A Forecast International blog about the arms trade, geopolitics, defense and security, and military spending.
BOAC Mosquito in 1943. Image – BAE SystemsThose with a keen interest in World War Two might have read about Swedish ball-bearing production during the conflict. Surprisingly, Swedish ball bearings …
Sweden and Those Ball Bearings Read More
In June, after months of speculation, Kyiv launched its much-awaited counter-offensive against the Russian military, aiming to break the impasse that settled over the conflict through the winter and spring …
Russian Wartime Defense Spending Balloons Read More
By Aja Melville, Daniel Darling, and Derek Bisaccio The onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 awoke Europe from its post-Cold War slumber. Within a matter of …
From Crisis to Opportunity: Europe’s Defense Industry Transformation in the Post-Ukraine Crisis Read More
After months of bickering with the Ministry of Defense over the course of the war in Ukraine, Wagner PMC head Yevgeny Prigozhin threw down the gauntlet over the weekend, marching …
Prigozhin Plays His Hand Read More
Russia traces the history of its arms export control system to 1953 under the Soviet Union, with this month marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Russia’s system of …
Russian Officials Discuss Military-Technical Cooperation Read More
With Ukrainian forces readying a counteroffensive against Russian positions in eastern and southern Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky is traveling to European capitals this week to drum up any bit of …
Momentum Builds for F-16 Supply to Ukraine Read More
Uzbekistan’s defense industry recently showed off new military vehicles entering production. During President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to the Academy of the Armed Forces of Uzbekistan on January 12, the president …
Uzbekistan Displays New Military Vehicles Read More
The Israeli Defense Minister expressed his preference for the country to acquire a third F-35 squadron in comments to media on Monday. Speaking to Ynet TV, Defense Minister Benjamin Gantz …
Israeli Defense Minister Seeks Third F-35 Squadron Read More
In line with the provisions of the 2015 nuclear accord, the arms embargo on Iran has now expired. The end of the restrictions comes despite a last-minute effort on the …
Arms Embargo on Iran Expires Read More
This weekend, Belarus heads to the polls in what is expected to be a blow-out victory for the incumbent president, Alexander Lukashenko, delivering him his sixth consecutive term. While the …
Belarus Approaches Crucial Presidential Election Read More