DefenceTalkRussia insisted Tuesday it would deliver anti-aircraft missiles to Syria despite international criticism, as fears of spillover from the conflict grew after three Lebanese soldiers were killed in a border-area attack. Israel warned Russia it would “know what to do” if the delivery went ahead, and Syria’s top rebel commander gave Hezbollah, the powerful Lebanese […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-to-send-syria-missiles-as-spillover-fears-grow-47958/

DefenceTalkDozens of Afghan National Army soldiers, Afghan Uniformed Police, and a smattering of U.S. Army Soldiers serving as mission advisors, sat by their heavy packs on the gravel, talking and laughing in quiet anticipation, waiting for a sound. After several hours of checks and double-checks, roll calls and final updates from the command center, the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/air-assault-the-afghan-way-47946/

DefenceTalkChinese hackers have stolen top-secret blueprints to Australia’s new intelligence agency headquarters, a report said Tuesday, but Foreign Minister Bob Carr insisted ties with Beijing would not be hurt. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation said the documents taken in the cyber hit included cabling layouts for the huge building’s security and communications systems, its floor plan, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-steals-new-australia-spy-agency-blueprints-report-47939/

DefenceTalkThe Army’s fiscal year 2014 Equipment Modernization Plan, now working its way through Congress, prioritizes equipping warfighters in Afghanistan while simultaneously preparing for an uncertain future. Programs in the modernization strategy are grouped within ten “portfolios,” but some of those programs the Army has called out as being priorities for the service. Several programs that […]https://www.defencetalk.com/armys-2014-modernization-plan-prioritizes-soldiers-in-fight-47935/

DefenceTalkModernization programs and the procurement of advanced platforms have lent momentum to the defence market in Africa and the Middle East. This is particularly true for the Gulf states of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which are looking to develop their military capabilities in the light of civil unrest and international instability. New […]https://www.defencetalk.com/military-modernization-in-africa-middle-east-drives-defense-market-growth-47929/

DefenceTalkAlenia Aermacchi, General Dynamics Canada, and DRS Technologies Canada Ltd. (TCL) have signed a comprehensive teaming agreement to compete for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) upcoming Fixed-Wing Search and Rescue Replacement Program. The team will offer a market variant of the C-27J Spartan, Alenia Aermacchi’s best-selling medium tactical military aircraft. The offering will leverage […]https://www.defencetalk.com/team-offers-c-27j-for-canadas-fixed-wing-sar-47927/

DefenceTalkKANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan: An MQ-1 Predator assigned here recently became the first Predator to pass 20,000 flying hours over Afghanistan, a feat equivalent to flying 15 hours every other day, for 2,667 days. While the Predator remotely piloted aircraft program surpassed one million hours of total development, test, training and combat in August 2011, this […]https://www.defencetalk.com/predator-passes-20000-hour-mark-in-afghanistan-47933/

DefenceTalkKADENA AIR BASE, Japan: Japan Air Self Defense Force rescue squadron crews safely recovered the pilot who ejected from a Kadena-based F-15 aircraft over the Pacific Ocean approximately 70 miles east of Okinawa at around 9 a.m. May 27. The pilot is in stable condition and is being evaluated at a military medical facility. The […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-15-crashes-in-pacific-pilot-safe-47931/

DefenceTalkJordan, which shares borders with war-torn Syria, said on Sunday it is in talks with “friendly countries” to deploy Patriot missiles on its territory after a similar move by Turkey. “Jordan wishes to deploy Patriot missile batteries in order to boost its defence capabilities and help protect the country,” Information Minister Mohammad Momani told a […]https://www.defencetalk.com/jordan-seeks-to-deploy-patriot-missiles-minister-47924/

DefenceTalkBoeing has received the first on-orbit signals from the fifth Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) satellite it is delivering to the U.S. Air Force to give warfighters greater access to fast, secure communications that help them complete their missions more safely and effectively. After reaching final orbit, WGS-5 will complete several maneuvers and tests before beginning […]https://www.defencetalk.com/boeing-built-wgs-5-satellite-enhances-tactical-communications-for-warfighters-47922/