DefenceTalkJapan’s defense minister vowed Sunday to defend the country’s territory as three Chinese government ships entered disputed waters off Tokyo-controlled islands in the East China Sea, the first such incident this year. The Chinese coastguard vessels sailed into the 12-nautical-mile territorial waters at about 8:30 am (2330 GMT Saturday) off one of the Senkaku islands, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/japan-vows-defense-as-china-ships-near-disputed-isles-50104/

DefenceTalkIt may be small, but a 60mm mortar round has a blast radius of over 20 meters and can be fired at enemies three and a half kilometers away. The M224 60mm mortar system has become a staple of American light infantry operations, and now it’s becoming one for the Afghan National Army. Members of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/10th-mountain-division-soldiers-teach-afghan-60mm-mortar-system-50097/

DefenceTalkThe sounds of the C-23 Sherpa are now a thing of the past as the Army National Guard bids farewell to the venerable aircraft after two decades of service. The box shaped aircraft described by many as a “work horse” is now heading into retirement. Throughout its operations in the Army Guard, the Sherpa has […]https://www.defencetalk.com/c-23-sherpa-makes-final-flight-as-army-guard-retires-the-aircraft-50089/

DefenceTalkTaiwan has received the first shipment of anti-ship missiles which it ordered from the United States for its submarines, strengthening their attack capability, a senior official was Wednesday quoted as saying. Taiwan ordered the Harpoon missiles in 2008 as part of a $6.5 billion arms purchase which sparked strong protests from Beijing. The island already […]https://www.defencetalk.com/taiwan-gets-us-submarine-launched-missiles-report-50053/

DefenceTalkThe Russian military plans to test around 70 types of rocket and missile weaponry at a major testing site this year, a Defense Ministry spokesman has said. The testing program at the Kapustin Yar range in southern Russia will include about 300 launches of rockets, missiles, and aerial drones as part of more than 180 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-to-test-70-new-rockets-and-missiles-in-2014-50028/

DefenceTalkThe Republic of Korea has finalized an agreement with the U.S. government for BAE Systems to perform upgrades and systems integration for its fleet of more than 130 F-16 aircraft. The company will now begin the first phase of the work under contract through the U.S. Department of Defense’s Foreign Military Sales program. “This agreement […]https://www.defencetalk.com/bae-systems-to-perform-upgrades-on-south-korean-f-16s-50002/

DefenceTalkWASHINGTON: Four U.S. service members were injured today when their aircraft came under ground fire in South Sudan during a mission to evacuate American citizens in Bor, according to a statement issued by U.S. Africa Command. The updated Africom statement reads as follows: “At the request of the Department of State, the United States Africa […]https://www.defencetalk.com/ground-fire-injures-4-us-troops-in-south-sudan-49980/

DefenceTalkThe indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas has undertaken 2,400 sorties to meet the requirements of the IAF, which is set to induct the aircraft on December 20. “The LCA has clocked over 2400 flights till now with highest ever number of sorties achieved in the current year. The programme has achieved highest ever […]https://www.defencetalk.com/indias-light-combat-aircraft-tejas-completes-2400-sorties-49909/

DefenceTalkPresident Vladimir Putin said Tuesday the share of modern weaponry in Russia’s armed forces would reach 30 percent in 2014 and urged the military to stay alert for threats and challenges. The armed forces would receive more than 40 inter-continental ballistic missiles, 210 warplanes and helicopters, and more than 250 armored vehicles in a year, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/putin-says-russia-will-upgrade-its-weaponry-49903/

DefenceTalkBoeing and Saab AB have signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to jointly develop and build a new advanced, cost-efficient T-X Family of Systems training solution for the upcoming competition to replace the U.S. Air Force’s aging T-38 aircrew training system. The JDA, with Boeing as the prime contractor and Saab AB as primary partner, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/boeing-saab-team-up-in-joint-bid-for-t-x-trainer-49850/