Europe
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Feb- 2018 -14 February
UK submits final offer for 34 Eurofighter Typhoons to Belgium
The UK Ministry of Defence submitted to Belgium its final offer for 34 Eurofighter Typhoon swing-role combat aircraft plus support, training and cooperation on cyber capabilities in the competition to replace Belgium’s F-16s
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14 February
US concerns over EU PESCO defense pact cloud NATO talks
Brussels (AFP) – NATO defence ministers met in Brussels on Wednesday to discuss Washington’s concerns over the European Union’s new plans to deepen defense ties between its members, and increasingly strained U.S.-Turkey relations. Washington and Ankara, two of the transatlantic alliance’s most important members, are at loggerheads over Turkey’s military offensive in northern Syria. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Tuesday warned it was detracting from the fight against the Islamic State group. The two-day meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels is expected to approve changes to the alliance’s command structure. It aims to meet the challenges of warfare in the 21st century, particularly cyber attacks and other novel “hybrid warfare” tactics, as fears grow about Russian assertiveness. But a working dinner with E.U. diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini later Wednesday has taken on greater significance after senior US officials voiced fears about the impact the bloc’s new landmark defence pact could have on the balance of power in NATO. The E.U.’s so-called permanent structured cooperation on defence agreement, known as PESCO, has projects in view already to develop new military equipment and improve cooperation and decision-making. But on Sunday a senior official working with U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis …
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13 February
NATO chief signals new training mission in Iraq
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg defense ministers will likely begin planning for a training mission in Iraq when they meet in Belgium this week.
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12 February
Latvia to buy Israeli Spike guided missiles for CVR-T vehicles for €108 million
Latvia is to buy Israel-made Spike anti-tank guided missiles for it CVR-T armored vehicle fleet for €108 million ($132 million)
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12 February
Russia tests upgraded air defense missile
Russia successfully test-fired a PRS-1M upgraded air defense missile from the Sary-Shagan firing range in Kazakhstan, according to the official Ministry of Defence newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda
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8 February
Russia to order 12 fifth generation Su-57 stealth fighters to “test combat use”
Russia is to order 12 of the fifth generation Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighter aircraft this year, and expects 14 Su-30SM fighters to be delivered in 2018
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7 February
Russia plans to launch second Blagovest military satellite in April
The launch of the second of four Russian Blagovest military satellites is planned for April after it was delayed in December, the satellite's developer said
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6 February
US approves $735 million sale to Finland of Harpoon anti-ship and ESSM air defense missiles
The U.S. State Department approved the $735 million sale of 112 Harpoon anti-ship missiles and 68 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles used to defend ships from aerial attack, the Defense Cooperation Security Agency said.
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6 February
Rheinmetall and Sikorsky to collaborate on German heavy lift helicopter bid
Germany's Rheinmetall Group and Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky signed a strategic teaming agreement to offer the CH-53K King Stallion helicopter in the German Air Force heavy lift helicopter competition
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2 February
UK Royal Navy assault ship Albion to lead NATO task group
The U.K. Royal Navy amphibious assault ship HMS Albion will lead Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 beginning next week. Albion is set to leave Devonport Naval Base in Plymouth next week and will serve as the SNMG2 flagship, operating in the Mediterranean Sea, the Royal Navy said in a Friday press release. A Royal Marines group will also embark aboard the ship. “It is a huge privilege for us to fly the flag of the NATO task group commander in such a high profile deployment,” HMS Albion commanding officer said. “This symbolises the importance that the UK and the Royal Navy places on our role in NATO and in assuring the collective defence and security of NATO allies and partners.’’ HMS Albion is one of the Royal Navy’s two amphibious assault ships. It recently completed a two-year modernization period followed by training and sea trials. The NATO task group will undertake security operations and conduct multi-national exercises while in the Mediterranean.
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