DefenseNews

Ukrainian drone makers visit Paris looking for co-production deals

PARIS — More than two dozen Ukrainian defense companies traveled to Paris this week to meet with French counterparts, laying the groundwork for co-production deals in France and seeking to bolster integration with the European defense-industrial base. French defense firms have been slow to set up joint companies with Ukrainian partners, with just one joint venture created so far, compared to 11…
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DefenseNews

France mulls fallback tank for delayed MGCS program in defense update

PARIS — France is in talks with manufacturers about an intermediary solution to replace the country’s aging Leclerc main battle tank, as a project with Germany to develop a next-generation tank is delayed, Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin told lawmakers on Wednesday. The French-German project for the future Main Combat Ground System, which was supposed to produce the Leclerc’s…
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DefenseNews

New Zealand defense minister to help shepherd military-integration push with Australia

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Chris Penk this week became New Zealand’s 44th minister of defense, replacing Judith Collins who is retiring from politics. Penk will also take over Collins’ Space, Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) and New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) portfolios. Penk is the first defense minister to have previously served with both New Zealand and…
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DefenseNews

Outpaced by the US, China’s military places selective bets on artificial intelligence

NEW TAIPEI CITY, Taiwan — The Chinese navy is enhancing its guided-missile frigate, the Qinzhou, with an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm designed to illuminate blind spots during air defense engagements, an official military website said. The website cited a state-run media report and experts calling the vessel a “major leap in integrated combat capability” that “positions the…
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