DefenceTalkNATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe said today that Pentagon leaders are reviewing decisions to scale down U.S. military forces in Europe in light of the changing security environment on the continent triggered by Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula and Moscow’s ongoing support for rebels in the east. “I have talked to leadership here about […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-reconsidering-troops-reductions-in-europe-60597/

DefenceTalkHelibras’ contract to modernize 34 AS365 K Panther helicopters for the Brazilian Army Aviation (AvEx) to the K2 version, known as the Super Panther, reached an important milestone in August following the successful completion of the first technical-operational evaluation. The first upgraded machine demonstrated 98% availability in the evaluation phase, during which the aircraft performed […]https://www.defencetalk.com/panther-helicopter-successfully-upgraded-for-brazilian-army-60589/

DefenceTalkThe Army is researching physiological sensors that may help Soldiers achieve superior performance on battlefields of the future, said the commanding general of Fort Detrick, Maryland. Lt. Gen. Joseph Caravalho Jr., commander of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and Fort Detrick, led a panel discussion at the Association of the United States […]https://www.defencetalk.com/body-sensors-to-help-soldiers-in-future-conflicts-60577/

DefenceTalkOne of the key goals of DARPA’s Ground X-Vehicle Technology (GXV-T) program is improving the survivability of ground-based armored fighting vehicles by increasing vehicle agility. Vehicle agility involves the ability to autonomously avoid incoming threats, either by rapidly moving out of the way or reconfiguring the vehicle so incoming threats have a low probability of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/armored-ground-vehicles-could-sprint-dodge-and-shield-their-way-out-of-danger-60570/

DefenceTalkIsrael’s army has launched five criminal investigations into incidents involving its forces during the Gaza war, a top legal official said on Wednesday, two weeks after a truce took hold. The United Nations and international rights groups have condemned Israel for numerous attacks which resulted in heavy civilian casualties, in a conflict that killed more […]https://www.defencetalk.com/israeli-army-launches-5-criminal-probes-over-gaza-war-60568/

DefenceTalkNATO partnership is strengthened as UK sells 123 surplus combat reconnaissance armored vehicles to Latvia. The highly-mobile UK vehicles have been sold to the Latvian Army in a package worth £39.4m, including their overhaul and refurbishment. The vehicles have previously been used in operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq and Afghanistan. The purchase of these […]https://www.defencetalk.com/latvian-army-purchases-uk-armoured-combat-vehicles-60521/

DefenceTalkThe United States will send about 200 troops to take part in a US-led annual exercise in Ukraine later this month, the Pentagon said Wednesday, in a show of solidarity with Kiev. The presence of 200 soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade will mark the first deployment of US ground troops to Ukraine since the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-sending-200-troops-for-drills-in-ukraine-pentagon-60525/

DefenceTalkThe Russian troops amassed along the Ukrainian border have evolved to an exceptionally capable force, Defense Department spokesman Army Col. Steven Warren told Pentagon reporters today. While NATO estimates the number of Russian troops inside Ukraine number between 1,000 and 2,000, a significantly larger force is massed at the Russia-Ukraine border, Warren said. “We are […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pentagon-notes-exceptionally-capable-russian-force-60515/

DefenceTalkFor Marines running roadblocks and vehicle check points, identifying an oncoming vehicle as a threat is a decision that has to happen quickly and at standoff range because lives are on the line. A new system being fielded to II and III Marine Expeditionary Forces, Reserve Units and Marine Corps Forces Central Command will give […]https://www.defencetalk.com/new-flash-bang-launcher-expands-marines-non-lethal-capability-60502/

DefenceTalkWithin about two decades, roughly 60 percent of the world’s population will live in cities, particularly megacities of more than 10 million, according to a recent National Intelligence Council projection. Some of those inhabitants will be bent on terror and destruction of the regional and global community and the Army must be prepared to deal […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-army-prepares-for-dangers-lurking-in-deep-future-megacities-60493/