In a primary-of-its-kind deal worth about $500 million, the u. s. has agreed to sell eight new Apache AH-64E attack helicopters and Longbow radars to Indonesia, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said here today. Hagel announced the deal during a joint news conference with Indonesian Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro after productive meetings this afternoon with Yusgiantoro and earlier today with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The secretary is visiting Indonesia as component of an eight-day, four-nation trip that has included a stop in Malaysia and may take him this week to Brunei and the Philippines. “Providing Indonesia these world-class helicopters is an... Read More »
An odd underwater ballet was unfolding within the Mediterranean port of Toulon these past few days. Under the scrutiny in their masters, whose eyes are glued to computer screens, the world’s first fleet of “marine drones” is being put through its paces. Five European countries — France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal — have sent prototypes here under a four-year, four-million-euro ($5.32-million) programme to construct a squad of unmanned underwater rovers. Deployed from a surface vessel, but communicating among themselves and using artificial intelligence, the wireless scouts would unfolded in a surveillance network. Using video cameras and echo sounders, the... Read More »
French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Friday talks over a $12-billion deal to sell Rafale jets to India were progressing well and that a brand new bilateral pact would underpin the deal. India initially set a target of the top of last year to conclude the acquisition of the 126 aircraft, one of many biggest ever defence deals, but deadlines have repeatedly slipped. With India set to visit the polls for national elections within the first half next year, experts believe that the possibilities of a speedy conclusion are dwindling. “I is absolutely not announcing the date for signing... Read More »
In a move which belies the customarily-heard canard that it’s slow to make decisions, the U.S. Army is moving out decisively to minimize overhead spending and protect up to it should of the fighting force. In an August 14 memorandum to each major command and agency, the Secretary of the military, the Honorable John McHugh, and the executive of Staff, General Raymond Odierno, informed their service that they were directing the 2013 Focus Area Review Group to spot areas for major reductions in personnel and expenditures. In what can only be described as a shot around the bow to the... Read More »