DefenceTalkFinland’s Ministry of Defence plans to send out invitations to tender for the purchase of 64 new fighter jets. The new jets will replace the current stock of 64 F/A-18 Hornet jets, which have served the Finnish military since 1992. The defence report, which was approved by the Parliament in February, says that the readiness […]https://www.defencetalk.com/mod-at-least-64-fighter-jets-needed-to-defend-finland-70859/

DefenceTalkGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel’s administration has been criticized for massively increasing arms sales to Middle East dictatorships Saudi Arabia and Egypt. One opposition lawmaker branded the trade “reprehensible.” The German government approved nearly €450 million ($526 million) worth of weapons exports to Saudi Arabia and Egypt in the third quarter of 2017, more than five […]https://www.defencetalk.com/germany-quintuples-arms-sales-to-saudi-arabia-and-egypt-70815/

DefenceTalkSouth Korea and US agreed Tuesday to bring their defense industry cooperation to an unprecedentedly high level, plus expand the rotational deployment of high-profile US military assets to and around the peninsula. The summit accord came in response to growing threats from North Korea amid the South’s campaign to bolster its own defense capability. Reducing […]https://www.defencetalk.com/south-korea-us-to-sharply-expand-arms-trade-in-summit-deal-70767/

DefenceTalkOn November 3rd, three Norwegian F-35 aircraft flew from Fort Worth, Texas and landed at Ørland Air Base, Norway. “Receiving the first three aircraft is a major milestone for Norway. On November 10th, Norway will celebrate First Aircraft Arrival of the first three F-35s on Norwegian soil. Achieving this milestone is a major step towards […]https://www.defencetalk.com/receiving-the-first-f-35-lighting-ii-is-a-major-milestone-for-norway-70739/

DefenceTalkThe United States government on Wednesday approved a $1.1 billion deal to service Qatar’s F-15 fighter jets despite the diplomatic stand-off between the Gulf emirate and its neighbors. Qatar, home to one of the largest US military bases in the Middle East, is locked in a bitter dispute with Washington’s other Arab allies in the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-approves-1-bln-qatar-arms-deal-despite-gulf-crisis-70725/

DefenceTalkBahrain on Tuesday announced it had signed a $3.8 billion deal with Lockheed Martin for 16 upgraded F-16 fighter jets. The Bahrain Defence Force signed the agreement with the US company during a defence exhibition in the Gulf kingdom, home to the US Fifth Fleet, the state-run BNA news agency reported. US President Donald Trump […]https://www.defencetalk.com/bahrain-says-it-signed-3-8-bn-deal-for-f-16-fighter-jets-70687/

DefenceTalkCanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau threatened Wednesday to cancel a major arms buy from the US over a tariffs row, as talks on a North American free trade deal got off to a rocky start. Ottawa was set to purchase 18 new Super Hornets fighter jets from Boeing until the American aerospace firm successfully petitioned […]https://www.defencetalk.com/canada-threatens-to-scrap-arms-buy-as-trade-talks-get-off-to-rough-start-70666/

DefenceTalkBased on the agreement reached between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Russian Federation on the procurement of several armament systems, whereas the Ministry of Defense in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed contracts to procure: the S-400 air defense system, the Kornet-EM system [anti-tank guided missiles—Ed.], the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/saudi-arabian-military-industries-announces-mou-with-russia-70589/

DefenceTalkSaudi Arabia and Britain signed a framework deal for military cooperation, Saudi state media said Tuesday, just two days after Gulf rival Qatar signed a deal to buy jet fighters from the European nation. The agreement came after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed security ties with visiting British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/britain-saudi-arabia-sign-military-cooperation-deal-70513/

DefenceTalkToday the Defence Secretary has welcomed Qatar’s intent to proceed with the purchase of Typhoon aircraft and the further strengthening of the United Kingdom’s defence relationship with the State of Qatar. During a visit to the Gulf state today, Sir Michael Fallon and his Qatari counterpart, Khalid bin Mohammed al Attiyah, signed a Statement of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/qatar-signs-loi-for-24-eurofighter-typhoon-jets-70487/