Americas
The US Navy awarded Gibbs & Cox a $39.6 million future surface combatant force (LSCF) design and engineering contract. The contract, through February 2024, supports the next-generation guided-missile destroyer (DDG(X))and other emerging ship concepts. It also includes feasibility studies in support of the broader navy fleet.
President Vladimir Putin announced Tuesday that Moscow would suspend its participation in the last remaining arms control treaty between the world’s two main nuclear powers, Russia and the United States. He spoke ahead of the first anniversary of Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine, and the announcement is expected to be seen by analysts as a major attempt to raise the stakes in Russia’s confrontation with the West.
Middle East & Africa
India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has revealed that it is now in talks with the governments of Egypt and Argentina to supply a large number of Tejas LCA Mk-1A fighter aircraft. The announcement was made by company chairman Shri Ananthakrishnan during the recently held Aero-India 2023. As part of the proposal, HAL would deliver 20 Tejas to Cairo and provide a complete transfer of technology to produce the aircraft locally.
Europe
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded BAE Systems a $1.7 billion Future Combat Air System (FCAS) concept & assessment phase contract. BAE will collaborate with international partners to undertake “concept development, technology maturation, technical demonstration planning & critical program enablers.” As part of the proposal, HAL would deliver 20 Tejas to Cairo and provide a complete transfer of technology to produce the aircraft locally.
Asia-Pacific
Twenty-one Philippine Navy personnel were congratulated by Indian Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar at a valedictory ceremony after completing the operator training for the BrahMos anti-ship missile. Philippines ordered three batteries of the BrahMos shore-base anti-ship missile system in a deal worth $375 million in January 2022. The missiles will be operated by the Philippine Marine Corps.
Taiwan will boost military exchanges with the United States to curb “authoritarian expansionism,” President Tsai Ing-wen said Tuesday after meeting with visiting US lawmakers. The five-day US Congressional visit comes after a top US defense official reportedly made a rare and highly secretive stopover to the self-ruled island as Washington-Beijing tensions flared alleged Chinese spy balloons.
Today’s Video
WATCH: DDG X Destroyer, US Navy’s Next Generation Destroyer Warship Program
