A Forecast International blog about the arms trade, geopolitics, defense and security, and military spending.
The tri-national Future Combat Air System (FCAS; or Système Combat Aérien Futur, or SCAF, in French) has now officially launched as the governments of France and Germany together awarded the …
FCAS Initial Demonstrator Phase 1A Contracts Awarded Read More
A government-to-government foreign military sales (FMS) request by India estimated at $1.87 billion for an Integrated Air Defense Weapon System (IADWS) has been granted approval by the U.S. State Department. …
U.S. State Department OK’s Indian FMS Request for IADWS Read More
The first of nine Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (MPAs) intended for the Royal Air Force (RAF) arrived in Scotland on February 4. The arrival of this aircraft marks …
First P-8A Poseidon Arrives in U.K. Read More
Poland has officially signed a contract covering the $4.6 billion purchase of 32 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II combat aircraft. The procurement is being made under Poland’s Harpia program, which …
Poland Finalizes F-35 Purchase Read More
It’s been a relatively quiet start to 2020 in the European defense and security environment, but the past week has brought some pieces of news and political developments to keep …
Quick Hits: European Defense and Security Environment Week in Review Read More
After years of investment and testing and planning for the procurement of unmanned aerial surveillance platforms for use in the signals intelligence (SIGINT) mission, and unending controversy, Germany is scrapping …
Germany Drops Triton Plans, Opts for Manned Airborne Surveillance Capability Read More
Confronting an unfavorable fiscal picture unlikely to change in the short term, the Indian Navy is shrinking its procurement ambitions as it re-scopes future force goals. According to senior officials, …
Budgetary Pressures Induce Indian Navy Rethink Read More
On January 9, the U.S. State Department gave formal approval to Singapore’s request for a potential Foreign Military Sale of the F-35B Lightning II combat aircraft. The approval notification was …
U.S. State Department Approves Singapore FMS Request for F-35B Read More
Poland’s Ministry of National Defense is readying a procurement effort aimed at replacing the Polish Navy’s fleet of four Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite helicopters used in the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) …
Poland Eyes Seasprite Helicopter Replacement Plan Read More
On December 17, in a ceremony overseen by President Xi Jinping, China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier was commissioned into service with the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Construction of …
China Commissions First Domestically Built Aircraft Carrier into PLAN Service Read More