DefenceTalkA Defense Department report released today describes China’s military modernization and the Chinese army’s interaction with other forces, including those of the United States, a senior Pentagon official said today. The annual report — titled “2013 Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China” — went to Congress today and covers China’s security […]https://www.defencetalk.com/dod-report-on-china-details-military-modernization-47704/

DefenceTalkKAI announced on May 6th that the company concluded the contract for mass producing the FA-50, amounting to approximately 1.1 trillion won with The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (“DAPA”). In accordance with the contract, subsequent to the first mass production contract which was signed on 2011, KAI plans to deploy the aircraft (first production portion) […]https://www.defencetalk.com/south-korea-orders-fa-50-fighters-in-1bn-deal-47701/

DefenceTalkNATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen warned today that further cuts in defense spending by European nations risk reducing the continent’s defense and security to “hot air,” turning the alliance into what he called a “global spectator” rather than a real force on the world stage. “The only way to avoid this is by holding […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-secretary-general-warns-europe-on-defense-cuts-47710/

DefenceTalkThe long-term interests of the defense industry and the Defense Department are aligned, Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter said during a May 3 awards ceremony in McLean, Va. At the ceremony, Carter received the Eisenhower Award from the National Defense Industrial Association. The award recognizes leadership and strategic impact at the highest levels of national […]https://www.defencetalk.com/carter-defense-industry-interests-align-with-those-of-dod-47708/

DefenceTalkThe Pentagon plans to cut its vast civilian workforce by 5-6 percent over the next five years to match similar reductions in the number of US troops, Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Tuesday. “These reductions are largely proportional to military end strength reductions that we proposed,” Carter said at the National Press Club in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pentagon-plans-to-cut-civilian-workforce-47722/

DefenceTalkBeijing on Tuesday dismissed an annual Pentagon report that accused it of widespread cyberspying on the US government, rejecting it as an “irresponsible” attempt to drum up fear of China as a military threat. The paper came as concerns in Washington have grown over Beijing’s double-digit rises in defence spending and a steady hacking campaign […]https://www.defencetalk.com/beijing-says-us-defence-report-hypes-china-threat-47724/

DefenceTalkTests of Russia’s fifth-generation T-50 fighter jets in the Chkalov state flight test center in Akhtubinsk, Astrakhan Region in south Russia may start in July, Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Viktor Bondarev said. “In two months,” he said Monday when asked when the center would start tests of such jets, adding that the first serial […]https://www.defencetalk.com/fifth-generation-russian-jet-tests-may-start-in-july-47712/

DefenceTalkThe helicopter squadron responsible for carrying the President of the United States and his staff, Marine Helicopter Squadron One, received its first of 12 MV-22 Ospreys to be assigned to its fleet, April 5, at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. The Ospreys will conduct presidential support missions, which means these aircraft will carry presidential […]https://www.defencetalk.com/ospreys-delivered-to-marine-presidential-helicopter-squadron-47714/

DefenceTalkUnion Defence Minister A K Antony on Monday said it was not possible to set a time frame for signing the much-awaited deal for the Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) with French company Dassault Aviation. The contract, said to be worth nearly Rs 1 lakh crore, is still at the negotiation stage, a year-and-a-half […]https://www.defencetalk.com/impossible-to-set-time-frame-for-mmrca-deal-antony-47706/

DefenceTalkNorth Korea’s pursuit of nuclear capabilities and development of long-range ballistic missile programs make it one of the most critical U.S. security challenges in Northeast Asia, according to the Defense Department’s first report to Congress on that nation’s military development. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel delivered the report, titled, “Military and Security Developments Involving the Democratic […]https://www.defencetalk.com/dod-report-north-korea-still-critical-us-security-threat-47698/