DefenceTalkNorth Korea threatened a “pre-emptive” nuclear strike against the United States and any other aggressors Thursday as the UN Security Council prepared to adopt tough sanctions against the isolated state. A foreign ministry spokesman also warned that a second Korean war was “unavoidable”, with both the United States and South Korea refusing Pyongyang’s demands to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/north-korea-threatens-pre-emptive-nuclear-strike-on-us-47088/

DefenceTalkArmy commands can start thinking now about submitting study proposals to the Army Study Program Management Office for consideration this summer. Meghan Mariman, director of the Army Study Program Management Office, known as ASPMO, which is part of G-8 at the Pentagon, said that each year, her office pays for about 30 studies at the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/army-studies-range-from-virtual-marksmanship-to-waste-water-reuse-47081/

DefenceTalkChina will increase its defense budget by 10 percent this year. The country’s growing military spending is a trend that has many of its neighbors worried. Beijing sees the increase as natural. China has planned a defense budget for the year 2013 that will total around 90 billion euros. That is an increase of 10.7 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-defends-military-expansion-47079/

DefenceTalkAgustaWestland is pleased to announce that it has signed a contract for a fleet of AW139 twin engine helicopters to equip the Saudi Aeromedical Evacuation Department of the Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The helicopters will be configured with a dedicated aeromedical interior to perform air ambulance operations, with deliveries starting […]https://www.defencetalk.com/saudi-medevac-to-be-equipped-with-aw139-helicopters-47077/

DefenceTalkThe first production Airbus Military A400M new generation airlifter has made its maiden flight, marking a key milestone towards its delivery to the French Air Force. The aircraft, known as MSN7, took off from Seville, Spain, at 11:48 local time (GMT+1) and landed back in Seville 5 hours and 42 minutes later. Experimental Test Pilot […]https://www.defencetalk.com/first-production-airbus-military-a400m-makes-maiden-flight-47075/

DefenceTalkThe second Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II for the Netherlands rolled out of the F-35 production facility on March 2. This is the latest step in the production process leading to its eventual assignment to Eglin AFB, Fla., later this summer. The Netherlands is planning to use this conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) jet, known […]https://www.defencetalk.com/2nd-f-35-for-the-netherlands-rolls-out-of-f-35-production-facility-47086/

DefenceTalkRussia will continue to build up its own defense capabilities according to foreseeable threats stated President Vladimir Putin at a meeting at the Defense Ministry, reports the Voice of Russia’s correspondent from the session. There are multiplying and expanding zones of instability on the planet: with non-stop armed conflicts in the Middle East, Central Asia, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-will-continue-building-up-its-defenses-47084/

DefenceTalkAfter invading Iraq ten years ago, the United States spent $60 billion on a vast reconstruction effort that left behind few successes and a litany of failures, an auditor’s report said Wednesday. The ambitious plan to transform the country after the fall of Saddam Hussein has been marked by half-finished projects and crushed expectations, according […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-wasted-billions-in-iraq-with-few-results-inspector-47072/

DefenceTalkChina plans to raise its central government defense budget by 10.7 percent to 720.2 billion yuan (114.3 billion U.S. dollars) in 2013, according to a budget report submitted to the national legislature for review on Tuesday. The military spending will be used to improve living and working conditions of service people, make the armed forces […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-defense-budget-to-grow-10-7-in-2013-report-47066/

DefenceTalkThe decision by the upper chamber of the Swiss parliament not to release funds for the purchase of new JAS Gripen fighter jets from Sweden has renewed doubt about the deal. On Tuesday, the upper house the Council of States approved the defence ministry purchase by 22 votes to 20, but blocked the necessary funds. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/sweden-sanguine-at-swiss-gripen-jet-purchase-delay-47068/