In numbers

30

Number of AS9 Huntsman self-propelled howitzers Australia buys from Hanwha Defense.

$1.32bn

Value of the US-France sale of electromagnetic aircraft launch system and advanced arresting gear.

9,085

Flight hours achieved by Royal Netherlands Air Force crews.

Mach 0.5

Travel speed of the Indian indigenous high-speed expendable aerial target Abhyas.

24

Number of targets the new Russian Mig-31BM aircraft can intercept simultaneously.

From our sites

US military housing provider pleads guilty to fraud


Balfour Beatty Communities (BBC) will pay $33.6m in criminal fines and more than $31.8m in restitution for defrauding the US military. BBC, a privatised military housing provider, has settled criminal and civil investigations in the US after pleading guilty to one count of major fraud.


A unit of British infrastructure conglomerate Balfour Beatty, BBC is a diversified real estate services company and is one of the largest providers of privatised military housing to the US Army, Navy and Air Force.

Read more at Army Technology

Austal to perform design studies for US Navy’s NGLS programme


Austal USA has won a $2m (AUD2.8m) preliminary design contract for the US Navy’s Next Generation Logistics Ship (NGLS) programme.


The company will build a new baseline design and conduct specific trade studies for the NGLS. The programme constitutes a new class of medium-sized, at-sea supply ships aimed at supporting small surface combatants. The NGLS fleet will be used for re-fuelling, re-arming, and resupply of naval platforms.

Read more on Naval Technology

Maxar wins contract extensions with three international defence customers


The agreements will allow the customers to access Earth-imaging satellites. Maxar Technologies has secured contract extensions with three undisclosed international defence and intelligence customers.


The agreements have a total value of up to $100m. According to the company, the contracts will extend the customers’ ability to directly task and download 30cm-class satellite imagery to their ground stations from the company’s current constellation.

Read more on Air Force Technology

In quotes

// Credit: US Army by William Pratt

It is important that we are taking the time now to fully celebrate this final milestone for Kansas City and to properly welcome her to sunny San Diego.

US Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations and Environment Meredith Berger, speaking during the commissioning celebration of Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Kansas City.

// Credit: New Zealand Government

Credit: U.S. Air Force

Most of our personnel have now returned home to Aotearoa, and at the request of the Solomon Islands’ Government, a small team will remain to continue supporting the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.

Minister of Defence of New Zealand Peeni Henare on New Zealand’s continuous support of the Solomon Islands.

On TWitter

In Pictures

US 25th Infantry Division. Operation Toy Drop at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Image credit: US Department of Defense, Twitter

HMS Protector sends a shore party to Signy base. Pictured: Captain Mike Wood and some of HMS Protector's ships' company at Signy. Image credit: UK MOD, Crown copyright 2021

NATO Northern airspace. In 2021, the 4th and 5th generation fighters provided by Norway, the UK, Poland have worked with Iceland to help keep Icelandic airspace safe and secure. Image credit: NATO Air Command Twitter

A US Army UH-60 Black Hawk of the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, Wings of Victory, flies over the Black Sea for maritime operations crew certification flights off the coast of Bulgaria on May 5, 2021, during Exercise Swift Response 21, part of DEFENDER-Europe 21. Credit: US Army

The British Army has sent almost 2,000 troops to Liverpool to help with the mass testing of residents for Covid-19. Image: Crown Copyright / MOD