DefenceTalkItalian police on Tuesday arrested the chief executive of aerospace and defence giant Finmeccanica for corruption and embezzlement in relation to alleged bribes given to the Indian government, Italian media reported. Giuseppe Orsi had been under investigation for months and had denied any wrongdoing in the deal for the sale of 12 AgustaWestland helicopters to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/italy-defence-firm-chief-arrested-for-india-bribes-reports-46794/

DefenceTalkIndia on Tuesday launched an inquiry into reports of alleged bribery of government officials by Finmeccanica, after the head of the Italian aerospace giant was arrested. Italian police arrested chairman and chief executive Giuseppe Orsi as part of the country’s investigation into alleged kickbacks paid to Indian government officials, media reports in Italy said. The […]https://www.defencetalk.com/india-orders-probe-into-italy-chopper-bribe-allegations-46762/

DefenceTalkNorthrop Grumman Corporation’s AN/AAQ-37 Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System (DAS), developed for the F-35 Lightning II, has added hostile ground fire detection to its capabilities by successfully detecting and locating tanks that were firing live rounds during preparations for a military exercise. While being flown on Northrop Grumman’s BAC 1-11 test aircraft, the DAS detected and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/northrop-aaq-37-sensor-system-demos-hostile-fire-detection-capability-46757/

DefenceTalkCommander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command sent a personal for message to commanders and commanding officers Feb. 8 about how he plans to maintain fleet readiness through fiscal uncertainty. Adm. Bill Gortney sent the message to discuss some of the impacts on the fleet following Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta’s approval to delay the scheduled deployment […]https://www.defencetalk.com/fleet-forces-outlines-fiscal-impact-on-readiness-for-commanders-46755/

DefenceTalkGeneral Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI), a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), tactical reconnaissance radars, and electro-optic surveillance systems, today announced that it will have a significant presence at the upcoming IDEX show in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Feb. 17-21, including a full-scale mock-up of its new RPA, Predator XP. “With […]https://www.defencetalk.com/ga-asi-to-exhibit-full-scale-model-of-predator-xp-at-idex-46752/

DefenceTalkThe debate surrounding Pentagon sequestration—the planned reductions to Pentagon spending scheduled to go into effect in March—is raging. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta has said the spending reductions would lead to the U.S. becoming “a second rate power.” Chairman of the House Armed Service Committee, Buck McKeon (R-Calif.), said, “It’s going to start costing lives.” […]https://www.defencetalk.com/the-360-billion-gorilla-in-the-sequestration-debate-46750/

DefenceTalkA National Audit Office review of the Government’s strategy for cyber security indicates that, although it is at an early stage, activities are already beginning to deliver benefits. The cost of cyber crime to the UK is currently estimated to be between £18 billion and £27 billion. Business, government and the public must therefore be […]https://www.defencetalk.com/the-uk-cyber-security-strategy-landscape-review-46759/

DefenceTalkAn expert panel on Tuesday urged Canada to leverage hundreds of billions of dollars in planned defense spending to build up its defense sector, in order to bolster its economy. In a report, the panel led by Tom Jenkins, a special advisor to Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose, calls for “using military procurement as an […]https://www.defencetalk.com/canada-urged-to-become-major-arms-producer-46764/

DefenceTalkFrench President Francois Hollande’s visit to India this week is dominated by trade issues, including a $12-billion deal for Rafale fighter jets, nuclear energy and potential tie-ups for new metro lines. Hollande will be accompanied by five ministers including Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. The chiefs of more than 60 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/major-fighter-jet-deal-trade-dominate-hollandes-india-trip-46745/

DefenceTalkNorth Korea staged an apparent nuclear test Tuesday in a striking act of defiance that, now confirmed, is sure to trigger global condemnation from enemies and allies alike. Regional seismic monitoring agencies detected a seismic event, of a magnitude between 4.9 and 5.1, at 11:57 am (0257 GMT) with the epicentre in the same location […]https://www.defencetalk.com/artificial-quake-detected-in-north-korea-46741/