A Forecast International blog about the arms trade, geopolitics, defense and security, and military spending.
On November 20, U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey announced a slate of decommissioning initiatives aimed at saving £500 million ($623 million) over five years. The equipment slated for retirement, the …
Ahead of Strategic Defense Review, UK Defense Secretary Announces Equipment Cuts Read More Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, has announced a £2.9 billion ($3.77 billion) hike for the defense budget in fiscal year 2025-2026. The announcement came as the chancellor presented …
Labor Government Pledges More Funding Next Year for U.K. Defense, But Hard Questions Await Read More
Ireland’s Ministry of Defense announced a topline budget of €1.35 billion ($1.5 billion) for fiscal year 2025 on October 1. The FY25 allocation marks a €100 million ($111 million) rise …
Ireland Announces Record $1.5 Billion Defense Budget for 2025 Read More
Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) formally inked contracts for the production of two new-build naval destroyers being equipped with the AEGIS air warfare battle management system. The new vessels – …
Japan Orders Two Additional Aegis-Equipped Destroyers Read More
Japan’s Ministry of Defense has submitted a budget request of ¥8.54 trillion ($59.76 billion) for fiscal year 2025 (FY25). The requested total marks a 7.5 percent increase over the current …
No Going Back: Japan Continues to Hike Defense Spending Read More
With the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow just around the corner the usual question begins to emerge: What will be the hot topics, the major focuses during airshow week? Prior to …
Farnborough Airshow Week: A Preview from the Defense Angle Read More The U.K. Royal Navy intends to purchase up to six new-build multirole support ships (MRSSs) as well as provide its future Type 26 and Type 31 frigates with ship-to-shore land-attack …
British Royal Navy to Purchase Six Multirole Support Ships, Bolster National Shipbuilding in Process Read More
Reports in South Korean media indicate that Indonesia is looking to renegotiate its involvement in joint development of the KF-21 Boramae combat aircraft. Concerned over costs incurred in joint development …
Indonesia Seeks Reduction to KF-21 Program Commitment Read More
Aware of the increasing stresses to its strategic environment, Australia is moving forward with its largest shipbuilding investment since the Second World War. The aim is to replenish and expand …
Australia’s Ambitious Warship Building Plan Raises Questions Read More
Defense Ministers for France and Germany have signed-off on an industrial workshare agreement to develop a future battle tank ground combat system. Formalized on April 26, the agreement will see …
France and Germany Formalize Agreement to Develop Future Main Battle Tank Read More