DefenceTalkRussia and Belarus agreed on Tuesday a draft treaty on the exchange of geostrategic information between their military, Belarusian Defense Minister Yuri Zhadobin said. “We have approved a draft treaty on exchange of geostrategic information between our armed forces,” Zhadobin said at a news briefing after a meeting of the joint board of the Russian […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-belarus-agree-geostrategic-data-exchange-47571/

DefenceTalkUS Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel headed to Israel on Sunday in a weeklong trip to the Middle East that will be dominated by worries over Iran’s nuclear program and Syria’s raging civil war. In his first trip to the region since taking over as Pentagon chief nearly two months ago, Hagel planned to discuss with […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pentagon-chief-heads-to-israel-after-us-arms-deal-unveiled-47550/

DefenceTalkBeginning Aug. 1, 2013, every Soldier who elects to transfer their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to a family member will incur an additional four years in the Army, without regard to their time in service. “This policy was drafted in 2009 and takes effect Aug. 1, 2013. It is important that we inform Soldiers of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/army-post-911-gi-bill-transfer-policy-to-take-effect-august-1-47546/

DefenceTalkThe top leaders from Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force Reserve and National Guard were on Capitol Hill here April 17 to provide statements and answer questions regarding their FY14 budget proposals. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., the chairwoman of the full U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the chairman of the Subcommittee […]https://www.defencetalk.com/reserve-guard-leaders-discuss-fy14-budget-47544/

DefenceTalkAgustaWestland is pleased to announce the delivery of the first AW101 VVIP helicopter to Turkmenistan Airlines. The contract for two AW101 VVIP helicopters was signed at the 2010 Farnborough International Air Show. Assembly of the aircraft took place at AgustaWestland’s Yeovil facility in South West England. AgustaWestland has also provided pilot and maintainer training and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/first-of-two-aw101-vvip-helicopters-delivered-to-turkmenistan-47540/

DefenceTalkNorthrop Grumman Corporation has launched CUTLASS, its latest generation unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), expanding its range of industry-leading capabilities in unmanned systems for the remote handling and surveillance of hazardous threats. CUTLASS has been designed, developed and manufactured by Northrop Grumman in the U.K., and includes significant advances in technology and performance and a range […]https://www.defencetalk.com/northrop-launches-cutlass-next-generation-unmanned-ground-vehicle-47536/

DefenceTalkSpeaking to a Senate panel about the effects of sequestration on the national security environment, the director of national intelligence said today that he’s “seen this movie before.” During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on current and future worldwide threats, James R. Clapper said he served through the last round of budget cuts 20 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/cuts-make-intelligence-failures-likely-top-intel-official-says-47534/

DefenceTalkDefence Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman says the government has approved the purchase of an upgraded and expanded Seasprite helicopter fleet for the New Zealand Defence Force. A total of eight Seasprites (plus two spare airframes) will be purchased from the United States company Kaman Aerospace in a NZ$242 million dollar deal, which includes a training […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nz-seasprite-helicopter-project-approved-47528/

DefenceTalkThe Air Force told Congress yesterday the budget sequester will lead to a marked decrease in force readiness by October, including reduced flying hours and unit stand-downs which will in turn lead to long-term degradation of combat readiness. In a joint statement submitted to the committee, Lt. Gen. Burton M. Field, the Air Force’s deputy […]https://www.defencetalk.com/services-outline-air-combat-assets-in-light-of-budget-cuts-47532/

DefenceTalkBAE Systems Regional Aircraft has delivered on time and on budget two BAe 146-200QC (Quick Change) aircraft that have been converted from commercial to military configuration for use by the Royal Air Force. After a period of familiarisation and operational trials, both aircraft have now been declared as Released To Service (RTS) by the United […]https://www.defencetalk.com/bae-systems-delivers-bae-146c-mk-3-aircraft-to-the-raf-47538/