A Forecast International blog about the arms trade, geopolitics, defense and security, and military spending.
China is becoming a more prominent supplier of military equipment to Central Asia, with recent aircraft sales to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan adding to a growing portfolio of defense exports to …
China’s Defense Ties to Central Asia Grow With Aircraft Sales Read More
Outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer published his government’s much-awaited Defence Investment Plan (DIP) on June 30, making good on a promise to release the document prior to this month’s …
U.K. Defence Investment Plan: Future Procurement Priorities Read More
The Defense One Tech Summit held on June 16 focused on the technologies shaping the battlefield as well as the process of integrating those technologies into Armed Forces. The summit …
D1 Tech Summit: Innovative Technologies on the Battlefield in Ukraine Read More
As part of its ongoing military rearmament, the French Ministry of the Armed Forces is pursuing a replacement for the Army’s Lance-Roquettes Unitaire (LRU) multiple rocket launchers, which are approaching …
French LRU Replacement Competition Heats Up With Recent Rocket Tests Read More
During the first quarter of 2026, the U.S. government approved over $45 billion in potential Foreign Military Sales (FMS) with the overwhelming majority supporting Middle Eastern allies. Of total global …
War Dividends: Potential U.S. Arms Sales to the Middle East Surge in Q1 2026 Read More
The Trump administration is racing to contain a spike in energy prices brought about by Iranian attacks on shipping in the Gulf, examining a range of options including escort missions in the Strait of Hormuz and even easing sanctions on Russian oil to ease price pressure.
Oil Price Spike Tests Trump Administration’s Iran Strategy Read More
Iranian security strategy largely rests on the country’s short- and medium-range missile arsenal, developed as a national means to deter Tehran’s rivals and, in the event of conflict, impose unacceptable costs. Thus Iran fired multiple salvoes at Israel in 2024, as part of its ‘True Promise’ I and II operations, and launched more this past June during the ‘Twelve-Day War’. Iran also hit the Gulf during these missions, and with renewed hostilities breaking out, appears to be more heavily targeting its littoral neighbors.
Iranian Missile, Drone Strikes Target Gulf Countries Read More
Following the “12-Day War” with Israel in June 2025, the Iranian government accelerated negotiations with Russia and China to procure advanced missile systems. According to recent reports from the Financial Times and Reuters, these talks persisted even after the international arms embargo was reinstated in September.
Iran Turned to Russia, China for Missiles After 12-Day War Read More
Throughout the month of December and into January, Reuters and other news sources dropped a steady drum-beat of news on potential Pakistani arms export deals, most of which center around …
Pakistan’s Flurry of Arms Sales Read More
Throughout this past year, Dassault and Airbus have been locked in an increasingly public battle over the direction of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a program to deliver a …
New Year Bringing Big Changes to FCAS Fighter Program Read More