DefenceTalkThe number of U.S. troops expected to train Syrian opposition forces “could approach” 1,000, Pentagon spokesman Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby told reporters today in a press briefing. While the final number is still being worked out, training could begin as early as spring, Kirby said. The deploying troops would include trainers as well as […]https://www.defencetalk.com/up-to-1000-u-s-troops-to-train-syrian-opposition-62001/

DefenceTalkThe Swiss Defence Procurement Agency and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) signed a contract for the purchase of twelve Leguan bridge layers on a Leopard 2 chassis together with the associated peripherals and training equipment in Berne. This brings to 16 the number of countries now using the Leguan system. As a major initiator of the Leopard […]https://www.defencetalk.com/swiss-army-opts-for-leguan-bridge-layers-61984/

DefenceTalkNammo Lapua Oy, a Finnish subsidiary of the Nammo Group, signed an agreement with the Finnish aerospace and defense group, Patria Oyj to acquire the ammunition facility in Sastamala in November 2014. An official ceremony was held in Sastamala on Monday 12 January 2015, for the initiation of the production line. Representatives from the Finnish […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nammo-in-finland-inaugurates-ammo-production-line-61930/

DefenceTalkSmartRounds Technology, LLC “SRT” of Brighton, Colorado announced today their new 18mm non-impact, non-lethal smart bullets. These micro-controlled patent pending smart bullets will initially be available in two versions. A ShockRound and a PepperRound. Each one is equipped with two solid state micro-sensors that turn ON the round when fired, and activate the round millisecs […]https://www.defencetalk.com/smartrounds-intros-non-lethal-non-impact-stun-projectiles-for-police-61882/

DefenceTalkA team of camouflage-clad Iraqi soldiers lines up near the door of a one-storey house north of Baghdad with rifles ready, preparing to enter and search it. For now, there are no militants inside, and American and Iraqi instructors are on hand to tell them how to position themselves, where to look when they enter […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-trains-iraqis-for-house-to-house-battle-against-is-61839/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Army has released a request for proposals, or RFPs, to procure additional rifleman radios using full and open competition. The RFP, which was posted Jan. 5 to the Federal Business Opportunities website, moves the Army toward full-rate production, or FRP, for the rifleman radio, part of the Handheld, Manpack and Small-form Fit, known […]https://www.defencetalk.com/army-releases-rfp-for-competitive-radio-marketplace-61807/

DefenceTalkThe Ministry of Defence has awarded Babcock International a £900 million, 10-year contract for the maintenance of the army’s land vehicles. The contract will transform the way the army’s vehicles are maintained, repaired and stored. It also has the potential to grow to around £2 billion as a result of plans, subject to value for […]https://www.defencetalk.com/babcock-awarded-900-million-uk-army-vehicle-contract-61328/

DefenceTalkLogos Technologies has received a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award from DARPA (the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) to continue development of the SilentHawk military motorcycle in partnership with California’s Alta Motors (formerly BRD). When fully matured, SilentHawk would allow small, distributed military teams to move long distances quickly and stealthily across […]https://www.defencetalk.com/logos-technologies-second-award-development-of-hybrid-electric-military-motorcycle-61295/

DefenceTalkUruguay Border Monitoring System Project (UBOMS), which began in 2013 with the signature of the contract between General Command of Uruguayan Army and Aselsan A.Ş., was completed with success, and the Aselsan Mobile Border Security System was delivered to the Uruguayan Army. The sensors and all units enclosed in the Aselsan Mobile Border Security System […]https://www.defencetalk.com/uruguay-deploys-turkish-border-surveillance-61287/

DefenceTalkIran is to help Iraq rebuild its army under an agreement that could formalise Tehran’s military support for its neighbor, which remains under assault by the Islamic State (IS) group. No details of the pact were released but state television said the two sides had “agreed to continue cooperation in the defence arena with the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/iran-in-new-deal-to-boost-iraq-army-61242/