Defense
5,888 news found
DefenseFrance confirms Russian interest in Mistral class helicopter carrier
Paris, France - The words of defense minister, Laurent Teisseire
The French government confirmed the Russian interest for a Mistral class amphibious assault ship, Paris's defence minister, Laurent Teisseire, stated today, explaining that this interest has been expressed... more
DefenseChina to unveil new missiles during October 1 celebrations
Beijing, China - According to military sources they should level the Asian country with USA and Russia
China is going to unveil five new types of missiles during the National Day on October 1, 60th anniversary of the revolution that brought to the birth of the People's Republic of China. The newspaper "The... more
DefenseRaytheon gets support contract for Taiwan's Patriot missiles
Tewksbury, USA - The deal is worth US$26.9 million
Raytheon announced today it has been awarded $26.9 million contract for technical assistance in support of Taiwan's Patriot Air and Missile Defense System. This award from the US Army Aviation and Missile... more
DefenseItalian Navy: handover in Lebanon for UNIFIL maritime force's command
Rome, Italy - After three months
"Today, August 31, in Beirut, Italian rear admiral Ruggiero Di Biase left command of the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) maritime force in Lebanon, named Task Force 448, to German rear... more
DefenseSaudi Arabia might buy Russian armaments for US$2 billion
Moscow, Russia - Helicopters, tanks, combat vehicles and air defence systems
The government of Saudi Arabia might be close to purchase Russian-made armaments for a total value of US$2 billion, a source withing Moscow's defense industry told the news agency "Interfax". "Work... more
DefenseAfghanistan: two Italian helicopters under attack
Farah, Afghanistan - No injuries among the troops
Two Italian army Agusta A-129 Mangusta helicopters have been attacked this morning by Taliban rebels at Pusth Rud, about 20 km North of Farah, in Afghanistan, the Italian command in Herat reported, adding... more
DefenseUS$2.4 billion for aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt's refuelling and complex overhaul
Newport News, USA - To replace the cores of the ship's nuclear reactors
The U.S. Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman a contract valued at approximately US$2.4 billion for the refuelling and complex overhaul (RCOH) of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS Theodore Roosevelt... more
DefenseRussia might buy a French helicopter carrier
Ulan Bator, Mongolia - Worth between € 300 and € 400 million
Russia would be close to purchase a French amphibious assault ship, Mistral class, by the end of 2009, the chief of general staff colonel general Nikolai Makarov yesterday told the journalists in a press... more
DefenseIndia grounds its fleet of carrier-based Harriers
New Delhi, India - Following a recent fatal crash
The Indian Navy decided to suspend operations of its entire fleet of carrier-based Sea Harriers, following a recent fatal accident occurred near Goa, on the western coast of the country. With this measure,... more
DefenseRaytheon delivered 1000th Evolved SeaSparrow missile
East Camden, USA - To a multinational consortium
Raytheon delivered the 1000th Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM). Deployed by the US Navy and nine international fleets, ESSM defends the battlespace by delivering ship self-defense firepower against anti-ship... more
DefenseAssembly of UK Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier started
Rosyth, UK - They are expected to enter into service between 2014 and 2018
The first components, to begin assembly operations for the new UK Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers, arrived yesterday at Rosyth shipyards, in Scotland. The ships of this class will be two, the "Queen... more
DefenseRussia in talks to purchase a French helicopter carrier
Moscow, Russia - The Mistral class amphibious assault ship is worth between € 300 and € 400 million
Russia would be in talks with France to purchase a helicopter carrier, a Mistral class amphibious assault ship, worth between € 300 and € 400 million. The news has been reported by the press agency "RI... more
DefenseAfghanistan: 4 civilians killed in ISAF aerial raid
Kabul, Afghanistan - Taliban attacks yesterday: no damage to airport and embassies
Four civilians, including three children, have been killed tonight within an aerial raid performed by the international forces of ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) in the province of Kandahar.... more
DefenseRussia will go on testing Bulava missiles
Moscow, Russia - Despite recent failures. The defense ministry: "We have no choice"
Despite the recent failures on Bulava missiles' tests, that led to the resigning of head designer Yury Solomonov (see AVIONEWS), Russia will go on testing these nuclear defense devices, Moscow's deputy-minister... more
DefenseItalian Navy about piracy: "Borsini" patroller leaves the gulf of Aden
Rome, Italy - After its participation in the Atalanta mission
"The 'Borsini' patroller of the Italian navy leaves today, August 3, the gulf of Aden after its participation in the Atalanta mission: the EU-led operation to contrast piracy in the Indian ocean. The... more
DefenseRussia to raise US$2.6 billion in military aircraft exports
Moscow, Russia - New developments expected with Libya
Rosoboronexport, Russian agency for military exports, expects US$2.6 billion in aircraft sales for 2009, making this sector the most profitable. Recently Alexander Fomin, chief of Moscow's military cooperation... more
DefenseBoeing delivered four upgraded Harpoon missiles
St. Louis, USA - Destined to two foreign customers
Boeing has delivered the first four Harpoon Block II missiles equipped with a redesigned Guidance Control Unit (GCU), which provides growth capabilities and resolves obsolescence issues. The missiles were... more
DefenseIn 2008 USA totaled US$10.9 billion in weaponry exports
Washington, USA - Israel has been the major buyer
Israel has been US military exports agency's best customer, spending about US$1.36 billion in weaponry (including fifteen F-16D fighter aircraft worth at least US$400 million). The total of US foreign... more
DefenseItalian defense minister will ask parliament to allow Tornadoes to use cannons
Rome, Italy - In the meanwhile Lega party asks to retire the troops. The foreign minister: "They work also for them"
The Italian minister of defense, Ignazio La Russa, will ask the parliament to allow Tornado fighter jets in Afghanistan to use their onboard cannons to support troops on the ground. The statement comes... more
DefenseItalian foreign minister agrees on Tornadoes combat use in Afghanistan
Rome, Italy - Also UAV Predators will be increased
After the Italian defense minister, Ignazio La Russa (see AVIONEWS), also Franco Frattini, minister of foreign affairs, expressed to the newspaper "Corriere della Sera" his favourable opinion on the use... more
DefenseTwo Italian military heads change
Rome, Italy - Valotto Army Chief of Staff; Gallitelli Carabinieri general commander
Two Italian military heads changed: on suggestion of defense minister Ignazio La Russa, general Giuseppe Valotto has been appointed today new Army Chief of Staff, while general Leonardo Gallitelli has... more
DefenseCSTO will decide in August on Kyrgyz base
Astana, Kazakhstan - The second opened by Russia in the country
CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization, former Russian federation's response to NATO) are studying the possibility, suggested by Russia, to open a new military base in Kyrgyzstan, in Osh, after... more
DefenseRussia, Bulava missiles' head designer resigns
Moscow, Russia - After last failed launches
The head of the institute the designed Bulava missiles, Yury Solomonov, resigned after last failed launches. The news has been confirmed today by a Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) source, who... more
DefenseUSA and India sign nuclear and armaments agreement
New Delhi, India - It will open the Asian country's market to the United States
Following her visit in New Delhi, US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, held a joint press-conference with her Indian counterpart, Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna, to announce the agreement between the... more
DefenseItalian defense minister in Afghanistan: "More Predators to increase security"
Herat, Afghanistan - Ignazio La Russa visits the troops in Herat
The Italian defense minister, Ignazio La Russa, was today in Herat to visit the Italian troops deployed in Afghanistan. He announced that the number of Predator UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) will be increased... more
DefenseRussia, Bulava missile tests failed
Moscow, Russia - But the programme will be carried on
Russia will go on with its test programme for the Bulava SLBM (Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile) missile tests, despite the failure of recent launches (see AVIONEWS), Russian military-industrial committee... more
DefenseItalian Navy: "Scirè" submarine in mission in the Atlantic Ocean
Rome, Italy - It will depart on Monday from Taranto for five months
"Monday July 20 the 'Scirè' submarine of the Italian Navy will depart for a 5-month mission in the Atlantic Ocean. The 'Scirè', second U212 class submarine, will perform an intense training programme w... more
DefenseRussia mocks American surveillance systems
Moscow, Russia - The launch of ballistic missiles would have taken USA by surprise
Two Sineva intercontinental ballistic missile tests, launched from the Arctic by Russian strategical submarines, would have mocked US surveillance systems. Furthermore these experiments, carried out on... more
DefenseNATO air drills in the Baltic sea
Tallinn, Estonia - Today and tomorrow in the skies of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia
Between today and tomorrow in the skies of Baltic republics of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia a NATO-organized air exercise will be held. Aim of the drills is to increase interoperability among air space... more
DefenseDAGR rockets successfully launched from an AH-6 Little Bird helicopter
Orlando, USA - The second test of this kind carried out by Lockheed Martin in a few months
Lockheed Martin announced today that it has launched DAGR rockets from an airborne AH-6 Little Bird helicopter and successfully hit the target in two separate trials. This is the second platform DAGR has... more
DefenseA new Russian base in Kyrgyzstan?
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan - Positive opinion also by the USA
Russia might open a new military base in Kyrgyzstan after the positive opinion expressed on the issue by Bishkek's government, a move that many see as an answer to Kyrgyz's decision not to close the American... more
DefenseItalian Navy: the training campaign of "San Giusto" ship
Rome, Italy - Today at Livorno's port
"The training campaign for the second class' students of the Naval Academy, on board of 'San Giusto' ship, has started today, on July 13, at Livorno's port. During the campaign, the 'San Giusto', led... more
DefenseICX Technologies to supply Fido systems to Afghan defense forces
Washington, USA - Under a US$ 6.8 million contract with the US Army
ICX Technologies, a developer of advanced sensor technologies for homeland security, force protection and commercial applications, has received from the US Army a USD 6.8 million contract for the supply... more
DefenseTurkey: decision on new helicopters postponed
Ankara, Turkey - The race is between AgustaWestland TUHP-149 and Sikorsky T-70
The Turkish Defense Industry Executive Committee (SSIK), made by prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, defense minister Vecdi Gonul and chief of staff general Ilker Basbug, issued the results of a meeting... more
DefenseAl Qaeda was planning attacks during the G8
Rome, Italy - The aim would have been to hijack and destroy airliners of the participant countries
Al Qaeda's terrorist network would have been planning to perform attacks during the G8 underway at L'Aquila, in Italy, according to what has been reported by the Israeli site "Debka" quoting sources of... more
DefenseU.S. Army receives first Lockheed Martin EQ-36 counterfire target acquisition radar system
Syracuse, Usa - The radar delivered after live-fire testing at Yuma Proving Ground
Lockheed Martin has delivered the first non-recurring engineering enhanced AN/TPQ-36 counterfire target acquisition (EQ-36) radar system to the U.S. Army. The EQ-36 radar’s delivery on July 2 followed i... more
DefenseItaly, L'Aquila: the security measures for the G8
L'Aquila, Italy - Airplanes, helicopters, missiles, UAV, ground vehicles and other devices to protect the leaders
L'Aquila has been armoured. The Italian armed forces and civil defense have prepared a huge security organization to protect the leaders what will meet in the city from July 8 to 10. Airplanes, helicopters,... more
DefenseUSA and Russia sign nuclear disarmament deal
Moscow, Russia - To limit their arsenals to 1500-1675 warheads each
Respecting promises and expectations, US and Russian presidents have signed today an agreement-commitment on the reduction of their respective nuclear arsenals to 1500-1675 warheads each. The deal has... more
DefenseItalian Navy: the "Amerigo Vespucci" training ship
Rome, Italy - The traditional Summer campaign will begin next Monday from Livorno's port
"The traditional Summer campaign of the training ship 'Amerigo Vespucci' will begin next July 6 from Livorno's port. The ship will plough up the Mediterranean and Black Sea until next September, accomplishing... more
DefenseItalian paratroopers in action in Afghanistan
Kabul, Afghanistan - Two military injured in a suicide attack
A joint force consisting of Italian paratroopers of the 186th "Folgore" regiment and Afghan army soldiers took place yesterday in order to eliminate a group of Taliban rebels responsible of several attacks... more
DefenseItalian Air Force: handover in command of the 6th Wing of Ghedi
Brescia, Italy - Colonel Francesco Vestito takes place of colonel Aurelio Colagrande
Handover on top of the Italian Air Force (AMI) 6th Wing deployed in Ghedi, Brescia, between colonel Aurelio Colagrande, outgoing commander, and colonel Francesco Vestito. The ceremony was also attended... more
DefenseUkraine: in 2008 more than US$ 800 million of military exports
Kiev, Ukraine - Kiev will continue to supply weaponry to Georgia
Ukraine sold weapons to foreign countries for more than US$800 million in 2008, widely exceeding previous year's results, Sergei Bondarchuk, director general of Ukrspetsexport, the agency that manages... more
DefenseRussia, Medvedev urges aircraft carrier delivery to India
Moscow, Russia - The Russian president: "Otherwise there will be serious consequences"
Russian president Dmitry Medvedev expressed today his concern about the overhauling works on the "Admiral Gorshkov" aircraft carrier, Kiev class, to be delivered to India by 2012. According to Medvedev... more
DefenseThird and fourth missiles launched by North Korea
Pyongyang, North Korea - After the two of this morning
After the two short-range missiles launched this morning (see AVIONEWS), North Korea performed in the afternoon further two missile tests. The news has been reported by the South-Korean press agency "Yonhap"... more
DefenseEADS to power Saudi Arabia's defences
Riyad, Saudi Arabia - For the surveillance of the kingdom's 9000 km of borders
The European consortium EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space company) got from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia a contract for the country's national security program. The Defense and Security (DS) division... more
DefenseNew missile tests for North Korea
Pyongyang, North Korea - Short-range rockets launched in the Sea of Japan
The tension policy carried on by North Korea goes on. This morning Pyongyang in fact launched two further short-range missiles from a base near the eastern port of Wonsan, a source from South-Korean minister... more
DefenseAfghanistan: USA launch a huge attack against Taliban rebels
Kabul, Afghanistan - The operation dubbed "Strike of the sword" is the biggest since Vietnam
A huge military operation has been launched in Afghanistan, in the Helmand river valley. Dubbed "Strike of the sword" it has been described as the biggest attack since Vietnam. 4,000 among US marines and... more
DefenseRaytheon will produce infrared-guided air-to-air missiles for the US Navy
Tucson, USA - Under a $167 million contract
The US Navy awarded Raytheon Company a $166.9 million contract for Lot 9 production and delivery of the AIM-9X infrared-guided air-to-air missile. The firm-fixed-price contract will provide the US military... more
DefenseNorth Korea threatens to shoot down Japanese aircraft
Pyongyang, North Korea - Pyongyang charges Tokyo of espionage
North Korea launched yesterday a series of heavy threats against Japan, charged of aerial espionage with Boeing E-767 reconnaissance aircraft in the zone of the missile-plants of Musudan-ri, in the North... more
DefenseRussia: military drills in Caucasus
Moscow, Russia - They will last until July 6
Russia will start today a series of large military exercises that will involve several states of the federal republic. The operation, dubbed "Caucasus 2009", is going to end on July 6 and will be commanded... more