MoD orders review into spiralling cost of Project Pegasus nuclear plant

Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston, Berkshire, United Kingdom
The Ministry of Defence has ordered a review into the costs and construction timetable of a highly sensitive manufacturing plant that will enrich uranium for Trident nuclear missiles, amid fears the budget had spiralled out of control.

Project Pegasus, a £634m facility to be built at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) in Berkshire, is said to be struggling over costs and scheduling. The MoD had said that Pegasus would be completed between 2016 and 2020.

The AWE, which manufactures and maintains Britain's nuclear deterrent, and the MoD played down the review, but a senior nuclear industry source said it was "extremely serious". The source added: "Certainly, this is an issue that is going to run and run – and, don't forget, the Government has a golden share, meaning it can re-procure the contract."

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Armed and ready to go: RAF's next-gen fighter passes key weapons test ahead of 2018 lift-off

These new pictures show the RAF's next-generation F-35B fighter, bristling with fearsome state-of-the-art weaponry.

However, the deadly-looking weapons are actually trial or 'dummy' ordnance, which are identical in fit and form to their lethal counterparts but incapable of causing damage.

A UK test team including personnel from BAE Systems, has successfully completed initial aircraft handling trials for ASRAAM and Paveway IV weapons on the F-35B Lightning II aircraft at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland, United States.

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David's Sling air defense system to deploy for trial period

The David's Sling air defense system will soon be deployed for a trial period, before becoming operational, the IDF said in recent days.

David's Sling can intercept short-range to medium-range rockets and missiles, including Hezbollah's Katyusha rockets. Its range of coverage is three times that of the Iron Dome anti-rocket defense system.

The system will be deployed in various areas around Israel for a trial period, the IDF added. After that, David's Sling will also be set up to intercept hostile aircraft and missiles with longer ranges. Eventually, it should be able to intercept incoming cruise missiles as well.

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Iran’s New Training Plane Displayed

A new single-cabin aircraft, made by Iran for training purposes, was put on display in a recent aviation exhibition.

The 7th International Exhibition of Aviation Industry, held on Iran’s southern island of Kish in November, saw a new training plane, dubbed K10.

The light aircraft has been manufactured by Iran’s Plane Manufacturing Company (HESA) in two different classes, K10 and K10-1.

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Iran drones range upgraded to 3,000km: General

A senior Iranian military official says domestically-manufactured drones are capable of operating within a range of 3,000 kilometers.

Commander of the Aerospace Division of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh said Saturday that Iran is today able to design and build different types of drones for various operations.

In recent years, Iran has made major breakthroughs in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing important military equipment and systems, including a variety of domestically-manufactured drones.

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US keen for co-production, co-development in defence with India

With India being one of the top priorities of the Obama Administration, the US is keen to explore co-production and co-development opportunities in defence with the rising Asian power and expand maritime security cooperation to further strengthen the strategic ties.

"We think there is a strong potential (in Indo-US defense ties). We want to translate that strong potential into action and reality. And that is desired on both sides," Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Puneet Talwar told PTI on the eve of his visit to New Delhi.

"The way you do that is coming to a closer understanding of the strategic picture. We see a natural convergence between India and the United States," he said.

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Norfolk-based cruiser to sail around the world

The passageways are cleanly swept and smell of fresh paint; colorful life jackets and flight deck gear is laid out in neat rows in the helicopter hanger; and the forecastle and fantail are draped with tightly coiled lines: Normandy is preparing for INSURV.

In the life of most ships, preparing for the Board of Inspection and Survey inspection is all consuming. But not on Normandy. The crew doesn't have the luxury of focusing solely on this major inspection.

Over the past two years, the cruiser has been transformed from a quarter-century old ship, with an outdated combat system and worn down engineering plant, to one of the most lethal warships in the surface line.

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A missile testing blitz revamps Russian ICBM modernization

The Russian Navy successfully test-fired a Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile for a second time in two months, proving the new Russian submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) has improved its reliability and is now ready for deployment.

The test was performed at night, on Friday November 28, 2014 was the third successful flight in a series of five developmental testing designed to verify the missile’s reliability after it suffered a series of failures in earlier flights.

The Russians plan to launch two additional Bulava missiles next year as part of their routine operational readiness testing plan.

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DSME & ROK Navy cut first steel of future KSS-III (Jangbogo III) heavy diesel-electric submarine

The steel cuting cutting ceremony of the first KSS-III (Jangbogo III programme) heavy diesel-electric submarine took place yesterday (November 27th) at DSME shipyard in presence of the Republik of Korea Navy (ROK Navy) Chief of Staff, Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) representatives and DSME officials.

Under the Jangbogo III programme, the first submarine is due to be launched in 2018 and handed over to the Republic of Korea Navy at the end of 2020 following two years of sea trials. The second submarine will be delivered at the end of 2022.

KSS-III is expected to be produced in three batches:

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Egypt receives ten Apaches

After delivery was suspended for many months, the Egyptian Air Force has finally received ten Boeing Apache attack helicopters from the United States.

On November 24 the Egyptian Air Force (EAF) released a photo showing the helicopters, covered in white protective plastic, after being delivered to an Egyptian port.

On April 22 this year Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby announced that the United States was lifting its suspension of military aid to Egypt, allowing deliveries to go ahead.

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Angolan military expenditure to top $13 billion by 2019

Angola's military and defence expenditure will increase from the current $6.5 billion to $13 billion by 2019 due to increased demand for border security equipment, fighter jets, multi-role aircraft, helicopters, navy vessels and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

In a new report entitled “Future of the Angolan Defence Industry - Market Attractiveness, Competitive Landscape and Forecasts to 2019,” US-based defence market analysts Market Research said Angolan defence spending will be driven by the need to modernise and improve the operational capabilities of all three wings of the Armed Forces of Angola (FAA) and a desire to increase the number of serving troops while embarking on new veterans care projects.

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Russians on the horizon at HMS Tyne keeps watch

Barely visible on the horizon, these are the Russian ships that were shadowed through the English Channel by a Portsmouth-based offshore patrol vessel.

HMS Tyne monitored the squadron of Russian warships as they moved through the Strait of Dover after carrying out exercises in the North Sea.

The destroyer Severomorsk, a landing craft, a rescue tugboat and a tank ship have anchored in the Bay of the Seine, off the coast of northern France, to wait out a storm, according to a Russian defence ministry statement reported by local news agencies.

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Air warfare destroyer $600m cost problem not unusual, says Jackman

If sticking to budgets and timelines on major projects was easy Elders would have made a billion dollars, the company’s former chief executive Malcolm Jackman said yesterday in defence of the air warfare destroyer project.

With suggestions the AWD program is $600 million over budget, Mr Jackman said that amount was “a lot of taxpayers’ money” but at 7 per cent of the project’s $8.5 billion costings it would not be an unusual outcome.

Using the blowout to accuse shipbuilder ASC of being incompetent was “a very unfair cop”, said Mr Jackman, now the chief executive of State Government body Defence SA.

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With Mistral Suspension, France Seeks to Boost Ties with Poland

France placed a hold on the delivery of the first Mistral helicopter carrier to Russia, a move French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian personally conveyed to his Polish counterpart during a recent trip to boost relations with Warsaw.

French President François Hollande suspended the ship’s delivery due to the deadly conflict in east Ukraine, the president’s office said on Nov. 25.

“The president of the republic considers the present situation in east Ukraine still does not allow the delivery of the first [projection and command ship],” the Elysée president’s office said in a statement. “He has decided that it is appropriate to suspend, until further notice, the examination of the request for export authorization for the first [projection and command ship] to the Russian Federation.”

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Russian Navy successfully tests new missile

The Russian Navy on Friday successfully test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile for a second time in as many months, proving its reliability following a troublesome development.

The Defense Ministry said the Alexander Nevsky nuclear submarine test-fired a Bulava missile from an underwater position in the Barents Sea. The missile's warheads reached designated targets at a testing range in Russia's far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula.

The Bulava suffered many failures during a decade of tests, raising doubts about the fate of Russia's most expensive and ambitious weapons program since the Soviet collapse. But a series of recent launches has been successful and the Navy now has three Borei-class nuclear submarines armed with the Bulava.

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Sea Ceptor air defense missiles selected for Brazils Tamandaré class corvettes

MBDA has announced the selection of its Sea Ceptor naval air defense system by the Brazilian Navy.

The weapon will provide local area air defence for the Brazilian next generation Tamandaré class corvettes.

Brazil’s is now the third navy to have chosen Sea Ceptor following the selection of the system for the UK’s Royal Navy (RN) and the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN).

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LÉ James Joyce floats at Babcock’s Appledore shipyard for the first time

The second Irish Navy vessel to be built at Babcock’s Appledore shipyard completed a significant milestone on Sunday. (November 23)

Almost a year after her keel was laid, the Irish Naval Service’s LÉ James Joyce, was floated for the first time – the 90m vessel is already 92% complete.

Babcock Shipbuilding director Andrew Hamilton said: “We are delighted to achieve this important and highly visible milestone to quality, budget and schedule.

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Lockheed Updates Unmanned U-2 Concept

The fat lady has not necessarily sung on the fate of the U.S. Air Force’s high-flying U-2 intelligence aircraft.

Lockheed Martin has crafted a reduced-cost plan to “optionally man” its U-2, throwing a new possibility into the mix as Congress weighs whether to shift to an all-Northrop Grumman Global Hawk unmanned aircraft fleet for high-altitude reconnaissance.

With an optionally manned U-2, advocates for the so-called Dragon Lady say the venerable aircraft finally can match the endurance offered by the RQ-4B Global Hawk. Convincing lawmakers and the Pentagon likely will be an uphill battle, though.

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S. Korean Navy receives new amphibious landing ship

The South Korean Navy took delivery Friday of the country's first indigenous next-generation amphibious landing ship expected to boost the military's landing and transportation capabilities, the state arms procurer said.

The 4,500-ton LTS-II ship Cheonwangbong, named after the country's second-highest peak of Mount Jiri in the southern region, had been built with the country's own technology by shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Co. since 2011.

Capable of accommodating 300 fully-armed troops as well as amphibious tanks and two helicopters, the vessel gives the military advanced mobility and loading capabilities, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

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MiG-31 fighter force to get $630 million upgrade

Russia's Defence Ministry has signed a 30 billion rouble ($630 million) contract with a major state-owned aircraft manufacturer to modernize over 50 of its high-speed MiG-31 interceptor jets, the RIA Novosti news agency reported.

The move comes amid a 20 trillion rouble ($500 billion) ongoing state rearmament program and rising tensions over Ukraine that have seen Russian jets repeatedly test the boundaries of NATO airspace in recent months.

"The armed forces will receive over 50 modernized MiG-31s by the end of 2018," RIA quoted Deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov as saying Thursday. The modernization will be carried out by Russia's largest aircraft manufacturer, United Aircraft Corporation.

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Agni-IV Set for 1st User Trial

After the success of three consecutive developmental tests, India is readying to carry out first user trial of surface-to-surface nuclear tipped intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM) Agni-IV from a defence base off the Odisha coast early next week.

Defence sources said preparation was on in full swing at the Wheeler Island test facility for the scheduled test likely to be conducted by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the Indian Army on December 2. This is the second test of the missile in one year. Earlier, the missile was successfully test fired from the same test range on January 20.

The trial is aimed at gauging the performance of its subsystems and checking the readiness of the armed forces to launch the missile on its own. The mission team, sources said, is working minutely and meticulously to achieve success with high accuracy.

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China Delivers First P18N Offshore Patrol Vessel to Nigerian Navy

According to local media, the first of two P-18N offshore patrol vessels (OPV) ordered by the Nigerian Navy was delivered today at the China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Company (CSOC)'s Wuchang Shipyard in Wuhan, China.

CSOC is part of the part of the State Shipbuilding Corporation, China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC).

This OPV, reportedly nammed The Century, is the first patrol ship China has exported to West Africa.

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Cochin Shipyard Delivers Nine FPVs to Coast Guard

The Minister of State for Shipping, Shri Pon. Radhakrishnan informed the Lok Sabha today that the Cochin Shipyard, as on 20th November, 2014, has delivered nine Fast Patrol Vessels (PSVs) to the satisfaction of Indian Coast Guard. Cochin Shipyard is currently working on the following orders placed by Ministry of Defence:

• Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Project (Project-71) for Indian Navy.
• 20 Fast Patrol Vessel project for Indian Coast Guard.

Details of orders of Ministry of Defence at Cochin Shipyard and progress of work made so far are given below:

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China denies reports to set up 18 naval bases in Indian Ocean

India reportedly took up the issue with Sri Lanka, where China also built another port at Hambanthota

Defending its submarine’s docking at Colombo port as common practice, Chinese military today termed “utterly groundless” reports that it is setting up 18 naval bases in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Myanmar and several other places in the western and southern Indian Ocean.

“The report is not accurate”, Geng Yansheng told a media briefing here replying to a question about a report published in a Namibian newspaper on November 11 quoting a Chinese media report stating that China plans to set up 18 naval in several places including Sri Lanka.

Geng said the submarine of the China’s People’s Liberation Navy (PLAN) made “technical docking” twice in Colombo port while on escort mission to anti-piracy operations in Gulf of Aden in Somalia.

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Abbott christens RAN's biggest ship

The largest ship ever built for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has been cheered into the fleet at Sydney's Garden Island.

In a ceremony on Friday, NUSHIP Canberra became HMAS Canberra, prompting a rousing cheer from the ship's company and the large number of visitors on board for the occasion.

That included Prime Minister Tony Abbott who said this was a proud day for the navy and Australia.

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HMS Queen Elizabeth: The sensitive aircraft carrier issue

It's quite likely that the first squadron of fighters to operate from the Royal Navy's new aircraft carrier will belong to the US Marines rather than Britain, naval insiders have told me.

Asked about such a scenario on Newsnight, General Lord David Richards, until earlier this year the UK's top serviceman, said it "would make good sense".

Under current plans there will be a gap in 2019-2020 in which HMS Queen Elizabeth will be ready but not its British air squadron, whereas the Americans are taking delivery of more aircraft and doing so more quickly.

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BHIC to design and construct six frigates

Malaysia-listed shipbuilder Boustead HI (BHIC) has received a letter of award to design and construct six units of second-generation patrol vessels (Frigate-class) with littoral combat capabilities for the government of Malaysia.

The contract was offered to a joint venture between BHIC and Contraves Advanced Devices (CAD), and awarded by Boustead Naval Shipyard (BNS), an associate of BHIC and a subsidiary of Boustead Holdings.

Effective date of the contract is likely on or before 22 December, which includes a further contract to supply classified combat system equipment and its related services to the six frigates for GBP3.87M ($6.11M).

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Iranian Navy to Unveil 6 New Warships Equipped with Missile Systems

Iran's Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari announced that the country plans to launch six advanced warships equipped with various types of missile systems in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas in the near future.

“Six warships equipped with short, medium and long range missiles, which will largely increase our surface-to-surface missile power, will be unveiled in Bandar Abbas,” Sayyari said in a televised interview late on Wednesday.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the commander said that the homegrown Damavand and Fateh destroyers will be added to the navy’s fleet soon.

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Japan mulls financing body to boost weapons exports

The central government is considering the creation of a financing arm for weapons exports, a move that would accelerate Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s shift away from the country’s pacifist past and strengthen its regional security ties as China’s military power grows.

As a first step, the government plans to convene an advisory panel to consider specific proposals to create a way to finance military sales by Japanese firms and fund defense industry cooperation abroad, according to four people involved in the matter.

One possibility to be considered is for a government-backed body to provide concessional financing for military projects modeled on the self-financing Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the sources said.

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How The US Navy's Latest Anti-Submarine Aircraft Sees Under The Waves

Boeing’s P-8A Poseidon has been a part of the US Navy for a year this month. The converted airliner brings the latest in anti-submarine capabilities, reaching greater altitude and speed than its predecessor (without the nausea factor for its crew).

At the front of the plane, the P-8A sports an exclusive radar system supplied by Raytheon. In certain detection modes, the 408-pound radar system has a range of 200 nautical miles and provides ultra-high resolution images.

A shorter-ranged setting offers enough precision to pick up on “small targets with limited exposure time in high sea states,” according to Raytheon’s fact sheet on the product.

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How Rosetta comet technology will protect Royal Navy sailors

Space technology developed on the Rosetta comet mission is coming back to Earth and will be used to protect Royal Navy submariners.

Processes used by the Philae lander to analyse gases on comet 69P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko will be incorporated into equipment that monitors the air quality on board the next generation of Britain’s nuclear-powered submarines.

Scientists from the Open University helped create the Ptolemy gas analyser used to examine the make-up of the comet, creating a device the size of a shoebox and weighing just 5kg that had the same analytical power as instruments that would normally take up two rooms on Earth.

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Egypt would be interested in purchasing a FREMM multi-mission frigate from France

According to French financial newspaper La Tribune, Egypt would like to quickly procure a FREMM multi-mission frigate from France, following the deal the country has just signed with DCNS for four Gowind 2500 corvettes (the lead ship to be built in France and the 3 others to be built in Egypt as part of a transfer of technology).

Egypt is reported to have requested a FREMM for as early as 2015.

La Tribune is reporting that France could sell Aquitaine class Frigate Normandie which is set to be delivered to the French Navy by year end.

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China Negotiating to Buy Russian S-400 Anti-Aircraft Missile Systems

Russia is in the process of selling cutting-edge S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems to China, which would hand Beijing a defense system capable of deterring even the most advanced air powers from infringing on Chinese airspace, the Vedomosti newspaper reported Wednesday.

China this fall signed an agreement with Russia's arms export agency, Rosoboronexport, that calls for the delivery of at least six divisions of the S-400 system costing over $3 billion, the paper said citing unidentified Defense Ministry and industry officials.

The report comes a week after Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on a visit to Beijing agreed to deepen military-industrial ties and hold more joint naval exercises with China.

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French minister to push for Rafale deal during visit

French Defence Minister Jean Yves Le Drian is set to arrive in New Delhi on Sunday to push for early conclusion of the Rafale fighter plane deal that has been pending for the last three years.

He will meet his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar on December 1 and the two are expected to discuss bilateral relations in defence, including the 126 fighter jet deal. He would also be given a guard of honour.

Almost three years ago, India shortlisted Rafale as the preferred platform to replace the ageing MiG-21 fighter jets of the Indian Air Force. The deal, however, has not been inked even after three years of protracted negotiations.

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IAF’s UAV crashes near Bhuj town

The Indian Air Force’s UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) aircraft crashed at Mankuva village near Bhuj while doing it’s routine surveillance at Bhuj on Wednesday.

Defence PRO, Wing Commandar Abhishek Matiman said, “It is a Heron UAV that was in air and crashed near Bhuj. The IAF is looking into the reasons behind the crash and a court of inquiry has been ordered”.

The IAF officials said that the UAV was in air since last few months for its routine work of surveillance, security, collecting and providing information to the Air Force on movements around the air base.

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Vikramaditya may sail to Mumbai

India’s largest and most costly warship, the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, is likely to visit Mumbai in the next fortnight, according to sources in the Indian Navy.

While Naval officials remained tight-lipped on the decision, sources indicated that the purpose of the visit is to conduct trials to check its operability from Mumbai and an undisclosed set of tasks.

“We need to check how the ship can operate from the Mumbai harbour, which is also the INS Viraat’s home port,” said an officer.

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East Asian waters to be US aircraft carrier-free for a time

Defense policymakers in Japan and the U.S. are privately voicing concern about the total absence of U.S. aircraft carriers from East Asian waters for four months next year.

Budget constraints at home, combined with the rise of the Islamic State group in the Middle East, are limiting the American fleet's ability to operate in Asia. Temporarily at least, not a single aircraft carrier will be deployed in East Asia.

Japanese and U.S. officials fear having no U.S. carriers, which have long been the bedrock of the region's stability, could tempt North Korea and China to take advantage of the power vacuum to initiate a military adventure.

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Labour: Navy chief should quit over Clyde threat

The head of the Royal Navy should be “made to walk the plank” and get the sack Labour MPs have demanded after he suggested that the next generation of frigates could be built in France and not on the Clyde.

The issue of where the new Type 26 frigates are to be built dominated Scottish questions in the Commons following The Scotsman’s revelations about Admiral Sir George Michael Zambellas’ threat to take the contract abroad.

Admiral Zambellas said: “The acquisition process looks for a solution to give us what we need. The affordability question… depends on the best that industry can deliver.”

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Dutch navy helicopters over the skies of RNAS Culdrose

Dutch navy helicopters have begun a three-week training stint in West Cornwall.

Three NH 90 Maritime helicopters from 7 (NL) Squadron of the Royal Netherlands Navy along with 60 aircrew and engineers have arrived at RNAS Culdrose.

They are also working with Flag Officer Sea Training at Devonport to hone their maritime skills alongside RNAS Culdrose’s Fleet Air Arm's Merlin Mk2s.

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IAF in a fix over VVIP copters

The Indian Air Force is in a bind over its “lalbattis-in-the-sky” that are now “mothballed on the ground”.

It has asked an equally vexed defence ministry to make up its mind on what it should do with three super-luxury AW101 VVIP helicopters that were meant to fly the President, Prime Minister and other dignitaries but have been dismantled and stowed in protective casing in a hangar at the Palam air base.

The helicopters are occupying valuable space in the airbase. The IAF decided to mothball them since former defence minister A.K. Antony decided on January 1 this year to terminate the Rs 3,600-crore contract with AgustaWestland for 12 of the helicopters.

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PLA's nuclear arsenal slowly eroding US Pacific defenses

China's nuclear forces are expected to become more lethal and survivable against US defenses in the Western Pacific within three to five years, according to a report published by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission as cited by the Jane's Defence Review.

"Estimates of China's nuclear forces and nuclear capabilities by non-governmental experts and foreign governments tend to be higher than US estimates," the publication said in response to the commission's report.

China's nuclear forces will become more powerful and deadly after more road-mobile nuclear missiles, intercontinental ballistic missiles armed with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles and five Type 094 Jin-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines enter service with the People's Liberation Army.

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Air Warfare Destroyers cursed by infighting, says ‘rescue report’

The confidential plan to rescue the nation’s largest defence project, the $8.5 billion construction of Air Warfare Destroyers, has been sabotaged by bitter infighting, risking a fresh blowout in costs and casting a pall over the future of naval shipbuilding in Australia.

The AWD rescue report, commissioned by the government and obtained by The Australian, warned in April that failure to take action to fix the troubled program within six months would trigger fresh delays and costs, and would “debilitate” the future of naval shipbuilding.

Almost eight months later, the key recommendations of the plan — written by former US Navy secretary Don Winter and the former Aus­tralian shipbuilder John White — have not been implemented because of infighting ­between government departments, defence contractors and the ship’s Spanish designer.

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Australian support for France’s nuclear force

In his final press conference during his state visit to Australia, French President Francois Hollande praised the contribution of Australian companies to France’s nuclear strike force. However the full translation of these comments went missing from the transcript published by Prime Minister Abbott’s office.

Standing beside Tony Abbott at a joint press conference in Canberra on 19 November, French President Francois Hollande highlighted the important collaboration of French and Australian corporations in the defence sector.

Speaking in French, he stated: “We are allies as well through our defence industries, because we manufacture – our French and Australian companies manufacture – processes, notably for the most essential equipment for the French strategic force, the French nuclear force, a part of this equipment is manufactured here in Australia.”

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US Marine Corps awards Rolls-Royce v-22 engine services contract

Rolls-Royce has been awarded a new, two-year contract to provide aftermarket engine support for the US Marine Corps and Air Force V-22 fleets, which provides a more than 30 percent reduction in support costs.

The contract, through the company’s innovative MissionCare™ model, is valued at up to $287 million and will cover all V-22 aircraft across the Marine and Air Force fleets.

Rolls-Royce is the sole engine provider for V-22 aircraft and has delivered 750 AE 1107C engines to the program.

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Denmark to Russia: We won't be intimidated

Denmark's PM and defence minister say that they are "not worried" about Moscow and are ready to "do what is necessary" to keep the Russians at bay.

Despite Russian aircraft having made several encroachments into Danish and Nato airspace, including a simulated attack on the island of Bornholm, Danish leaders say they refuse to cower before Moscow.

Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt told the Financial Times that Denmark is not overly concerned about Russian aggression.

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Bulava missile to be launched from Alexander Nevsky submarine in late November — source

Russia’s Borei class strategic submarine, the Alexander Nevsky, is due to launch the Bulava missile later this month, a source in the headquarters of the Russian Navy told TASS on Tuesday.

“It is planned that in late November the Alexander Nevsky will fire the Bulava from the Barents Sea at the Kura test range on the Kamchatka Peninsula,” the source said. The launch is due on November 28-30.

The Alexander Nevsky is to fire the only missile that will be on board. In October, the Yuri Dolgoruky submarine carried out the launch with a full load of Bulava missiles on board.

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S-400 missile defense systems reinforce military forces in eastern Russia

One more unit in Russia’s Eastern Military District was armed with modern S-400 Triumf air defense missile systems, chief press officer of the military district Colonel Alexander Gordeyev said on Tuesday.

“An air defense missile unit in the Eastern Military District is about to complete rearming to modern S-400 Triumf air defense missile systems,” Gordeyev said, noting that staff of this unit was having fire drills at a special fire range in Russia’s Volga River Volgograd Region and after that missilemen will go to a permanent base.

Air defense system-producing Almaz-Antey concern said last week that the eighth S-400 regiment consignment had been handed over to the Defense Ministry ahead of time and the company was preparing to make a ninth missile supply before the end of this year.

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Ghana to acquire Super Tucanos, Z-9s, Mi-17s and C-295s

The Ghana Air Force will acquire Super Tucano trainer/light attack aircraft, Z-9 helicopters and additional Mi-17 helicopters and C-295 transport aircraft, according to President John Dramani Mahama.

He made the announcement during the unveiling of a new hangar, equipment and vehicles at the Air Force Base in the capital Accra on 20 November.

The hangar, named after late Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal John Asamoah Bruce, is equipped with a forklift, refuelling truck, fire truck and an ambulance.

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UK reviewing arms exports to Israel

Britain is conducting a review of arms export licenses to Israel to ensure equipment it sells is not use in contravention of international law.

The UK government has already conducted one such review during Israel's summer war with Gaza, saying it would suspend 12 military export licenses to Israel if hostilities with Hamas resume.

On Monday a government spokeswoman said the fresh review was prompted by Sunday's shooting death of a Palestinian in Gaza by Israeli troops along the border. It was the first such fatality since a ceasefire agreement was reached between the sides on Aug. 27.

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The Rise of Arab Air Power

When pictures of Mariam Al Mansouri – the first female fighter pilot in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – traveled around the world in September, it symbolized the changing role of women in the Arab world and the collective fight against the Islamic state.

But it also captured a new military phenomenon: after decades of strategic irrelevance, Arab air power is on the rise.

In 2014, as Syria, Egypt, and Libya face strategic challenges for which their traditionally large air forces appear to be ill-suited, Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar have significantly expanded their aerial capabilities, largely as a means of balancing against Iran.

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France delays sending two new aircraft carriers to Russia 'until further notice' after Hollande says situation in Ukraine 'does not allow for delivery'

France on Tuesday pushed back 'until further notice' the delivery of a controversial warship to Russia because of the Ukraine crisis, sparking a measured initial response from Moscow.

President Francois Hollande said in a statement that the 'current situation in eastern Ukraine still does not allow for the delivery of the first' of two Mistral-class vessels France has built for Russia.

'He therefore decided to delay until further notice' the decision on whether to grant the export licence needed to deliver the ship to Russia, the statement added.

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E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft launched by US Navy’s VAW-121 squadron

The US Navy's carrier-based airborne early warning squadron (VAW)-121, the Bluetails, has launched its first E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft, marking an end to its 37-year association with the previous model E-2C Hawkeye.

VAW-121 operations officer lieutenant commander Nolan King said: "It's still an E-2 and we're going to be capable to provide all the functions and perform all the same missions as we did with the E-2C.

"With the added improvements in our sensor capability we're going to be able to improve efficiency and lethality of the strike group and other assets we're working with."

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Two Vietnamese frigates in PHL, a first of its kind

Two warships of Vietnam People’s Navy are in the country for a three-day goodwill visit. Dinh Tien Hoang (HQ-011) and Ly Thai To (HQ-012) arrived Monday, November 24 and will stay in the Philippines until Wednesday, November 26.

These two warships are carrying approximately 200 officers and crews. Dinh Tien Hoang (HQ-011) and Ly Thai To (HQ-012) are Russian-made frigate designed to perform search and destroy missions.

During the visit two parties will tackle visits and exchanges, personnel education and training exchanges, naval technology exchanges and intelligence exchanges.

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Investigations Into Submarines' Accidents

Two accidents occurred on-board Indian Navy Submarines during July 2013 to March 2014.

On August 14, 2013 an explosion occurred on-board INS Sindhurakshak resulting in her submergence and loss of life of 18 service personnel.

On February 26, 2014 there was fire on-board INS Sindhuratna resulting in loss of life of 02 officers.

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