Beijing: China demanded Tuesday that the United States “immediately cancel” a potential sale of $2.2 billion in arms to self-ruled Taiwan, including battle tanks and anti-aircraft missiles, adding fuel to tensions between the two powers. The US later shrugged off China’s complaints, responding that the equipment would contribute to “peace and stability” in Asia. The […]

DefenceTalkThe US State Department has approved the potential sale to Taiwan of $2.2 billion in arms, including Abrams tanks and Stinger missiles, the Pentagon said on Monday. The announcement is likely to anger Beijing, which views Taiwan as part of its territory and has previously expressed “serious concerns” about the possible sale. Congress has been […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-approves-possible-2-2-billion-arms-sale-to-taiwan-72371/

DefenceTalkThe government of the United Kingdom has halted the approval of arms exports licenses to Saudi Arabia, following a ruling by the Court of Appeal that British sales to the Saudi government are unlawful. On June 20, 2019, the U.K. Court of Appeal ruled that continued arms exports to Saudi Arabia are unlawful, as government […]https://www.defencetalk.com/uk-freezes-arms-export-licenses-to-saudi-arabia-following-court-ruling-72352/

DefenceTalkHis Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, on Wednesday attended a reception ceremony to welcome the first squadron of Rafale fighter jets of the Qatari Amiri Air Force from France. The reception was attended by officers, non-commissioned officers and members of the squadron Al Adiyat. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/first-rafale-fighter-jet-squadron-arrives-in-qatar-72317/

DefenceTalkBelgian leaders are mulling the suspension of arms sales to Saudi Arabia, national broadcaster RTBF has said, after it was reported they had been used in Yemen. Foreign Minister Didier Reynders told RTBF on Saturday: “I think it would be good to suspend arms deliveries to Saudi Arabia” if it were shown they had been […]https://www.defencetalk.com/belgian-leaders-mull-suspension-of-saudi-arms-sales-72306/

DefenceTalkThe Council of European Union on Monday, April 29 extended a ban on selling arms to Myanmar and prolonged sanctions against high-ranking officials over their role in the Rohingya crisis. The measures, which include an embargo on weapons and other equipment that could be used for repression, will stay in place until at least April […]https://www.defencetalk.com/eu-extends-myanmar-arms-sales-embargo-72287/

DefenceTalkThe State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Belgium of MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $600 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on March 25, 2019. The Government of Belgium […]https://www.defencetalk.com/belgium-to-buy-mq-9b-skyguardian-remotely-piloted-aircraft-72234/

DefenceTalkThe United States on Monday approved the sale of 25 F-16 fighter aircraft to Morocco for $3.8 billion, the State Department announced. Besides the new Block 70/72 F-16s, equipped with state of the art electronic systems and weaponry, Washington also approved the modernization of 23 F-16s already in the Moroccan air force fleet, for $983 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-approves-3-8-billion-f-16-sale-to-morocco-72226/

DefenceTalkSaab has received an order to deliver the Mk II missile for RBS 70 to the Army of the Czech Republic. The deliveries will take place in 2019. The order was placed by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), responsible for acquisitions for NATO members. The Czech Republic is a user of the RBS […]https://www.defencetalk.com/saab-to-deliver-rbs-70-mk-ii-missiles-to-the-czech-army-72212/

DefenceTalkSingapore: Singapore plans to buy four US-made F-35 jet fighters — one of the most advanced warplanes ever built — to update its ageing current fleet, the defence minister said Friday. The city-state, which has one of Asia’s best-equipped militaries, announced in January it had opted for the Lockheed Martin jets over rivals from Europe […]https://www.defencetalk.com/singapore-to-buy-four-f-35s-with-option-for-eight-more-72166/