A Forecast International blog about the arms trade, geopolitics, defense and security, and military spending.
Chinese Project 093B (Shang III) Submarines – Source: Chinese Government Media Last week, the U.K.’s International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) think tank issued a landmark report concluding that between …
Production and Power: China Outpaces U.S. in Nuclear Submarine Construction Read More
Japanese media revealed on July 6 that Japan plans to transfer its Abukuma-class destroyer escorts to the Philippines, potentially marking the first such export in modern Japanese history. Media reports …
Japan Closes In On First Major Warship Export Read More
Imagery of Near-Complete Chinese Military Naval Station in Cambodia. Image – Black Sky On July 24, BlackSky Technology, Herndon, Virginia, published a series of satellite images showing the rapid development …
China Extends Its Grasp Read More
New Zealand has announced its intention to provide its armed forces with an NZD748 million ($471 million) top-up of investment over a four-year period, or roughly NZD187 million ($118 million) …
Amid Retention Woes, New Zealand Scrambles to Increase Defense Spending Read More
Australia’s cancellation of its contract with France’s Naval Group for 12 Shortfin Barracuda class submarines (the Shortfin being a conventionally powered variant of the nuclear-powered Barracuda) in favor of …
Australia’s Surprise Decision and the Dynamics of the World Submarine Market Read More The government of New Zealand unveiled its latest budget on May 30 for the 2019-2020 fiscal year (which runs from July 1 through June 30), with defense in line for …
New Zealand Set for Defense Spending Hike Read More
South Korea’s Defense Ministry unveiled its next five-year budgetary blueprint on January 11, which indicates an average annual hike of 7.5 percent. The blueprint covers the fiscal period between 2019 …
South Korea Plans Five-Year Defense Spending Hike with Missile Defense and Counter-Fire Capability in Mind Read More
Indonesia moved forward with an acquisition 17 new-build medium-lift helicopters for its armed forces on January 9, signing the contract with the country’s primary aerospace manufacturer, state-owned PT Dirgantara …
Indonesia Goes Big with New Helicopter Orders Read More Thales Alenia Space has signed two contracts to develop a constellation of high-resolution observation radar satellites under the 425 Project for the South Korean Agency for Defense Development (ADD). The …
Thales Alenia Space Awarded Contract to Build South Korean Reconnaissance Satellite Network Read More
The Taiwanese military is ready to forsake its previous ambition to acquire the F-35 Lightning II stealth combat aircraft in favor of a government-to-government contract for 66 F-16V Block 70 …
Giving Up the Ghost: Taiwan Seeks F-16V Procurement as F-35 Dream Abandoned Read More