Defense
5,879 news found

DefenseBlue Helmets in Sudan: 220 Italian soldiers within the contingent
Khartoum, Sudan - It has recently been unveiled by Italian Government
UN Security Council’s Resolution n. 1590 on last March 24 set to send a peace-keeping force consisting of about 10,000 soldiers to Sudan, in order to watch over the observance of the peace agreement s... more

DefenseEmbargo on weapon export to China: "We must raise it not for commercial but for strategic reasons"
Paris, France - French Government proves convinced of it answering to the firm US view
French Government seized recently a chance to explain the European Union’s reason for possibly raising the embargo affecting weapons export towards China. According to the USA, EU cannot forget Pacific O... more

DefenseSouth Korea: partial troops withdrawal from Iraq in August
Seoul, South Korea - At least 300 soldiers to leave the Arab country but additional medical personnel and other transport means are expected to arrive there
South Korea has presently some 3270 soldiers re-deployed in the Iraqi territory and it represents one of the most important contributions within the great stabilization and reconstruction work in the country... more

DefenseUSA: modernizing the nuclear deterrence is necessary
Washington, USA - The country would be ready to invest in such sector to improve the systems and lower cost while scheduling missile number cuts by 2012
Nuclear deterrence is always in the centre of attention of several countries worldwide, both in the case of strictu sensu nuclear powers such as Russia (which has already started an update programme) and... more

DefenseJapan: Koizumi wants greater cooperation with NATO
Tokyo, Japan - Japanese Prime Minister hopes for a greater relations against terrorism and mass destruction weapons proliferation
Despite the remarkable limits for the resort to armed operations set by Japanese Constitution, the country intends to increase its relations with the Atlantic Alliance in a self-evident manner to face... more

DefenseAMS: full operational capability for the Joint Command System dedicated to logistics
London, UK - An integrated solution for the management of logistics activities for the British armed forces
Alenia Marconi Systems supplied recently British Ministry of Defence the full operational capability for the Joint Command System dedicated to logistics (JCS Log). It deals with a system for the management... more

DefenseUSA: military bases closing started
Washington, USA - Nevertheless, war on terror an the re-entry of several soldiers from abroad would lead Bush-led Government to limit steps of this kind
Bush-led Government needs to rationalize defence spending in a due manner but cuts for such a sector, despite they can represent self-evident advantages regarding the financial resources re-allocation,... more

DefenseNorth Korea: "Six-states meetings not to start again without USA's official apologizes"
Pyongyang, North Korea - The Communist regime's reaction after the Condoleeza Rice's remark according to which it would be an "outpost of tyranny"
North Korea does not intend to favour the restart of the six-states meetings on nuclear weapons matters. Meetings with Russia, China, Japan, South Korea and the United States will be resumed only in case... more

DefenseRussia: fewer intercontinental ballistic missiles in 2010
Moscow, Russia - Removal of several weapon systems of this class among the Russian armed forces has begun
Russian intends to downsize its non-conventional arsenal and it announced it has scheduled a progressive cut of several intercontinental ballistic missiles and the respective warheads. According to what... more

DefenseIndia: Israeli industry to update the Sea Harriers
New Dheli, India - Within the scheduled increase of defence spending indicated by Indian Government
Indian Ministry of Defence has recently announced it intends to increase funds destined to the related sector with a 7,8% rise compared to the last years. About USD 700m will be deployed by which it is... more

DefenseIraq (2): Fini confirmed the progressive withdrawal of the Italian contingent
Rome, Italy - Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs reminded that allies' assent will be necessary anyway
Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Gianfranco Fini made Italian point of view about the keeping of troops in Iraq clearer. Fini confirmed that Italian contingent’s withdrawal can be a progressive one s... more

DefenseIraq: "Progressive Italian contingent's withdrawal in Autumn if on condition that it is possible"
Nassiriya, Iraq - It would have been underlined by Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi putting into evidence it is just a project related to a deal with the allies and Iraqi Government
Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, commented recently on the Italian military presence in Iraq again, putting into evidence that a project exists among Italian Government for the withdrawal of... more

DefenseMEADS: Bundestag's vote on the missile programme is being awaited
Berlin, Germany - The United States and Italy already cooperate with a contribution consisting respectively of a 55% and a 17%
German Parliament will have to definitively decide about the German cooperation to the MEADS (Medium Extended Defence System) missile programme. The United States and Italy, as partners in the production... more

DefensePakistan: new missile test successfully performed
Islamabad, Pakistan - TEsts regard the Abdali short-range ballistic missile
Pakistan has recently announced it has accomplished the trials of the new Abdali (Hatf-II) short-range ballistic missile and Islamabad’s regime proved satisfied about the results achieved. Such weapon s... more

DefenseUK Conservative Party (2): Tory's defence policy
London, UK - A strong political relation with the USA, national industry reinforcement, keeping embargo against China and new investments
British Conservatives suggest a series of measures to strengthen the defence sector in Great Britain (see for details AVIONEWS). According to the Tory Party, the United Kingdom must consolidate its leading... more

DefenseUK Conservative Party: here are the Labour defence policy's lacks
London, UK - Criticism against an excessively pro-European policy by Blair and the shortage of equipments
United Kingdom’s Conservative Party has recently expressed its opinion regarding the defence policy carried out by the Blair-led Government, pointing out what are, according to its view, the lacks of t... more

DefenseItalian militaries engaged into Praesidium's mission
Kabul, Afghanistan - Italy will head the Prt, a team of reconstruction by means of which Nato wants to expand its presence into the country
It will start today the Italian engagement, by means of Praesidium’s mission, which will see militaries but even civil men in Herat (Afghanistan) to head the Prt (Provincial Reconstruction Team), a team o... more

DefenseSpain to provide maritime patrolling planes to Colombia and Venezuela
Caracas, Venezuela - Lula and Uribe express solidarity to Chavez against the USA's criticism
A four-nations meeting occurred in Venezuela yesterday involving the major institutional leading representatives from Spain, Colombia, Brazil and the hosting country itself (see for details AVIONEWS).... more

DefenseUSA anti-missile shield: Northrop Grumman aims to become the system integrator
Washington, USA - Among the partners of the team suggested by the firm there are also Lockheed Martin and Raytheon
The US competent authorities will have to select which company will attend to the integration of all the systems devoted to the US anti-missile defensive apparatus by the end of 2005. On its part, Northrop... more

DefenseJapan: "China increased defence spending while waiting for the cancellation of EU embargo"
Beijing, China - It would be stated by a report released to Japanese Government but the Chinese People Republic reacted criticising such view
Criticism exchange between Japan and China on defence matters. Japanese government would have taken delivery of a report which would appear as particularly worrying with reference to the huge rise of armaments... more

DefenseUSS Eisenhower air carrier back in the sea
Washington, USA - Maintenance, update and refuelling for its two nuclear propulsion plants have been completed
The US Navy’s Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) nuclear air carrier is ready to enter the service again after more than three years maintenance and update performed by the same company which had designed a... more

DefenseIraq: 5000 flight hours performed by the Italian contingent's aircraft
Nassiriya, Iraq - An analysis on what done so far on the occasion of Italian Air Force's 82nd Anniversary
Italian Air Force’s 82nd Anniversary (see for details AVIONEWS) was celebrated also at Tallil Base in Iraq where the Italian contingent is re-deployed. It operates, by soldiers and means coming from s... more

DefenseThe future of US Army's aviation (4): systems and training
Washington, USA - State-of-the-art avionics and weapon systems to lower cost and increase the equipment's effectiveness
The renewal of the United States Army’s aerial section necessarily includes also a series of steps regarding equipment, avionics, weapon systems and training. US Army intends to make its own aircraft s... more

DefenseThe future of US Army's aviation: operational needs and modernization process
Washington, USA - An evolution based on the right mix of flexibility, battlefield management capability and personnel's safety
US Army started a remarkable modernization process which will involve in particular its aircraft fleet. The purpose is practically the one of adapting the armed force to the present and future (according... more

DefenseThe future of US Army's aviation (3): transport and "unmanned" aircraft
Washington, USA - New airlifters for quick troop and means transportation while interest in the remote-controlled aircraft is increasing
US Army needs and will surely need a transport section even in the future as able to meet both the necessity concerning the transfer of a number of soldiers and means/materials. The transfer must be performed... more

DefenseThe future of US Army's aviation (2): the rotor-winged aircraft fleet
Washington, USA - New means together with updates/upgrades for the helicopters already in service
Helicopters certainly represent one of the cornerstones of US Army. So, the resort to interventions aimed to adapt the available means fleet to the armed force’s operational needs appears to be a priority. T... more

DefenseTest launch for the Marte missile at Salto di Quirra
Cagliari, Italy - The anti-ship guided rocket traditionally employed for the Sea Kings to be deployed by the Italian Navy's EH-10s as well
The MBDA (OTO Melara) Marte Mk2/S anti-ship air-to-surface missile has been successfully launched by an EH-101 helicopter of Italian Navy. The experimental activity has been carried out at Salto di Quirra... more

DefenseRussia: a military exercise devoted to tactical transport and parachutists' drop operations
Moscow, Russia - More than 1300 soldiers together with Il-76 and Su-24 airplanes and armoured vehicles are being deployed
A wide military exercise is being held in Russia and it involves both ground and aerial forces. It main purpose is the one of verifying some procedures in the tactical transport and parachutists’ launch i... more

DefenseNATO: Russia making efforts to to prevent Ukraine from joining it
Kiev, Ukraine - Cards to be well played would be all related to needs regarding Russian-Ukrainian commercial cooperation and Kiev's goal
Ukraine is aiming to join NATO and Russia is carefully analysing this matter. Moscow would not agree with such prospect that, however, would appear as just a long-term possibility and so an avoidable one.... more

DefenseIs China searching for military hegemony in Asia?
Washington, USA - Some US analysts warned about it by considering the relevant investments devoted to the defence sector by the People Republic
Some military analysts would have recently released to Pentagon a report dealing with the Chinese military programme, a programme really aimed to favour a significant strengthening of the general defensive... more

DefenseItalian Minister Martino-unions meeting on the civil personnel's role abroad
Rome, Italy - Ministry of Defence's leader proves satisfied about the good collaboration atmosphere created together with the union's members
Italian Minister of Defence, Antonio Martino, met Ministry employees unions’ representatives recently in order to analyse the situation with reference to some major civil workers’ exigencies. Issues rel... more

DefenseRussia and China: "Space must not be militarily exploited"
Moscow, Russia - The warning signal called by the two countries which ask for writing and signing a new international treaty on such matter
An international treaty to prevent the use of the outer space for military purposes. This is the proposal recently jointly put forward by Russia and China when considering the risks that the international... more

DefensePakistan: a new ballistic missile successfully tested
Islamabad, Pakistan - The country consolidates its deterrent but President Musharraf would prove willing to strengthen it in the future
A new ballistic missile has been recently tested by Pakistan. It deals with the Shaheen II, a two-stages guided rocket endowed with an about 2000 km range according to what stated by Islamabad’s technicians. P... more

DefenseUkraine: cruise missiles to Iran and China in 2001
Kiev, Ukraine - Some institutional representatives would have unveiled it to international press
According to what released by international press, representatives from the Ukraine Government would have officially revealed for the first time that Ukraine would have sold some Russian-made cruise missiles... more

DefenseCIVA: a course on armaments checks
Ciampino, Italy - As held yesterday, many military representatives coming from more than 20 countries attended it
A course concerning armaments checks and provided by CIVA (Joint Armaments Checks Centre) was held at Ciampino yesterday. Such event was intended to encourage the improvement of the knowledge of the international... more

DefensePatriot-MEADS-Aster: the NATO's integrated anti-missile shield
Brussels, Belgium - The three surface-to-air missile systems to be provided with a perfect interoperability by 2010
The interoperability among the last generation surface-to-air missile systems about to enter the service in several NATO’s members is the secret to face the threat consisting of the ballistic missiles. T... more

DefenseBerlusconi: "Progressive withdrawal of Italian contingent from Iraq starting in September"
Rome, Italy - "Compatibly with the Iraqi authorities' capabilities in properly managing the matters related to security"
Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi stated that Italian contingent re-deployed in the Iraqi land will be progressively withdrawn starting next September. Nevertheless, Premier added, Iraqi Government will... more

DefenseUkraine soldiers left Iraq
Kiev, Ukraine - Two airplanes landed with the first soldiers going back from Kut
Two airlifters with 137 soldiers on board officially started the withdrawal of Ukraine troops from Iraq: the aircraft landed at Mykolayiv air base, 520 km South from Kiev. Government planned to fetch other... more

DefenseItalian Chamber of Deputies approved extension for international missions
Rome, Italy - Italian soldiers will remain in Afghanistan, albania, Bosnia-Erzegovina and Kosovo up to June 30
Montecitorio (base of Italian Chamber of Deputies) has approved definitively the draft law, which was previously approved by the IV Defence Committee at Senate last February 2 (see for details AVIONEWS),... more

DefenseDoes Canada needs more aircraft? (2): no, according to Chief of the Defence Staff
Ottawa, Canada - "But planes belonging to other countries may not always be available", replied Cellucci
General Rick Hillier, Chief of the Defence Staff, has acknowledged the failing in federal aviation cargo transport, but he’s not convinced the Canadian Air Force needs to purchase additional airplanes. T... more

DefenseDoes Canada needs more aircraft?
Ottawa, Canada - "It may boost its clout on the international scene"
"Ottawa should increase its soldiers" according to US ambassador in Canada Paul Cellucci. The Government should invest in defence sector after the unsuccessful partecipation to the Defence Shield. To... more

DefenseUSA: 5000 soldiers re-deployed in Bulgaria and Romania
Sofia, Bulgaria - Washington intends to encourage talks with the two NATO's members as soon as possible again to start the project
The United States are going to restart talks with Bulgarian and Romanian Governments with reference to the possible re-deployment of US troops in their territories. The purpose is the one of taking advantage... more

DefenseEmbargo against weapon export to China: EU's hopes and USA's fears
Brussels, Belgium - Restriction can be implemented, according to EU, but Washington fears this can mean a sort of legitimation of Chinese policy on human rights
Just when Chinese Parliament approves a new Act against a prospective formal independence declaration by Taipei (see for details AVIONEWS), European Union relaunches the proposal related to the cancellation... more

DefenseChina (2): forces into the fields in case of an attack
Beijing, China - The Chinese People Republic shows a self-evident quantitative superiority compared to Taiwan
From a theoretical point of view, the contending between the Chinese People Republic’s and the Taiwan’s forces (see for details AVIONEWS) puts into evidence a remarkable quantitative superiority of Com... more

DefenseEastern Europe: three states leading the armed forces modernization
Warsaw, Poland - The Polish, Czech and Hungarian models prove relevant after the joining NATO and EU
Analysts of defence sector would be forecasting a significant growth of the related industrial field and the armed forces in the Eastern European countries which have recently joined both NATO and European... more

DefenseGermany: Green Party's firm denial to funds devoted to the MEADS missiles
Berlin, Germany - Such project would be mainly aimed more to favour rapprochement to the USA rather than protect the national land, according to the party
Germany is experiencing problems for the MEADS missile programme. Green Party would be opposing against the project managed for a 25% stake by German industry in cooperation with the United States and... more

DefenseIsrael and the USA: a joint anti-missile exercise
Tel Aviv, Israel - The event is intended to verify the interoperability degree between the Patriot missile system and the Arrow to face ballistic carriers
The United States and Israel are setting the last details related to an important joint military exercise which is expected to be held in the Israeli territory soon. As named "Juniper Cobra", it could... more

DefenseIs a Korean War II about to occur?
Seoul, South Korea - The scenario forecasted by some analysts though it is being confirmed that it just deals with a hypothesis currently
According to some analysts, the worst and maybe also the most probable among the possible scenarios would be the one of a new edition of the Korean War which could occur during the next years, following... more

DefenseLebanon: "An international interposition force to ensure domestic security"
Rome, Italy - The hypothesis put forward by Jacchia, Director of Italian Centre for Strategic Studies, while waiting for next May election
The current situation in Lebanon is determining a series of doubts about the future stability of the country when considering the announced Syrian troops’ withdrawal. Director of the Italian Centre for S... more

DefenseMilitary satellites and warships: that is the future of the Russian-German defence cooperation
Berlin, Germany - Ivanov, however, underlined that Moscow still thinks that the presence of NATO's fighters in the three Baltic Republics proves an impenetrable step
Despite Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov underlined during the last days that the collaboration in the defence sector with Germany was a matter to be analysed in the long term when compared to the... more