DefenceTalkAnother milestone has been reached in the UK’s return to carrier strike operations. Personnel from five Royal Navy ships took part in the latest validation exercise, learning how to work as part of a battlegroup with the nation’s new aircraft carriers. The UK Carrier Strike Group exercise was run by the US Navy and involved […]https://www.defencetalk.com/carrier-strike-operations-a-step-closer-for-royal-navy-71116/

DefenceTalkThe Prime Minister is expected to make the announcement as part of the UK-France Summit at The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where she will discuss the UK’s strong and wide-ranging bilateral relationship with President Macron. The helicopters, which will provide logistic support to French troops, are part of a wider effort to increase stability in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/uk-to-deploy-chinooks-to-support-french-operations-in-africa-71094/

DefenceTalkA multi-billion pound contract to supply Qatar with 24 Typhoon aircraft has been signed today, supporting thousands of British manufacturing jobs. The Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson and his Qatari counterpart, Khalid bin Mohammed al Attiyah, oversaw the signing of the deal for 24 Typhoons, building on the Statement of Intent signed in September. In addition, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/qatar-signs-6bn-eurofighter-contract-70987/

DefenceTalkGordon Brown has claimed the UK was “misled” over Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction and the Iraq War was unjustified. The former prime minister, who was chancellor when the decision to go to war in 2003 was made, has revealed top-secret US intelligence casting serious doubt over the dictator’s destructive capabilities was not shared […]https://www.defencetalk.com/uk-misled-and-iraq-war-unjustified-says-gordon-brown-70742/

DefenceTalkA large number of national representatives currently attending the General Assembly in New York have already signed the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. They seek a world free from “doomsday weapons,” as secretary-general Antonio Guterres put it. Yet the nuclear powers themselves have so far refused to sign on. Who has nuclear […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nuclear-weapons-who-are-the-worlds-haves-and-have-nots-70519/

DefenceTalkTwo B-2 Spirit stealth bombers joined B-1B Lancers and B-52H Stratofortresses June 9, 2017, to participate in theater bomber assurance and deterrence operations. Three B-52Hs from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, and three B-1Bs from Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, along with approximately 800 Airmen, are currently supporting exercises Saber Strike and Baltic Operations in the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-air-force-b-2-spirit-stealth-bombers-arrive-in-uk-70168/

DefenceTalkBritish Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson on Monday downplayed differences with EU partners over the bloc’s military ambitions, saying London supported their efforts to bolster defence cooperation. Reports on Friday put Brexit-bound Britain in the dock for blocking the launch of an EU military headquarters because it opposed any suggestion the unit should have an active […]https://www.defencetalk.com/uks-johnson-plays-down-eu-spat-over-military-hq-69962/

DefenceTalkBoeing the U.S. Navy, the Royal Australian Air Force and the United Kingdom Royal Air Force will continue modernizing global maritime patrol capabilities through a $2.2 billion contract awarded March 30 for at least 17 P-8A Poseidon aircraft. The agreement also includes options for 32 additional aircraft, as well as money for long-lead parts for […]https://www.defencetalk.com/2-2-billion-boeing-contract-funds-p-8-aircraft-for-u-s-australia-and-u-k-69660/

DefenceTalkBritish army equipment including tanks and self-propelled guns on Wednesday arrived by boat in Estonia, part of a NATO move to reinforce its eastern flank to deter a militarily resurgent Russia, according to Estonia’s defence forces. The 130 units of equipment arrived at the Paldiski seaport in northern Estonia but will be transferred to the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/british-tanks-join-nato-battle-group-in-estonia-69567/

DefenceTalkThe State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the United Kingdom for Hellfire missiles. The estimated cost is $150 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today. The Government of the United Kingdom (UK) requested a possible sale of 1,000 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/uk-to-buy-hellfire-ii-semi-active-laser-missiles-69528/