A Forecast International blog about the arms trade, geopolitics, defense and security, and military spending.
The U.S. Army’s search for a longer-range howitzer remains in motion. The service initially planned to integrate a long-range cannon with the M109 Paladin self-propelled howitzer but scrapped the effort …
The Search for Range: How the U.S. Army is Rethinking Howitzers Read More
The Senate Appropriations Committee (SAC) has proposed adding $4.6 billion to the Navy’s shipbuilding budget for FY25, setting the stage for a conflict with House appropriators who recommended reducing shipbuilding …
Conflict Ahead: Senate and House at Odds Over Navy Shipbuilding Funding Read More
The U.S. Air Force has temporarily paused development of its sixth-generation fighter program to ensure confidence in the design before moving forward with the program. The Air Force had expected …
U.S. Air Force Pausing NGAD Fighter Development to Review Design Read More
The United States Air Force’s T-1A Jayhawk made its final flight with the 99th Flying Training Squadron on July 15. The squadron operates out of Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph in …
U.S. Air Force’s 99th Flying Training Squadron Retires its Last T-1A Trainer Read More
Canada began construction of its future surface combatant, which has been named the River class destroyer. Canada plans to buy 15 warships, which will be variants of the Type 26 …
Canada Begins Construction of New Surface Combatant Read More
On June 13, the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) voted 22-3 to advance its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to the Senate floor. Set against a backdrop …
Senate Armed Services Committee Recommends Exceeding Defense Spending Caps by $25 Billion Read More
The House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee signed off on a draft of the FY25 defense appropriations bill this week, setting the stage for consideration by the full committee and eventually the …
Draft House Spending Bill Would Reduce Procurement, Increase Investment in Research & Development Read More
The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $1.9 billion contract modification for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS). The award, a modification of the original contract W31P4Q-24-D-0019, runs through May …
U.S. Army Awards Lockheed Martin $1.9 Billion HIMARS Contract Read More
South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) signed off on four weapons programs on April 26, comprising procurement of SM-3 missiles, a new air-to-air missile, frigates, and a Close-In Weapon …
South Korea Approves SM-3 Buy, Plus New Air-to-Air Missile and Fourth Batch of Frigates Read More
Aircraft and combat vehicles were among the big winners of the final FY24 defense appropriations bill, while spending on missiles and space programs saw a decline compared to the administrator’s …
Aircraft and Combat Vehicles Drive Growth in Pentagon’s FY24 Spending Bill Read More