DefenseItaly and Russia to strengthen their relations

Rome, Italy - Italian Chief of Staff visited Moscow

Italian chief of Staff, general Rolando Mosca Moschini, visited Moscow, heading a delegation which included two more generals. Mosca Moschini met Russian first junior Minister of Defence, Anatoli Kyashnin. This... more

DefenseRussia not to join Nato summit in Prague

Mosca, Russia - In November the three Baltic Republics are likely to join Nato

Russian Foreign Ministry officials affirmed that Russia will not join Nato summit in November in Prague. Czech president Vaclav Havel invited officially Russian president Vladimir Putin, but Kremlin had... more

DefenseChina to test missile which escapes from other missiles

Washington, Usa - According to Pentagon’s officials

Pentagon’s officials reported China to test a missile able to escape from antimissile defense. During last month’s test, CSS-5 missile was supposed to have launched various objets which would act as... more

DefenseEuropeans in advantge to win a contract to supply Polish Air Force

Warsaw, Poland - 48 fighters to meet Nato standars

European aeronautical manufacturers may have an advantage in the competition to supply Warsaw government with 48 combat aircraft. At the moment F-16 made by Us Lockheed Martin must in fact compete with... more

DefenseWashington to sell six C-130Es to Pakistan Air Force

Washington, Usa - For USD 75m

According to Pentagon officials, Washington is going to sell 6 C-130E military planes to Pakistan. The sale, which for Pentagon will not affect in anyway the political-military balance of the region, "will... more

Defense"No cut for Eurofighters"

London, UK - British Defence Ministry's denial

A British Defence Ministry's spokesman denied any change in their orders for the Eurofighters. In the previous days, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, asked the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to cut... more

DefenseNetherlands, Spain and Belgium to join Occar

Rome, Italy - Currently 4 countries form the Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation at

The Netherlands, Spain and Belgium will join Occar by the end of the year. Occar, Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation, was created in 1996 by Italy, France, Germany and Uk: it represents over... more

DefenseMig Corporation to modernize Slovak Mig-29 fleet

Bratislava, Slovak Republic - The country could enter Nato by the end of 2002

Mig Corporation, the Russian aeronautical manufacturer, announced to have reached an agreement with the Slovak ministry of Defence to modernize its Mig-29 fleet. This "re-styling" operation is to allow... more

DefenseAustria as well to enter Eurofighter program

Vienna, Austria - Eads said

Eads, the European aerospace giant, announced that Austria as well could soon join Eurofighter program, by the acquisition of 24 aircraft. Philippe Camus and Rainer Hertrich, CEOs at Eads said: "the Eurofighter... more

DefenseTurkish forces took command of the Kabul airport

Kabul, Afghanistan - Thus replacing Royal Air Force troops

Yesterday, Turkish armed forces handed over command at the Kabul international airport, thus replacing British Royal Air Force in command since last January. RAF troops worked until yesterday to restore... more

DefenseAustralia will likely join Joint Strike Fighter program

Sydney, Australia - With USD 150m in ten years

After, two days ago, Italy opted to enter the Us Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program, the ultimate generation of multi role combat aircraft, now Australia as well could soon join the projetc. If Sydney... more

DefenseWar against terror: Italian minister of Defence fears new attacks

Rome, Italy - "We know for sure it's going to happen"

Despite himself confirmed not to know "how, and when", the Italian minister of Defence, Antonio Martino, stated: "we know for sure that a dramatic terror attack is going to take place somewhere in the... more

DefenseMore than 9,000 Italian soldiers engaged in missions abroad

Rome, Italy - The third largest international force after US and UK

Italian troops engaged in missions abroad - mainly for peacekeeping - are over 9,000, the third largest international force after Us and UK. The largest contingent is engaged in Kosovo (4200 troops),... more

DefenseLockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to take care of the Us Coast Guard

Washington, Usa - For USD 16,95bn

The joint venture between two Us defence giants, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, has been awarded of a USD 16,95bn contract to renew, overhaul and repair Us Coast Guard planes, ships and technologies,... more

DefenseAn Italian will lead Nato's Kfor

Rome, Italy - Italy to withdraw 1000 soldiers by the end of the year

The Italian Defence Joint Chief of Staff, general Rolando Mosca Moschini, announced that an Italian general is going to lead Nato's Kfor troops in Kosovo for a year. The new commanding officer should be... more

DefenseCecchi to replace Cabigiosu as head of the Interforces Operational Command (Coi)

Rome, Italy - Cabigiosu left after a 43-year service

General Filiberto Cecchi replaced general Carlo Cabigiosu as the head of the Italian Interforces Operational Command (Coi) established in 1997. Cabigiosu, who has been the first Italian appointed as head... more

DefenseSES Americom signed a double agreement with Arianespace and International Launch Services

Luxembourg - For the launch of 4 satellites

The satellite company SES Americom, subsidiary of the Luxembourg-based SES Global, announced yesterday the signment of a double agreement, one with Arianespace and one with International Launch Services... more

DefenseUK selling arms to India and Pakistan

London, Uk - Despite escalating tensions between the two nuclear powers

The UK continued to grant arms export licences to India and Pakistan despite escalating tensions between the two nuclear powers. It emerged on Wednesday that even as British nationals were told to leave... more

DefenseIsrael recalls reservists

Jerusalem, Israel - After the chain of bombings of the previous days

Israeli army started recalling reservists yesterday in accordance with emergency procedures. The recall follows the chain of bombings that has been bathing Israeli streets in blood for days. The announcement... more

DefenseFrench aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle quit operations in Afghanistan

Paris, France - It weighed the anchor last December from Tolone

According to French minister of Defence officials, the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which sailed from Tolone last December, yesterday left Arabian sea to come back to France. The nuclear-powered... more

DefenseIraq shot surface-to-air missiles against Us and British fighters

Baghdad, Iraq - Within the "no-fly zone"

Iraq confirmed today that some of its anti-aircraft artillery posts launched yesterday surface-to-air missiles against Us and British combat aircraft in the "no-fly zone". These, sometimes daily, incidents,... more

DefenseSaddam Hussein to do some shopping in Kiev

Kiev, Ukraine - 4 warships and two Antonov

Saddam Hussein regime showed interest in the acquisition of 4 warships and two aircraft from Ukraine. Iraq could be in fact interested in the purchase of two airplanes made-by Antonov, the Ukraine-based... more

DefenseAfghanistan: US forces found 30 surface-to-air missiles

Washington, Usa - After searches over the past two weeks

US forces in Afghanistan had found 30 surface-to-air HN-5 missiles (the Chinese version of the SA-7) in an arms cache in the southeastern part of the country. Searches over the past two weeks had uncovered... more

DefenseTeen-aged hacker violated Pentagon 'secrets

Washington, Usa - Now Fbi wants to know how

At first glance it looks like the screenplay of a Hollywood movie, but it's true, a teen-aged hacker, Markus, violated the hi-tech and highly sophisticated software of the Us department of Defence. Fbi... more

DefenseItalian Joint Chief of Staff to visit Albania

Tirana, Albania - He will meet country's establishment

The Italian Joint Chief of Staff, general Rolando Mosca Moschini, starting from today is in official visit in Albania, where in fact, he is going to meet the Republic president Rexhepoo Meidani, the premier... more

DefenseWorks to build up the first space-shield base in Alaska started last Friday

Fort Greely, Usa - It will be ready to start service in September 2004

Workers and personnel on the Us Defence department started last Friday works to build up the first base which is going to host missiles-anti-missiles involved in the space-shield program hardly pushed... more

DefenseA wall to separate Israel and West Bank

Tel Aviv, Israel - Works started yesterday

With the inauguration ceremony held by the ministry of Defence, yesterday Israel started the works to build up the wall that, acccording to Tel Aviv, will be able, by the separation of Israel and West... more

DefenseRussia quit "Start 2" treaty

Moscow, Russia - After Washington got out of the Abm treaty

After Washington got out of the Abm treaty to pursue its space-shield program, Russia decided to quit the "Start 2" treaty. A part from a political point of view, Moscow's governement decision will not... more

DefenseUsa to supply missiles to Switzerland Air Force fighters

Washington, Usa - An operation worth USD 104m

Next July 6th, Us Pentagon is going to display Switzerland its offer to provide the European country's F/A 18 combat aicraft with air-to-air missiles AIM 9X Sidewinder. The deal, which is worth USD 104m,... more

DefenseA400M: Portugal's giving up to delay Bundestag decision

Berlin, Germany - According to Cdu/csu spokesman

For Dietrich Austermann, spokesman of Cdu/Csu party and member of the German parliament Budget commission, Portugal's choice to quit A400m European project "could likely have unforeseen consequences on... more

DefensePentagon to test today its anti-missile system

Washington, Usa - Thus truly abandoning the Abm treaty

Today in the Pacific ocean, Us Pentagon is going to test its anti-missile defence system, an exercise by which Washington will thus truly abandon the Abm treaty signed in 1972. A Us Navy missile will... more

DefenseOver 84,600 reservists recalled in active duty

USA -

This week, the Army and the Air Force each announce increases of reservists on active duty in support of the partial mobilization, while the Navy and Marine Corps announces decreases of reservists. The... more

DefenseNato's Awacs to watch over Eu summit in Seville

Brussels, Belgium - Scheduled for next June 21-22

According to Spanish minister of Defence Federico Trillo, "one or two" Nato's Awacs aircraft will watch over the skies of Seville during next Eu Council meeting, which runs between June 21-22 in the Andalusian... more

DefenseUsa to sell its made-by air-to-air missiles to Kuwait

Washington, Usa - In defence against "hostile neighbours"

According to Us department of Defence, Kuwait is likely to purchase its national made-by air-to-air missiles in order to be able to defend itself against what the Pentagon defined as "hostile neighbours".... more

DefenseEADS set to clinch German army deal

London, Great Britain

A consortium including EADS, the European aerospace and defence group, and MobilCom, the telecommunications operator, is expected to scoop a €6.6bn ($6.2bn) contract to take over the telecomms and c... more

DefenseAlso The Netherlands in JSF project

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

After a majority approval of the Dutch parliament, the country entered in the U.S. Lockheed Martin's Joint Strike Fighter aircraft project. The parliament approved a financement of 800 USDm for the realization... more

DefenseOperation Enduring Freedom: Pentagon sent an expert team in Uzbekistan

Washington, Usa - To check and grant air safety in missions in Afghanistan

Us Pentagon decided to send in Uzbekistan (not far from the Afghan borders) a team of experts to check procedures and make recommendations to keep multiservice aircraft successfully flying missions into... more

Defense"Kunlun" aeroengine to power China's airforce

Peking, China

China has independently developed its first advanced aeroengine, which will soon be ready to power its military aircraft, aviation industrial officials said yesterday. "Development of the 'Kunlun' aeroengine... more

DefenseUS Industries are designing a new "anti-terrorist dirigible", "Zeppelin" based

Berlin, Germany - Boeing and Cargolifter Germany involved on project

Mr. Nick Cook, aeronautic defense and "Jane's Defense weekly magazine" consultant, revealed that Boeing, Cargolifter Germany and a third industry are developing - under USA Department of State request... more

DefenseFBI puts on alert for finding of ground-to-air SA-7 missile in a Saudi Arabian USA base

New York, USA - Maybe there was an unsuccessful attempt to launch missile

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has alerted again about "Al Qaeda" attacks against civil USA aircrafts using ground-to-air missiles. This warning has been communicated considering the discovery of... more

DefenseNato-Russia agreement: Italian Defense junior Minister will meet the chairman of Russian Duma Defense committee

Rome, Italy - "We have to make operative the political agreement signed last Tuesday"

Italian Defense junior Minister, Salvatore Cicu, will meet general Andrei Nikolaev, chairman of State Duma, or Russian Lower House, Defense committee, next Tuesday in Rome. Italian junior Minister declared... more

Defense200 Italians soldiers fell ill with "tumoral pathologies" due to Balkans' mission

Rome, Italy - 16 deaths

The Italian "Osservatorio per i diritti e la tutela delle Forze Armate" denounces that total amount of Italians soldiers fell ill with "tumoral pathologies" after Balkans' mission is 200. Among these,... more

DefenseThree missiles on USA forces camp in Gardez

Islamabad, Pakistan - Gardez operations' command USA armed forces against Al Qaeda

The Pakistan press agency "Aip" reveals that today three missiles have been launched on USA armed forces command camp in Gardez, Afghanistan. More details will be released during next hours. "Gardez camp"... more

DefenseImportant variations in Poland new combat aircraft acquisition competition

In its tender for the supply of 48 jet fighters, Poland will favor bidders who offer offset investments in excess of 100% of the fighter jet cost, estimated at USD 3.5 bln, deputy Minister of Defense... more

DefenseReservists in USA at over 83.000

Washington, USA

This week the Army announces an increase of 2,334 reservists on active duty in support of the partial mobilization, while the Air Force announces an increase of 176 reservists. The Navy and Marine Corps... more

DefenseBoeing X45 combat UAV starts test flights

Edwards, USA

The Boeing X-45A Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle, or UCAV, technology demonstration aircraft has made recently its first first flight. This step marks the beginning of flight testing of the first unmanned... more

DefenseBosnia: SFOR blocks Serb aircraft for "supposed spying"

Sarajevo, Bosnia - General Milan Torbica command relieved

SFOR - Nato Stabilisation Force - ordered to ground stop all the aircraft of Srpska Republic Air Force. At the same time the Serb-Bosniac air defence - general in command Milan Torbica - was relieved by... more

DefenseDenmark signs agreement for JSF acquisition

Copenhagen, Denmark

Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics E. C. "Pete" Aldridge and his Danish counterpart, National Armaments Director Jorgen Hansen-Nord, today signed Memorandum of Understanding... more