicts boosts Russia’s national defence exports. Traditional customers are teamed with new buyers, including regional giants Turkey and Saudi Arabia – who are being impressed by Russia’s weaponry performance in the most hushed environment at relatively low cost. This brief analysis is based on open source information, […]

The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) with its head office in Capellen, Luxembourg, brings together in a single organisation NATO’s logistics and procurement including armaments acquisition support activities, providing integrated multinational support solutions for NATO, NATO and EU member nations as well as partner nations as its customers. A dedicated area of NSPA’s life […]