DefenceTalkOverview Since the end of the Cold War, a new nuclear order has emerged, shaped by rising nuclear states and military technologies that threaten stability, writes George Mason University’s Gregory Koblentz in a new Council Special Report. During the Cold War, the potential for nuclear weapons to be used was determined largely by the United […]https://www.defencetalk.com/strategic-stability-in-the-second-nuclear-age-61063/

DefenceTalkBritain and France Wednesday tasked two major defence contractors with a two-year feasibility study over a joint military drone project, with the aim of getting it off the ground by 2030. The British and French government tasked BAE Systems and Dassault Aviation with the study following a political agreement reached at the Farnborough air show […]https://www.defencetalk.com/britain-france-launch-feasibility-study-for-joint-military-drones-60964/

DefenceTalkBritain will shortly begin re-deploying its unmanned armed drones from Afghanistan to counter Islamic State jihadists in Iraq, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond told parliament on Thursday. The remotely-piloted Reaper aircraft will provide surveillance, reconnaissance and intelligence support to the Iraqi troops and international coalition forces taking on the IS group in northern Iraq. The drones […]https://www.defencetalk.com/britain-to-re-deploy-drones-from-afghanistan-to-iraq-60775/

DefenceTalkJapan and Britain are to jointly develop missile technology for fighter jets, while Tokyo may also start exporting Japanese-made parts for US surface-to-air missiles, a report said Thursday. The plan — which comes months after Japan lifted a self-imposed ban on weapons exports — was likely to be approved by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet […]https://www.defencetalk.com/japan-britain-to-launch-joint-missile-research-report-60189/

DefenceTalkDefence Secretary Philip Hammond has visited Afghanistan to mark the latest milestone in the drawdown of UK forces. Mr Hammond was in the country to witness the closure of Observation Post Sterga, the last remaining forward base to be used by UK troops. The closure of Sterga means that the only UK troops remaining in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/britain-closes-final-forward-base-in-afghanistan-59553/

DefenceTalkTwo British Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets were scrambled after two Russian military aircraft were detected approaching northern Scotland on Wednesday, the Ministry of Defence said. The jets from RAF Leuchars in Scotland were sent to “determine the identity of unknown aircraft”, which turned away before reaching British airspace. “The aircraft were subsequently identified […]https://www.defencetalk.com/britain-scrambles-jets-after-russian-plane-approaches-airspace-59391/

DefenceTalkBritain may recruit convicted computer hackers to a new military unit dedicated to combating cyber-attacks, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said. Hammond announced plans last month to recruit hundreds of computer experts to work as military reservists for at least 19 days a year in a new Joint Cyber Reserve unit. “As a matter of policy […]https://www.defencetalk.com/britain-may-hire-hackers-for-cyber-defence-49458/

DefenceTalkSituated in sight of unstable north Africa and on the shipping route to the Middle East, Gibraltar has military and intelligence facilities that still make it a strategic asset for Britain, analysts say. Spain ceded Gibraltar to Britain in perpetuity in 1713 following a military struggle but has since the 1960s fought to have the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/gibraltar-still-strategic-asset-for-britain-analysts-48790/

DefenceTalkThe British government said Thursday it would look again at how it safeguards its telecommunications networks from feared security risks posed by the involvement of Chinese giant Huawei. Britain, the United States and Australia have all raised concerns that Huawei’s alleged ties to the Chinese state could see telecoms equipment supplied by the company used […]https://www.defencetalk.com/britain-to-review-cyber-security-agreement-with-huawei-48522/