DefenseNews

Army chief teases new Arctic strategy

January 22, 2021
WASHINGTON — Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville teased the recently completed Arctic strategy emphasizing it would provide the U.S. with capabilities to compete and deter conflict in the region. The Army’s strategy recognizes “where our national interests are,” McConville said during an Association of the U.S. Army virtual event on Jan. 19, “and we certainly have and share…
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Australia selects Boeing Apache as next armed reconnaissance helicopter

January 20, 2021
MELBOURNE, Australia — Australia has selected Boeing’s AH-64E Apache Guardian as it’s next armed reconnaissance helicopter, replacing its Airbus Helicopters Tiger fleet under the Land 4503 program estimated to be worth AU$4-5 billion (U.S. $3–3.8 billion). The selection of the Apache follows the release of a request for information in July 2019 and was announced by Australian Defence…
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American warship, F-35 jets to deploy with British fleet

January 20, 2021
LONDON — U.S. combat jets and a destroyer are to join the British Royal Navy’s new aircraft carrier on its maiden operational deployment to the Asia-Pacific region later in 2021, after officials formally approved the deployment Tuesday. British Defence Secretary Ben…
DefenseNews

US Navy halts deliveries of Freedom-class littoral combat ship

January 20, 2021
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy has halted deliveries of Lockheed Martin’s Freedom-class littoral combat ship, citing a design flaw with the ship’s transmission. In a statement to Defense News, the Navy pointed to “a material defect” with the ship’s combining gear…
DefenseNews

French Army orders 364 Serval armored vehicles

January 16, 2021
PARIS — The French Army is expected to receive 108 Serval armored vehicles in 2022 as part of an order from manufacturers Nexter and Texelis totaling 364. The contract was finalized through the DGA procurement agency on Dec. 23 but was not announced until Jan. 15. The two companies, which formed a temporary joint operation to build the light-armored, multirole Serval, will deliver the…
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Aerovironment buys Arcturus UAV in $405M deal

January 16, 2021
WASHINGTON — Aerovironment, a leading supplier of unmanned aircraft systems to the U.S. military, has purchased Arcturus UAV for $405 million. Arcturus is currently competing for a $1 billion Army contract to replace the Shadow tactical unmanned aircraft system. …
DefenseNews

Pentagon’s weapons tester gives update on Navy’s new long-range anti-ship missile

January 15, 2021
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy’s new Long Range Anti-Ship Missile must go through more rigorous and realistic testing, according to the 2020 annual report from the director of operational test and evaluation. Citing “multiple hardware and software failures” in the first iteration of the LRASM missile, the DOT&E report calls on the Navy to put the new LRASM 1.1 through a rigorous testing…
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