Known as AUKUS, the alliance aims to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific and enhance defense capabilities through technology sharing. The initial phase of the partnership involves working on nuclear submarines for Canberra.

According to Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair, Ottawa wants to join a second pillar of the alliance, which involves collaboration on emerging military technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing.

“There have been important discussions about processes and platforms on a project-specific basis on where other nations, including Japan and ourselves, might participate,” he said during his first visit to Tokyo as defense minister.

“I would respectfully wait until they’ve come to their determination, but I’m very optimistic.”

Expanded Alliance?

Talks about potentially expanding the AUKUS alliance began when Japan signified its intent to become a fourth member.

The founding nations have confirmed they were considering Tokyo’s involvement in “specific Pillar 2 defense projects,” given its substantial investments in cutting-edge military technologies.

South Korea and New Zealand have also shown interest in contributing to the second pillar, offering their expertise in areas such as AI, autonomy, undersea capabilities, electronic warfare, and cyber operations.

The US previously said it was open to allowing more countries to participate in AUKUS’ technological activities, noting its appreciation for the interest from various allies.

“I think all three countries have made clear that under the appropriate circumstances we would be prepared to work collaboratively with other partners who bring capacity to the challenge,” US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said.

Increasing Threats

China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific has led many countries to view it as the biggest threat in the region.

Its aggressive stance in the South China Sea, marked by multiple maritime confrontations with Philippine Navy vessels and its mounting pressure on Taiwan, has heightened regional tensions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping previously warned against a resurgence of Cold War-era tensions in the Asia-Pacific due to increasing military cooperation among its adversaries.

The post After Japan, Canada Wants In on AUKUS Alliance to Counter China appeared first on The Defense Post.

The firm-fixed-price incentive modification contract covers the production of additional AMRAAM missiles, AMRAAM telemetry systems, initial and field spares, and other production engineering support hardware and activities. 

It builds on the previous $1.15-billion contract from 2023 to supply AMRAAM Production Lot 37 to the US Air Force, US Navy, and partner countries.  

Through foreign military sales, this 2024 contract specifies that Bahrain, Bulgaria, Canada, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the UK will also receive said equipment.

The production work is expected to be completed by December 31, 2028.

The post US Awards Raytheon $1.19B AMRAAM Missile Contract Modification appeared first on The Defense Post.

A comprehensive investigation into the UK’s military support for Kyiv found that the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) prioritized transferring items that were due to be scrapped or replaced.

For example, in March 2022, the MoD shipped more than 17,000 pairs of unused military boots that were nearly slated for disposal.

“Had the MoD been unable to sell this surplus stock, it would have been sent to landfill,” the report noted. “In some cases, donating supplies has reduced waste or costs relating to disposal.”

Despite transferring obsolete items, the NAO reported that the MoD believed these supplies still had immediate military value for the Ukrainian forces.

$225M From Stockpiles

As of March 2024, the UK had donated 171.5 million pounds ($225 million) in military equipment coming from its stockpiles.

Though not specified, the items were reportedly valuable military assets that would help Kyiv’s forces survive on the frontline.

However, in mid-2023, Britain sharply reduced its donations from stockpiles due to “unacceptable risks” to the UK’s military readiness.

The NAO has already found that the British Army’s ongoing training of Ukrainian troops has affected its capacity to train its own soldiers.

A quarter of the army’s training facilities are reportedly being utilized by Ukrainian military recruits, resulting in reduced access for some British soldiers.

“As the MoD plans its future support, it must continue to balance the UK’s strategic interests with maintaining the UK’s own military capabilities,” NAO head Gareth Davies said.

The post UK Flooded Ukraine With Obsolete Military Gear: Report appeared first on The Defense Post.

In a recent report, the public spending watchdog revealed that over a quarter of the army’s training facilities are being used by Ukrainian military recruits undergoing basic infantry training.

As a result, British Army units bidding for training areas were reportedly rejected eight times more often in 2023 than the previous years.

The issue also nearly affected the Royal Marines, but they refused to compromise their own training needs, forcing the Ukrainian Marines to train in the Netherlands instead.

NAO head Gareth Davis has called on the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to balance its support for Ukraine with its own strategic and defense needs.

“This includes making sure there are appropriate stocks of equipment and sufficient training provision for UK forces,” he noted.

Still Lacking

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the UK has trained more than 45,000 Ukrainian soldiers on its soil, according to the MoD.

Most of the trainees reported feeling better prepared for the battlefield.

Despite the significant resources allocated, some Ukrainian soldiers have found the training lacking in some areas such as counter-drone tactics and strategic vehicle use.

The MoD explained that they are unable to meet Ukraine’s counter-drone training requirements due to the existing military and civil aviation restrictions in the UK.

It also noted that the training does not include exercises involving military vehicles due to associated risks.

‘Outdated Training’

This is not the first time UK military training has been scrutinized publicly.

In July, senior air force official Blythe Crawford claimed that the country’s military training program is a decade out of date, affecting its preparedness for a full-scale war.

He further said nobody in the British Armed Forces is training for modern battlefield scenarios similar to what is observed in Ukraine.

The post UK’s Ability to Train Own Troops ‘Constrained’ by Ukraine Support: Report appeared first on The Defense Post.

Around 2,000 experts and government representatives from over 90 countries attended the event.

In his opening address, South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun highlighted how AI use in military operations could strengthen capabilities but also bring potential harm if misused. 

Ukraine’s use of AI-enabled drones in the ongoing conflict with Russia was cited as an example.

The Blueprint

The REAIM Blueprint for Action outlined 20 clauses divided into three sections: the impact of AI on international peace and security; implementing responsible AI in the military domain; and envisaging future governance of AI in the military.

It acknowledged that “AI capabilities in the military domain must be applied in accordance with applicable national and international law.”

Further, the document highlighted that “appropriate human involvement needs to be maintained in the development, deployment and use of AI in the military domain, including appropriate measures that relate to human judgment and control over the use of force.”

Among the topics discussed were risk assessments, confidence-building measures, and preventing AI from being used in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, especially by terrorist groups.

China Opts Out, Russia Not Invited

South Korea, the US, Japan, France, Germany, the UK, Switzerland, Sweden, Pakistan, and Ukraine were among the 61 countries that endorsed the document.

China was one of 30 to opt out. 

Meanwhile, Russia was not invited for the second year in a row due to international condemnation of its Ukraine invasion.

“We also need to be realistic that we will never have the whole world on board,” Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said, adding that this dilemma must be part of further discussions.

This Seoul summit, co-hosted by the Netherlands, Singapore, Kenya, and the UK, follows the inaugural session at The Hague last year that initiated guidelines about AI use on the battlefield. 

This year’s summit’s declaration is said to be more action-oriented. “Last year … was more about creating shared understanding, now we are getting more towards action,” Brekelmans said.

South Korea aims to continue discussions based on the summit document in the upcoming UN General Assembly later this month.

The post Responsible AI in Military Summit Highlights Human Control, Endorsed by 61 Countries appeared first on The Defense Post.

The service’s 16 Air Assault Brigade recently ran a screening session to select who among its existing drone pilots can be enrolled in the jHub Drone Academy to further hone their skills.

The jHub promises to deliver a suitable training solution through the adoption of innovative technology and modern techniques.

During the screening, participants simulated a first-person view (FPV) drone operation using a 5-inch (13-centimeter) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and virtual reality goggles.

A laptop was also used to display simulated obstacles and other scenarios to aid the screening process.

Corporal Morgan McConnell, one of the soldiers who participated in the test, said FPV drones are typically difficult to control because they lack the GPS and stabilization software fitted to conventional UAVs.

“It’s going to take time to get to the stage of flying it instinctively,” he explained. “I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Shortening the Kill Chain

FPV and kamikaze drones carry small explosive charges for attacking enemy positions and destroying armored vehicles from the inside.

In the UK, soldiers reportedly need to complete a three-week course to qualify as FPV drone pilots.

Senior UAV operator Sergeant Adam Barnes said that while this type of drone is harder to operate, it is much simpler, more adaptable, and relatively cheaper than other unmanned platforms.

An infantry unit can use FPV drones to reach and strike targets and eliminate the need to call in mortars, artillery, or an air strike to carry out the attack.

“It shortens the kill chain and gives a commander more options, making for a more efficient use of resources,” Barnes noted.

The post British Army Expands Soldier Kamikaze Drone Training appeared first on The Defense Post.

On the day of the bid submission deadline, Airbus announced that it was unable to formulate a bid that would meet the UK’s requirements.

Moreover, it said it was still unsure if it would be able to deliver on the program’s industrial strategy objectives, which include providing new long-term jobs and opportunities for the UK supply chain.

Lockheed has also been listed as a “no bid” in the initiative after the deadline, confirming earlier suspicions that it would not participate in the competitive process.

In a statement, the US defense giant pointed out that it could not meet the program’s minimum requirements “in today’s market conditions.”

Both Lockheed and Airbus were shortlisted in 2022 as contenders for the program and told to submit their official bids by August 30, 2024.

Leonardo as Sole Bidder

The exit of Airbus and Lockheed Martin from the NMH initiative has left Leonardo as its sole bidder.

The Italian aerospace firm is offering its AW149 helicopter, which can accommodate up to 16 troops and conduct combat, logistics, and maritime patrol missions.

Leonardo recently confirmed that it had already submitted its bid, ensuring that it is “fully compliant” with the outlined requirements in terms of budget, number of platforms, and timeline.

Prior to the withdrawal of Airbus and Lockheed, several reports already claimed that Leonardo’s offer could be the best solution among the three shortlisted candidates from an operational, industrial, and national value standpoint.

The major shake-up in the NMH program leaves the UK with at least two options: proceed with Leonardo’s proposal or open a recompete contract to seek more vendors.

Five-in-One Chopper

The NMH program aims to produce a new rotary-wing aircraft that will give as much value as possible to the UK industrial base.

It should be able to operate in all environments and perform defense tasks previously undertaken by five different aircraft, including combat, transport, and humanitarian missions.

The UK was initially expected to order 44 NMHs from its chosen vendor, but industry sources revealed in May that the UK MoD will reduce the purchase by a third.

The helicopters are set to replace the country’s 23-strong fleet of Puma HC2 transport choppers, as well as Bell 212s and Airbus 412s.

The post Airbus, Lockheed Exit UK’s New Medium Helicopter Program appeared first on The Defense Post.

Speaking on the Money Maze podcast, former Chief of the General Staff Patrick Sanders warned that Britain will risk going to war with Moscow in five years if it fails to grow its supply of lethal weapons now.

He also reiterated his stance to increase the number of soldiers in the British Army to make the country capable of deterring Russia in case of an armed conflict.

According to Sanders, Moscow’s goal of attaining a quick victory in Ukraine and China saying its army needs to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027 signal “a point of acute danger in around 2028 or so.”

“The best way to avoid that is by ensuring we are ready to fight, able to deter and prevent these conflicts from happening in this decade,” he stressed.

Sanders said he thinks the UK’s current ability to defend itself from missile attacks is “weak,” thus the need to immediately rearm its stockpiles.

Struggling Force?

The UK has pledged more than 7.6 billion pounds ($10 billion) in military aid to Ukraine since the Russian invasion began in February 2022.

Some lawmakers claimed that the donations significantly reduced the operational capability of the army, saying the service only has 157 mission-ready Challenger 2 tanks left.

The military has also been struggling with recruitment, with the UK Ministry of Defence reporting that more people quit the force than signed up last year.

“We need to ensure we can operate at scale,” Sanders stated. “That means regrowing our stockpiles, but it also means that the army … is capable of being grown rapidly.”

“All of that will take us between five and ten years.”

The post UK Needs to Regrow Stockpiles to Prevent War With Russia: Former Chief appeared first on The Defense Post.

The so-called silent hangar site will aim to protect equipment from “attempts to jam GPS devices” and develop kit that can “perform in the harshest electromagnetic environment on operations,” the MoD said.

The facility, which is due to open in 2026 and will be one of the largest in Europe, will be used to test military equipment including Protector drones, Chinook helicopters, armored vehicles, and fast jets.

The tests will be conducted in a specialist hangar, which will “reduce reflections, echoes, or the escape of radio-frequency waves.”

It will be located at MoD Boscombe Down, a military aircraft testing site in Wiltshire, southwest England, with a £20 million ($26 million) contract awarded to defense tech firm QinetiQ to build the facility.

“Hostile threats jamming GPS to disorientate military equipment has become increasingly common,” said Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle.

“This cutting-edge test facility will help us eliminate vulnerabilities from our platforms, protect our national security, and keep our Armed Forces better protected on global deployments,” Eagle added.

In April, Estonia and other Baltic states warned that widespread GPS jamming increased the threat of an aviation accident, with the NATO-member state blaming the interference on Russian “hybrid activity.”

A month earlier, a British Royal Air Force plane carrying the then-UK defense minister had its GPS signal jammed as it flew near Russian territory.

“The testing we will conduct using this new facility will be integral to strengthening the resilience of military equipment,” said Will Blamey, chief executive of UK Defence at QinetiQ.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer ordered a review of the country’s armed forces in his first month in office in July, which would set out the path for the UK to increase defense spending to 2.5 percent of its GDP.

UK spending on defense in 2023 stood at 2.26 percent, according to latest official figures.

The post UK to Build Military Test Site to Combat GPS Jamming appeared first on The Defense Post.

Dubbed “Tyche,” the space asset was launched Friday from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California with SpaceX’s reusable Falcon 9 rocket.

The satellite will be operated by the UK Space Command to capture daytime images and videos of the Earth’s surface.

It will also support the operations of the British military by gathering critical intelligence and monitoring adversaries.

“To see Tyche – the first of a new generation of UK military capabilities – delivered into orbit is an incredibly proud moment and a tribute to everyone’s commitment to this key project,” Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) official Paul Russell said.

The first signals from the new satellite were transmitted to its operator a few hours after lift-off, confirming its successful launch.

Lift off!

Tyche is now orbiting planet Earth. The first wholly @DefenceHQ-owned satellite is the size of a washing machine and was launched from a @SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

Find out more about what it will do for UK Armed Forces: https://t.co/3pCgkcRmo1 pic.twitter.com/eV8DMR9JtV

— Defence Equipment & Support (@DefenceES) August 17, 2024

$29M Initiative

About the size of a washing machine, the Tyche military satellite weighs 150 kilograms (330 pounds).

It is part of a 22-million-pound ($29-million) initiative between the DE&S and Guildford-based Surrey Satellite Technology Limited.

The space asset will provide timely space-based imagery from Low Earth Orbit over a five-year lifespan.

According to the defense ministry, the Tyche was launched after seeing the crucial role of space-based military assets in Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

“Tyche will provide essential intelligence for military operations as well as supporting wider tasks across government,” defense procurement minister Maria Eagle said, adding that its launch highlights the country’s commitment to supporting innovation.

Apart from ISR, the satellite is expected to help monitor natural disasters and track the impact of climate change around the world.

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