On the evening of the 20th, two Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopters, SH-60Ks, went missing while conducting training approximately 280 kilometers east of Torishima in the Izu Islands. Flight recorders were found in close proximity, leading the Ministry of Defense to conclude that both helicopters had crashed. There are suspicions of a mid-air collision. A […] The post 2 Japanese navy helicopters crash in Pacific first appeared on Defence Blog ..read more

India delivered the first batch of BrahMos cruise missiles to the Philippines on April 19. This delivery comes two years after the signing of a $375 million deal between the two nations. The export of ground launcher systems for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system, along with the missiles themselves, commenced last month. This historic […] The post India delivers first BrahMos cruise missiles to Philippines first appeared on Defence Blog ..read more

U.S. Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Training Squadron 2, under the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, has initiated the assembly of 2nd MAW’s inaugural MQ-9A Reaper. The Marine Corps said in a release that led by Lt. Col. Michael Donlin, VMUT-2 is transitioning to become the MQ-9A Fleet Replacement Squadron, tasked with training Marine Corps’ MQ-9A pilots […] The post US Marines receive new MQ-9A Reaper drone first appeared on Defence Blog ..read more

India successfully conducted a test flight of a domestically developed Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM) from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Odisha on April 18. Conducted at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha, the test showcased the missile’s capability for very low altitude sea-skimming flight, marking a crucial advancement in India’s indigenous […] The post India conducts test flight of locally developed cruise missile first appeared on Defence Blog ..read more

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN), in collaboration with Anduril Industries, the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA), and the Defense Science and Technology Group (DSTG), introduced the first Ghost Shark prototype of a new underwater surveillance drone. Ahead of schedule and within budget, the Ghost Shark program signifies a leap forward in Australia’s defense capabilities. With […] The post Australia unveils first Ghost Shark underwater drone first appeared on Defence Blog ..read more

The US Navy has urgently ordered the EAGLS (Electrically Aided Gunnery Laser System) Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) that use laser-guided 70mm rockets to protect American forces in the Middle East. The $24 million deal awarded to MSI Defense Solutions underscores the urgency of safeguarding American forces in the region. The EAGLS system, reminiscent of the […] The post US Navy buys EAGLS defense systems first appeared on Defence Blog ..read more

South Korea’s naval arsenal received a new addition as the Shin Chae-ho, a domestically produced 3,000-ton diesel-electric attack submarine, was formally handed over to the Navy on April 4, 2024. Named after a revered Korean independence activist, Shin Chae-ho represents a crucial component of South Korea’s defense strategy, particularly within the framework of the Kill […] The post S. Korea’s Navy receives new attack submarine first appeared on Defence Blog ..read more

The U.S. Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) recently concluded a trilateral maritime exercise aimed at enhancing regional security and stability in the Indo-Pacific. The exercise, held on April 11, involved the participation of several ships from each navy, including the USS Theodore Roosevelt and guided-missile destroyers from the […] The post US, Japan, South Korea conduct trilateral maritime exercise first appeared on Defence Blog ..read more

The Japan Coast Guard (JCG) has awarded Airbus a contract to supply an additional three H225 helicopters, taking its total H225 fleet up to 18. Having received three H225s in December 2023 and one in February 2024, the JCG’s reliance on the Super Puma family of helicopters has been longstanding. Jean-Luc Alfonsi, Managing Director of […] The post Japan Coast Guard buys more H225 helicopters first appeared on Defence Blog ..read more

Cmdr. Cameron Yaste, the Commanding Officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56), found himself in an embarrassing situation due to a photo published on official U.S. Navy pages. On Tuesday, a post appeared on all official U.S. Navy pages with the text “from engaging in practice gun shoots, conducting […] The post US Naval Commander involved in curious case due to exercise photo first appeared on Defence Blog ..read more