Army’s MRH 90 Taipan helicopters expected to be scrapped and buried despite years of...
The Australian Army will reportedly scrap 45 MRH 90 Taipan helicopters that were retired last year instead of selling them off or donating them to Ukraine.The MRH 90 fleet was permanently grounded last year following a fatal 28 July...
Military modernisation to drive Malaysia defence budget at 8.4% CAGR over 2024-28
Driven by military modernisation programs to protect its sovereignty and address security threats such as piracy and terrorism, Malaysia’s defence budget is expected to experience a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4% during 2024-28, reaching $6.2 billion...
FN Herstal launches new machine gun
Belgium-based designer and manufacturer of small caliber weapons, associated weapon systems and ammunition FN Herstal has announced the entry of a brand-new machine gun with unique features, the FN EVOLYS. With this new addition to FN Herstal’s product portfolio,...
The U.S. Army is moving to new generation helicopters, but not Australia
The official announcement on January 18 that Australia will ditch 47 Taipan Multi-Role Helicopters (MRH) and replace them with Blackhawk UH-60M has been widely expected. The previous Defence Minister Peter Dutton foreshadowed this development in December 2021 on the...
LAND 200: Elbit BMS withdrawn from service – but the reasons remain unclear
As has been very widely reported, the Battle Management System part of Army’s LAND 200 project has been withdrawn from service - and we can say with confidence that this happened on or before May 15. Unless people have...
Re-Horizon 3 initiative to spur Philippines defence expenditure
The Philippines is embarking on an ambitious “Re-Horizon 3” military modernisation initiative amidst the escalating territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Despite financial constraints, the country aims to bolster its defence capabilities through strategic acquisitions. With an anticipated...
Australian government bungles future frigate choices
On February 20 the government finally released its blueprint for the non-submarine part of the RAN, entitled Enhanced Lethality Surface Fleet. The document claimed that the number of surface combatants will be substantially increased to 26 platforms – eventually. ...
No, Minister – Taipan helicopters are extremely safe
At a press conference yesterday, Acting Defence Minister Pat Conroy hinted that Australia’s fleet of Taipan helicopters were not returned to service after a fatal crash because of safety concerns. In fact, he, and actual Defence Minister Richard Marles,...
UPDATED: Australian government rejects Airbus Helicopters A$3 billion savings offer
The fate of Army’s fleet of 22 Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters hangs in the balance. The Managing Director of Airbus Australia Pacific, Andrew Mathewson, has revealed today that Defence rejected an offer of 22 upgraded Tigers plus an additional...
New warship to bolster Philippines naval capabilities
The Philippines continues to accelerate its naval modernisation to counter China's assertiveness in the South China Sea. The recent launch of the BRP Miguel Malvar, the first of two corvettes ordered from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) in 2021,...
