Americas
Canada’s procurement of National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) is showing signs of advancement following earlier setbacks. The $406 million purchase, initially announced in January 2023, is now on track for delivery in early 2025, marking a significant step forward in bolstering Ukraine’s defensive arsenal. Defense Minister Bill Blair recently provided an optimistic update on the situation, highlighting that despite initial delays in fund transfer, the procurement process is now moving ahead steadily. The minister emphasized that the four-month lag between the announcement and the execution of funds did not materially impact the overall timeline for delivery.
US Air Force’s Air Combat Command (ACC) received its first EA-37B Compass Call aircraft at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, on August 23, 2024. The delivery of aircraft 19-5591 marks the introduction of an advanced electronic warfare platform, upgrading from the legacy EC-130H. This new addition to ACC’s fleet brings enhanced electromagnetic attack capabilities to the US Air Force, designed to meet evolving challenges in the electromagnetic spectrum. The decision to transition to the EA-37B platform dates back to Oct. 23, 2018, when then-Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson approved ACC’s request to replace the EC-130H Compass Call aircraft operated by the 55th Electronic Combat Group (ECG) at Davis-Monthan AFB. This decision was driven by emerging threats in multiple theaters and rising sustainment costs of the legacy EC-130H platform.
Middle East & Africa
Britain said Monday it would suspend some arms exports to Israel, citing a “clear risk” that they could be used in a serious breach of international humanitarian law. Israel’s defense minister Yoav Gallant said he was “deeply disheartened” to hear of the sanctions but rights groups said the suspensions did not go far enough. Foreign Secretary David Lammy told parliament that the UK would suspend 30 out of 350 arms export licenses following a review by his department into Israel’s conduct of its war against Hamas militants.
Europe
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has approved distribution of locally upgraded Khorunzhy armored personnel carriers to the armed forces to defend against Russia’s aggression. This comes after a “deep modernization” effort of the Soviet-made BTR-60s in April. The Bulgarian government donated part of the fleet in February. The following month, Sofia confirmed the delivery of about 100 BTR-60s to Kyiv.
Asia-Pacific
According to Defense Post, New Delhi and Tokyo have confirmed the transfer of a Japanese naval ship communications antenna to India. The NORA-50 antenna, dubbed UNICORN, is the second defense equipment export by Japan since the lifting of a ban on non-lethal defense equipment transfers in 2014. Tokyo exported an air surveillance radar to the Philippines last year, and has announced the export of the Patriot Advanced Capability system to the US, after further easing the ban in 2023. “The Ministers further appreciated the successful completion of the cooperation in the areas of Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV)/Robotics,” the third Japan-India 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial Meeting statement read.
