Global defense news, analysis and opinion

Raytheon awarded $105 million contract for Griffin mini-missile production

Raytheon has been awarded a $105 million contract for the production of AGM-176 Griffin short-range air-to-surface and surface-to-surface mini-missiles

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Afghanistan claims ‘undeniable’ evidence Kabul attacks planned in Pakistan

Afghanistan has handed "undeniable" evidence to Pakistan that it claims shows a recent spate of deadly attacks were planned on Pakistani soil, Afghan officials said, amid growing public anger over their impotence to protect civilians

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The ‘weak link’: Afghan Police bear the brunt of insecurity in Afghanistan

Undertrained and improperly equipped, the Afghan National Police act more as a security force than civilian police, and they bear the brunt of terrorist attacks

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India’s defense spending to increase over 7.8% in 2018

India’s military spending is set to increase under the 2018-19 budget unveiled on Thursday. The defense sector has been allocated 2,95,511.41 crore rupees (29 billion rupees, $454 million) – 12.10 percent of the total central government expenditure – in the budget Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented to parliament. The budget is a 7.81 percent increase over the amount allocated for 2017-18. Capital expenditures including defense purchases were set at 99,947 crore rupees. A recent report from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence found that the capital budget for the Indian Air Force was 46 percent lower than required, while the Army’s budget was 41 percent lower and the Navy’s was 32 percent. NDTV reported on Wednesday that India’s $250-billion military modernization is also in trouble as Prime Minister Narenda Modi has failed to fix the country’s disfunctional defense procurement system. Jaitley noted that the government is continuing to emphasize the military’s operational capacity, and said a number of initiatives have been undertaken to advance Modi’s “Make in India” program. India is the world’s largest defense importer, and Modi has sought to make it more self-reliant and an eventual arms exporter. The ‘Make II’ strategy includes significant transfer of technology in defense acquisition, encouraging …

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South Korea pursues defense cooperation with Thailand as first T-50 deliveries underway

South Korea is seeking to bolster its defense industry cooperation with Thailand as the first deliveries of T-50TH Golden Eagle fighter jets are underway

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The bankruptcy of American and Coalition diplomacy in Syria and Iraq

US decisions to arm the Kurds in Syria and Iraq at the expense of relations with Turkey and Iraq is another sign of waning influence

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Boeing defense revenue increases 7% for the year

Boeing released its 4th quarter earnings report, posting a 5% defense revenue boost for the quarter and a 7% increase for 2017

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South Yemen separatists pin down government in de facto capital Aden

Yemeni ministers were holed up in Aden's after separatist forces seized effective control of the southern port city

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Raytheon awarded $2.3 billion Patriot missile system support contract

Raytheon was awarded a $2.3 billion contract for engineering and software support for the Patriot air and missile defense system, including a "refresh for obsolescence" for U.S. and foreign customers

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Indian Navy launches 3rd Scorpene-class submarine Karanj

India's Navy launched the third Scorpene-class submarine Karanj, from Mazagon Docks Mumbai on Wednesday

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