February 2018 Global Defence & Security Industry - Military News

 
 
 
 

 

According to a news released on the Russian press agency TASS website on February 19, 2018, Iraq has received the first batch of 36 T-90S main battle tanks (MBTs) under an arms contract with Russia, Shafaq News reported on Monday, citing Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Army, Lieutenant-General Othman Al-Ghanmi.

According to the Morroccan newspaper Hasparis issued on February 18 and cited by SDArabia Security and Denfense Arabia websites, Morocco is strengthening its artillery arsenal with China-made WS-2D multiple-rocket launcher systems (MLRS).

 

The Pakistani army’s press service said last week that the troops being sent to Saudi Arabia “will not be employed outside” the kingdom, most probably referring to the fighting in Yemen.

Cobra Gold is an annual exercise conducted in the Kingdom of Thailand. The 2018 iteration (the 37th one) runs from February 13-23 with seven full participating nations. Exercise Cobra Gold is designed to advance regional security and ensure effective responses to regional crises by bringing together a robust multinational force to address shared goals and security commitments in the Indo-Pacific region.

Iran has offered to supply Iraq with heavy military equipment and armament, including artillery and armored vehicles. A sensitive proposal, considering the current US assistance to the Iraqi government and army.

According to a new published to the Russian press agency TASS website, on February 6, 2018, Moscow and Bangkok have signed an agreement on the supply of Russia’s world-renowned Kalashnikov assault rifles. The first shipment is scheduled for this year, according to Mikhail Petukhov, Deputy Director of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC).

Pearson Engineering has signed an agreement with the ARTEC consortium to manufacture the Boxer armoured vehicle in the UK alongside BAE Systems and Thales UK. Should the vehicle be chosen for the British Army’s MIV (Mechanised Infantry Vehicle) requirement, the British ARTEC partners will secure up to 1,000 British jobs.

On February 15, 2018, government of Romania has approved the acquisition of American-made M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System). According to the Romania-Insider website, Romania will make a payment of around to $1 billion on February 28 to acquire the first HIMARS rocket/missile system.

Finland's Ministry of Defense (MoD) will acquire new automatic guns for BMP-2MD “Torch” infantry fighting vehicles (IFV), according to local media outlets. The request for guns worth EUR 8 million ($9.1 million) was approved by the country's Defense Minister Jussi Niinisto.

“Fire trials of Tor-M2DT prototype on the chassis of two-section prime mover for operations in the Arctic and the Extreme North have been successfully completed at Kapustin Yar range, in the Astrakhan region”, the Defense Ministry said. “The fire in bursts was held to assess aiming precision at two targets. Live fire was held from one combat vehicle in a complicated aiming situation and jamming of two targets imitating cruise missiles," it said.

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov has announced February 12, 2018, that Russia will annually procure an average of 200 main battle tanks (MBTs). Currently, T-72B3 main battle tanks are the backbone of the Russian armed forces, but there is plan to deliver first T-14 Armata to the 1st guards tank regiment of Taman division.

On February 14, Switzerland's Federal Council approved the Army Plan 2018 (AP18) outline for parliamentary consideration. The plan outlines three priorities, including modernizing some air force systems, supplementing army equipment (new clothing and equipment, primarily ballistic body protection vests), and developing training infrastructure.

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