DefenceTalkRussia’s state arms exporter said Wednesday that its order portfolio stood at $34 billion as of June 1. Rosoboronexport delivered $6.5 billion worth of weaponry to foreign customers in the first half of this year, deputy head Igor Sevastyanov announced, adding that the current order portfolio included contracts with 67 countries. Russia, which last year […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russias-weaponry-exporter-reports-34bln-in-orders-48283/

DefenceTalkDefence and security company Saab has received an order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) for reserve materiel regarding Gripen for the years 2014–2016. The order’s total value amounts to approximately MSEK 184. This order for the three-year period provides options for placing suborders and has been configured within the framework of the previously […]https://www.defencetalk.com/saab-wins-swedish-gripen-support-order-48291/

DefenceTalkIn a matter of a few weeks, the U.S. Navy has begun a journey that could well revolutionize airborne operations at sea. On May 8, an unmanned aerial system (UAS) was successfully launched by catapult from the deck of the USS George H.W Bush. The UAS itself, the X-47B built by Northrop Grumman, was developed […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-navy-takes-first-steps-into-the-world-of-carrier-based-uas-48289/

DefenceTalkThe US military is reviewing its rules of engagement to deal with the growing threat of cyber crime, military chief Martin Dempsey said Thursday. Dempsey, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest-ranking officer in the US military, said the review was in response to soaring cyber attacks. “The Department of Defense has […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-army-reviews-rules-of-engagement-over-cyber-threat-48274/

DefenceTalkChina and South Korea will keep pushing to end North Korea’s nuclear program, their leaders declared Thursday at a high-profile summit between Pyongyang’s closest ally and its key rival. “We have agreed that under any circumstances, North Korea’s nuclear (weapons) are unacceptable and confirmed that the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula is of common interest […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-south-korea-agree-to-push-north-korea-denuclearization-48272/

DefenceTalkDefence budgets in the Asia Pacific region will overtake the United States and Canada by 2021, according to a study by respected analysts IHS Jane’s published on Tuesday. Weapons spending in China and other Asia Pacific countries is expected to rise 35 percent above its 2013 level to $501 billion (383 billion euros) by 2021, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/asia-pacific-defence-budgets-to-outstrip-north-america-by-2021-48269/

DefenceTalkThe US Army will scrap 12 combat brigades as part of a budget-cutting plan to slash the size of the force after a decade of war, chief of staff General Ray Odierno said Tuesday. Calling the move the biggest reorganization of the Army since World War II, the general outlined how the force would reach […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-army-outlines-plans-to-cut-brigades-48267/

DefenceTalkSatellite imagery has revealed new tunneling work at North Korea’s nuclear test site, but nothing that points to an imminent detonation, a US research institute said Wednesday. The activity appears to have begun in late April — at the height of a recent surge in inter-Korean tensions — and gathered momentum over the next few […]https://www.defencetalk.com/satellite-images-show-tunnelling-at-north-korea-test-site-48264/

DefenceTalkAgustaWestland is pleased to announce that the first ICH-47F Chinook for the Italian Army successfully accomplished its maiden flight on June 24th at Vergiate in Italy. The aircraft took to the air for 15 minutes, performing as expected whilst carrying out basic handling tests and main systems checks. This ICH-47F Chinook is the first of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/first-italian-army-ich-47f-chinook-performs-its-maiden-flight-48258/

DefenceTalkThe Army’s top aviation acquisition leader engaged industry members and community leaders on the future of Army aviation during an “Update for Industry” June 18 at The Summit. Maj. Gen. Tim Crosby, program executive officer for aviation, spoke to members of the local chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army, where he emphasized balance, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/army-aviation-executive-updates-industry-members-48256/