Benin and Togo: Meeting the Piracy Challenges

07/25/2012
The upsurge in piracy attacks in the Bight of Benin in 2011 forced Benin to improve its maritime capabilities. Since late September 2011, joint patrols with Nigeria (Operation Prosperity) have significantly reduced the number of reported attacks within 40 nautical miles (nm) of Cotonou. Despite recent acquisitions of modern patrol…

The Australian Defense Industry Market: Forecast Through 2017

07/15/2012
2012-07-15  Our partner ICD has published a new report looking at the evolution of the Australian defense industry market through 2017. The report offers insights into the market opportunities and entry strategies adopted by foreign OEMs  (original equipment manufacturers) to gain a market share in the Australian defense industry. In…

100th F-35 Lightning II Sortie

07/14/2012
07/26/2012: 100th F-35 Lightning II Sortie 7/12/2012 Marine Lt. Col. David Berke, commanding officer for the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, taxis in from completing the 100th F-35 Lightning II sortie at the 33rd Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla. July 11. The 33rd FW’s 100 flights completed include 74…

F-35 Pilots Comment on Flying the Aircraft

07/12/2012
At the Farnbourgh Air Show three pilots of the F-35 discussed the plane.  We will post their discussions when the video is available.  This post from Defense Technology provides an initial read of what they said. Lockheed’s chief test pilot, Alan Norman, said he was amazed how “easy” it was…

A400M Progresses on Path to IOC

06/21/2012
06/21/2012: Airbus Military has successfully demonstrated the loading of NH Industries NH90 and Eurocopter EC725 helicopters onto the A400M new generation airlifter. In a series of tests at Holzdorf air base in Germany and at Toulouse, France respectively, the NH90 and EC725 were loaded onto, and unloaded from, the Grizzly…

Israel’s Deployment of Nuclear Missiles on Subs from Germany

06/12/2012
6/12/12: The pride of the Israeli navy is rocking gently in the swells of the Mediterranean, with the silhouette of the Carmel mountain range reflected on the water's surface. To reach the Tekumah, you have to walk across a wooden jetty at the pier in the port of Haifa, and then…