DefenceTalkRecent decisions by the Australian and Turkish governments are signaling a major upturn for Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program, undoubtedly the brightest star in the future military aircraft market. In April, the Australian government approved the acquisition of an additional 58 F-35A aircraft. Following a 2009 decision to purchase 14 F-35As, the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/analysts-see-significan-t-breakthrou-gh-in-recent-f-35-orders-59558/

DefenceTalkThe State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Brazil for AGM-84L Harpoon Block II Missiles and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $169 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on May 6, 2014. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/brazil-to-buy-agm-84l-harpoon-block-ii-missiles-59513/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Navy signed an agreement with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan April 14 for the first international sale of the Department’s Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS). The initial Foreign Military Sale (FMS) includes procurement of the weapons as well as logistics and engineering support for integration on the Jordanian CN-235 gunship. “We look […]https://www.defencetalk.com/jordan-buys-us-navys-advanced-precision-kill-weapons-system-59479/

DefenceTalkMilitary spending between 2014 and 2020 in the Middle East and North Africa will total $920 billion (662 billion euros), IHS Global Insight said in a forecast Tuesday. The US-based consulting firm did not give an overall breakdown at the end of a forum it hosted in Dubai, but said $27 billion will have been […]https://www.defencetalk.com/mena-military-spending-to-reach-920-bn-by-2020-study-59446/

DefenceTalkSwedish Radio today reveals new information on the multi-billion dollar purchase of Gripen fighter aircraft by Switzerland. Top secret documents show the Swedish Embassy in Bern has been more deeply involved in the Swiss internal political process than previously known. In less than three weeks Switzerland will hold a referendum on whether to buy 22 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/sweden-covertly-lobbied-swiss-politicians-for-gripen-sale-59433/

DefenceTalkIt’s been a long time since a German vice-chancellor has defied his chancellor – especially over Germany’s booming weapons exports. In Angela Merkel’s previous government, the vice chancellor and economy minister was Philipp Rösler of her “preferred” coalition partner, the neo-liberal Free Democratic Party, a party that rarely stood in the way of lucrative business […]https://www.defencetalk.com/germanys-arms-exports-turn-into-gamesmanship-59323/

DefenceTalkQatar will buy 22 NH90 military helicopters from European aerospace group Airbus worth nearly two billion euros ($2.8 billion), the French defense ministry said Thursday. It said 12 of these would be transport helicopters and the other 10 would be the frigate version. Qatar will also acquire two Airbus-made refueling tankers. The decision was conveyed […]https://www.defencetalk.com/qatar-to-buy-french-nh90-military-helicopters-59159/

DefenceTalkGermany on Wednesday halted a major deal to provide a fully equipped training camp to Russian forces, saying any arms trading with Moscow was currently “indefensible”. Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel announced the suspension of the Rheinmetall project as Moscow tightened its grip on the flashpoint Crimean peninsula. The German government said in a statement it was […]https://www.defencetalk.com/germany-halts-major-arms-deal-with-russia-59098/

DefenceTalkPARIS: India remains the biggest buyer of arms in the world, importing nearly three times as many weapons as its nearest competitors China and Pakistan over the last five years, a Swedish think tank said on Monday. The total volume of arms sales was up 14 per cent in 2009-13 compared to the previous five […]https://www.defencetalk.com/indian-arms-imports-almost-triple-china-pakistan-study-59044/

DefenceTalkJapan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has drawn up plans to overhaul the pacifist country’s self-imposed ban on arms exports, an official said Thursday, in a move that could anger China. The government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has delivered the blueprint to lawmakers in his party and coalition partner New Komeito, according to an […]https://www.defencetalk.com/japan-draws-up-overhaul-of-arms-export-ban-59014/