DefenceTalkFive JAS-39 Gripen aircraft and six pilots have successfully completed 80 refueling contacts with German Airbus 310 MRTT tanker in training within ATARES Program. “The training has increased number of Czech pilots who are able to refuel in the air and advanced capabilities of our flight and, at the same time, advanced combat skills of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/gripens-train-air-to-air-refuelling-from-german-tanker-47487/

DefenceTalkThe Air Force’s $114.1 billion fiscal 2014 budget request will provide for the most capable airpower arm possible, the Air Force chief of staff said here today. Testifying with Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley, Gen. Mark A. Welsh III told the House Armed Services Committee his service’s portion of DOD’s fiscal 2014 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/budget-request-provides-for-best-air-force-possible-welsh-says-47492/

DefenceTalkThe Army’s assistant secretary for Installations, Energy and Environment was back on Capitol Hill along with Defense Department and service counterparts to request another round of base realignment and closure in fiscal year 2015. Katherine Hammack testified before the House Appropriations Committee, April 12, that as the Army reduces its force structure and end strength […]https://www.defencetalk.com/army-requests-another-brac-round-in-fiscal-year-2015-47497/

DefenceTalkDefence and security company Saab has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for training and simulation system collaboration with Anacom, a Brazilian company that is a supplier to the Brazilian Defence Forces. The co-operation with Anacom is to evaluate and support activities to jointly supply Virtual Training and Simulation systems or similar systems to Brazilian […]https://www.defencetalk.com/saab-expands-co-operation-with-anacom-in-brazil-47483/

DefenceTalkGermany is in talks with Israel to buy weaponized drones for its military that are seen as more technologically advanced than US ones, the weekly Der Spiegel reported. The news magazine’s Monday edition said the German defence ministry had already held two meetings with Israeli military officials, in November 2012 and February 2013, on the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/germany-looking-to-buy-weaponised-drones-from-israel-47468/

DefenceTalkLockheed Martin’s PAC-3 Missile successfully detected, tracked and intercepted a tactical ballistic missile (TBM) in a Lower Tier Project Office flight test today at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. Two PAC-3 Missiles were ripple-fired in the test per current doctrine. The first interceptor destroyed the target and the second PAC-3 Missile self-destructed as planned. Mission […]https://www.defencetalk.com/lockheed-pac-3-missile-intercepts-and-destroys-tactical-ballistic-missile-in-new-test-47464/

DefenceTalkThe large, multiyear, single prime contract model is yielding to a small, short-term, multivendor model in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) command and control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) market. By 2017, spending will focus on maintenance and incremental upgrades to mature technologies. New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, US DoD C4ISR […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-dod-c4isr-spending-to-focus-on-maintenance-of-existing-platforms-47457/

DefenceTalkAgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, has officially unveiled the latest generation AW169 AAS military helicopter during a dedicated ceremony held at the Army Aviation Association of America Annual Professional Forum and Exposition in Fort Worth, Texas (April 10th-13th) today. The AW169 AAS is an advanced twin-engine helicopter with the capability to meet all US Army Armed […]https://www.defencetalk.com/agustawestland-unveils-the-aw169-aas-47454/

DefenceTalkThe shadow of sequestration in 2013 and ongoing fiscal uncertainty will affect critical programs and objectives for years to come, Air Force officials said yesterday at a Pentagon briefing on the service’s fiscal year 2014 budget request. While Air Force officials have scrambled to minimize impacts on readiness and people, the bow-wave of reductions, deferments, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/air-force-budget-official-outlines-fiscal-2014-funding-request-47452/

DefenceTalkSoldiers will see a one percent pay raise in 2014. Their untaxed paycheck will also benefit from a 3.9 percent increase in basic allowance for housing and a 3.4 percent increase in basic allowance for subsistence as well. The Army announced April 10 its fiscal year 2014 budget request, which amounts to $129.7 billion — […]https://www.defencetalk.com/in-2014-soldiers-get-1-percent-raise-3-9-percent-increase-in-bah-47450/