Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has received a request for proposal from the Indian Ministry of Defense for 97 light fighters, marking the largest-ever order for these aircraft. The Tejas fighters, also known as Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), are crucial for the Indian air force, which currently falls short of its mandated squadron levels. HAL confirmed receiving the solicitation but couldn' t specify when a pricing proposal would be provided. The expected cost of the contract is estimated to exceed INR650 billion or roughly US$7. 8 billion. This order represents HAL' s second contract for t ..read more

The House passed a US$95 billion foreign aid package. The package includes four bills: US$60. 8 billion in aid for Ukraine, US$26. 4 billion in support for Israel, US$8. 1 billion to counter China in the Indo-Pacific, and the fourth bill would allow the sale of frozen assets of Russian oligarchs to help fund future aid to Ukraine. The House passed the aid bill for Indo-Pacific allies and Israel with strong support, garnering 385 to 34 and 366 to 58 votes respectively. However, the vote on Ukraine aid faced more contention due to internal disagreements among House Republicans. Despite pushback ..read more

AeroVironment (AV) has secured a contract with the U. S. Marine Corps for its Switchblade 300 Block 20 loitering munition system (LMS) as part of the Organic Precision Fires-Light (OPF-L) program. The contract includes an initial order of US$8. 9 million with a potential value of up to US$249 million. The Switchblade 300 Block 20 meets the OPF-L program' s requirement for an individually operated, man-portable loitering munition with lightweight, precision-guided capabilities against beyond-line-of-sight ..read more

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Russian military advisors and equipment, including an air defense system, have arrived in Niger’s capital city of Niamey on Friday, April 12, according to state-owned media. The deployment reflects deepening ties between Moscow and the Nigerien junta, which in March revoked its existing military agreement with the U. S. Once installed, the Russian air defense system may complicate ongoing U. S. and French drone operations above the country’s ..read more

On Saturday, April 13, Iran launched an attack of approximately 300 drones and missiles at Israel, in the first-ever direct attack on the country from Iranian soil. According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), 170 drones, 30 cruise missiles and 120 ballistic missiles were fired at the country. Israeli air defenses supported by U. S. and other allied forces intercepted the majority of the projectiles. The attack came as Tehran vowed retaliation for an Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria earlier this month which killed seven, including two generals. The Israeli war cabin ..read more

Following a meeting between U. S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday April 10, the Pentagon announced plans to deepen the existing alliance between the two countries. The decision will see the upgrading of joint command and control, networking of shared air defense and deepening of defense industry cooperation. The Pentagon announcement also stated the countries would incorporate future capabilities with ..read more

A wave of heavy air strikes in north-west Syria targeting Iranian-affiliated Hezbollah militants and Syrian soldiers has killed at least 42 people on Friday, according to the BBC. The Syrian government accused Israel, which has targeted Iranian-linked sites in the country before, of conducting the attacks. Hours after the strikes, the Israeli Defense Forces announced it had killed a ranking Hezbollah figure in an air strike in neighboring ..read more

South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) announced it had been selected as a partner to Peru’s state-owned SIMA shipyard to support the procurement of several naval vessels for a total cost of $462. 9 million. The contract covers a 3, 400-ton frigate, one 2, 200-ton offshore patrol vessel (OPV) and two 1, 500-ton landing crafts, utility (LCUs). HHI will be responsible for the design, equipment & material package and technical support, while SIMA will construct the vessels. Delivery is planned by ..read more

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed the order for the country’s routine spring conscription drive, according to documents released on the Kremlin website on Sunday, March 31. The drive will call up 150, 000 citizens for mandatory service, rising from last autumn’s drive for 130, 000 and the previous spring’s planned 147, 000. While not legally allowed to be deployed outside Russia’s borders, conscripted soldiers have been confirmed to be involved in Moscow’s war in ..read more