9 février 2021 | International, Aérospatial
By Ed Adamczyk
Feb. 8 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department has approved the sale of SM-2 rail-launched missiles to Chile, and has delivered its recommendation to the U.S. Congress.
The $85 million sale includes 16 SM-2 Block IIIA rail-launched missiles, two MK 89 Mod 0 guidance section adapter, a target detection device kit, MK 45 Mod 14 naval gun systems and associated training and supplies, according to a Defense Security Cooperation Agency announcement.
The determination, the first foreign sale approved by President Joe Biden's administration, by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency typically precedes approval by the U.S. Senate.
In the announcement on Friday, DSCA noted that Chile acquired two missile-carrying Adelaide-class frigates, capable of firing the missiles, from the Royal Australian Navy in 2019.
It added that the sale would support Chile's anti-warfare capabilities and not alter the region's military balance.
Chile's rocket-launching capabilities only include the Rayo truck-mounted artillery missile, a joint project involving Chile and Britain, begun in 1989 and cancelled in 2002.
23 mars 2022 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité
The threats posed by Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine could ease the way for Canada on boosting defence spending in the upcoming federal budget, say experts.
14 décembre 2024 | International, Terrestre
Elsewhere in the Corps, Marines conducted the service’s first organic rebuild of a JLTV engine at a Defense Department depot.
12 novembre 2018 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre
France is leading a 10-country defense initiative in a bid to "face new threats" outside existing structures. Germany is wary that the project could entangle its military in foreign interventions and undermine the EU. Defense ministers from 10 European countries gathered in Paris on Wednesday to set the agenda for the European Intervention Initiative (EI2), a defense coalition spearheaded by French President Emmanuel Macron. "To face new threats, Europe needs a strong defense," the French Defense Ministry said in a tweet after the meeting. "With the European Intervention Initiative, 10 European countries are committed to its protection." EI2's goal is to create a results-based common strategic culture that allows for rapid response joint military operations, including in humanitarian efforts. As such, it is not aimed at establishing a supranational European army. However, as an initiative outside EU and NATO frameworks, the French Defense Ministry has tried to alleviate concerns that it would undermine defense structures in the bloc and alliance. "With the European Intervention Initiative, the whole European Union and the European pillar in NATO will also be strengthened," it added. 'Germany felt pressured' But France's efforts have done little to placate concerns in Berlin, which Paris sees as a pivotal actor in the initiative. Claudia Major, senior international security associate at the Berlin-based German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), told DW that German officials are wary because "it's explicitly and deliberately organized and set up outside the European Union's structures." "For the Germans, making a deliberate attempt to setting up something meaningful outside the EU's structures — and outside NATO — is not seen as a positive move but rather as undermining the EU," Major said. "In the end, Germany felt pressured to agree and engage in the initiative, because otherwise all the talk about France and Germany being the engine of Europe and the heart of Europe, and driving European integration and cooperation forward, would look cheap, wouldn't it?" Full article: https://amp.dw.com/en/germany-cautious-as-france-leads-european-defense-initiative/a-46201409