Defense
5,916 news found

DefenseIsrael: ban on US military technology transfer ended
Tel Aviv, Israel - Relations between the two countries regarding the matter related to export of Israeli-mad weapons to China prove less rigid
Israel will be enabled to take advantage of US-made weapon systems and military technology again soon. The provision of Israeli-made devices and remote-controlled aircraft to the Chinese People Republic... more

DefenseRussia: military exercises to fight against terrorism
Moscow, Russia - Joint operations with Tajikistan and India in August and October
Russia thinks that joint military exercises with other countries are a major mean to train its military personnel to face the terroristic threat re-deploying all (or almost all) the available weapon system... more

DefenseFirst cruise missile for Pakistan
Islamabad, Pakistan - The Babur guided rocket provided with a 500 km range has been successfully tested
Also Pakistan has got its first cruise missile to date. It deals with the Babur guided rocket, endowed with an about 500 km range and recently tested in the Asian country with results considered as satisfying... more

DefenseISAF: NATO's effort rises as Afghan election is nearer
Kabul, Afghanistan - More soldiers and means from various countries supporting the mission currently led by Italy
Italy has been operating in Afghanistan leading the ISAF mission since August 4. While waiting for next September election, NATO intends to significantly increase its presence to warrant all the necessary... more

Defense"Peace Mission 2005": a Russian-Chinese exercise against "Terrorism, extremism and separatism"
Moscow, Russia - It will be held between August 18 and 25 both in the Russian and Chinese territories
China is considered by Moscow as the main customer of weapon systems produced by Russian armaments industry. But now cooperations between the two states go beyond merely industrial and commercial aspects,... more

DefenseIran: "A prospective attack against nuclear plants does not make sense"
Teheran, Iran - It would have been stated by Iranian Minister of Defence who confirmed the peaceful nature of the national programme
Iran does not fear about the possibility of military attacks and international sanctions following the restart of uranium enrichment activities. It would have been recently maintained by Iranian Minister... more

Defense"Granatiere" ship of the Italian Navy will depart on Saturday from Taranto to the Horn of Africa
Rome, Italy - Following to recent piracy's attacks to the Italian cargo ships
"Next Saturday, August 6, from Taranto’s naval base, the ’Granatiere’ ship of the Italian Navy will depart to the Horn of Africa following to the decisions taken by Defence Minister, Antonio Martino, incid... more

DefenseFini in Kabul on occasion of Italy assuming the command of the NATO's ISAF
Kabul, Afghanistan - Italy will assume command for nine months
Italian Foreign Affairs Minister, Gianfranco Fini, will visit Kabul today on the occasion of Italy assuming the command of the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The handover from the... more

DefenseIran to resume nuclear activity (2): GB, France and Germany threat to close negotiations
London, United Kingdom - But the IAEA said Isfahan's reopening will take time
In a letter signed by Britain, France and Germany as well as EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana and sent to Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Hassan Rohani, it hears that "If Iran will resume currently s... more

DefenseIran to resume nuclear activity: to risk an international crisis
Paris, France -Teheran to incur strict sanctions
Iran’s decision to resume its nuclear activities could spark an international crisis according to France’s Foreign Minister, Philippe Douste-Blazy. Europe will propose an extraordinary meeting among cou... more

DefenseFrance and UK to reinforce joint air defence procedures
Paris, France - They will construct three aircraft carriers together
Ministries of Defence for France and Great Britain will sign soon an agreement aimed to reinforce their capabilities of joint air defence. London and Paris intend in fact to defend their own citizens against... more

DefenseItalian Navy 4th Group helicopters in flight over Afghanistan
Kabul, Afghanistan - Task force "Pantera" performed the first flights last July 29
Multi-role helicopters AB-212 of Italian Navy landed at Kabul Airport aboard an Antonov plane last July 26 and they are expected to perform missions of reconnaissance, transport of personnel, anti-som,... more

DefenseUS planes to get out of Karshi-Khnabad base in Uzbekistan
Taskent, Uzbekistan - To move aircraft and troops and dismantle installations in 180 days
Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry has decided that United States will dismantle K2 air base at Karshi-Khnabad in six months. The news firstly released only by press, then has been confirmed even by the Pentagon a... more

DefenseIran to resume nuclear activity (3): EU's give Teheran a warning
Brussels, Belgium - Hopes for a negotiated solution
"No steps would be taken by Teheran to endanger negotiations, European Commission continues to hope for a negotiated solution of the nuclear issue", this is the European reply to Iran’s decision to resume I... more

DefenseIran to resume nuclear activity (2): France's reaction
Paris, France - Unacceptable pressures
"The Iran’s pressures about the nuclear programme are unacceptable and it’s necessary to prevent Teheran to build the atomic bomb": Douste-Blazy, French Foreign Minister, said today after the IAEA’s offic... more

DefenseIran to resume nuclear activity
Isfahan, Iran - The Islamic Republic called Europe for an ultimatum
Mohammad Mehdi Akhunzadeh, Iranian member at the IAEA (the international nuclear watchdog agency), announced today at Vienna the resumption of work at the Isfahan-based plant providing for conversion of... more

DefenseChief of the Italian COI visited Khartoum
Khartoum, Sudan - Face to face with local military authorities about the peace process in Sudan
Italian General of Army Corps Fabrizio Castagnetti, Chief of the Italian Leading Joint Operational Command (COI), went to Khartoum last July 25 and 26 to visit the Italian contingent engaged in the Sudan... more

DefenseAn Italian Navy unit to police national mercantile traffic
Rome, Italy - The measures taken by Italian Defence Minister against the acts of piracy in the Horn of Africa's area
After the recent attempts of piracy attacks against Italian merchant ships off Somalia, Italian Minister of Defence, Antonio Martino, has ordered the deployment of an Italian Navy unit in the Horn of Africa... more

DefenseIraq mission's extension: "Italy does not want to abdicate terrorism"
Rome, Italy - Martino showed satisfaction for the approval of Antica Babilonia's continuation
Italian Minister of Defence, Antonio Martino, has expressed his satisfaction for the definitive approval by Senate to decree extending up to the end of the year the Italian partecipation at the international... more

DefenseItalian Senate gave the green light for the agreement with Russia regarding dismantlement of nuclear submarines
Rome, Italy - The DDL of ratification and execution has been approved yesterday
The Assembly of Italian Senate has approved once and for all the DDL 3471 on ratification and execution of the cooperation agreement between Italian Government and Russian Government regarding the dismantlement... more

DefenseIran: ballistic missiles prove more accurate
Teheran, Iran - Study on the deployment of solid-fuel rocket engine for surface-to-surface missiles has been accomplished
An additional leap forward for Iranian military industry has been recently accomplished completing research and implementation for solid-fuel rocket engines for surface-to-surface missiles. The Shahab... more

DefenseSAMP/T: a new success for the Aster missile
Paris, France - The test launch for the ground version of the French-Italian guided rocket succeeded as it destroyed its aerial target
The French and Italian armed forces will start taking delivery of the first Aster 30 surface-to-air missiles related to the SAMP/T ground system by next year. A test has been recently successfully performed... more

Defense"Nettuno" exercise at Marina di Ravenna
Ravenna, Italy - An Italian Army, Air Force and Coast Guard joint operation deploying helicopters, vehicles and ships
An Italian Army, Air Force and Coast Guard joint operation is being performed at Marina di Ravenna (Italy) today to test the maritime survival capabilities and the performance of emergency operations with... more

DefenseAn Italian-led ISAF starting on August 4
Kabul, Afghanistan - A commitment lasting for 9 months under General Mauro Del Vecchio's lead
The lead of the ISAF multinational force operating in the Afghan territory will be assigned to Italy on next August 4 (lasting for 9 months) and General Mauro Del Vecchio will become the commander in chief... more

DefenseItalian Senate said yes to international mission in Iraq
Rome, Italy - Ayes have been 150, nay 96 and non-voters 2
Italian Senate approved once and for all yesterday the DDL 3562 that turns the June 28, 2005 decree into law, related to the "Urgent dispositions for Italian partecipation at international missions in... more

DefenseIsraele: "Heavy armed forces' reaction if withdrawal from the Palestinian territories is disrupted"
Tel Aviv, Israel - It was threatened by Premier Sharon who proves aware of the risks of Palestinian attempts or the hard Jewish ultranationalist settlers' reaction
Israel is going to start the withdrawal of Jewish sites in the Gaza Strip and Cisjordan half in August. All will have to occur just in a single stage, according to what decided by Tel Aviv’s Government w... more

DefenseAustralian troops out from Iraq only if this proves capable of defending by itself
Baghdad, Iraq - Australian Premier Howard appears convinced of it expressing a strategy which proves different from the one of the other states keeping troops there
While third countries keeping their own contingents in Iraq think about a progressive withdrawal process of forces from the Arab state, Australia bucks the trend. Australian Prime Minister Howard surprisingly... more

DefenseJapan: a new "anti-missile" Act
Tokyo, Japan - Defence Minister will be allowed to shoot down missiles bound for the country without a previous authorization by the Prime Minister
While six-nations talks on the North-Korean nuclear matter restarted in Beijing among North Korea, South Korea, United States, Russia, China and Japan, Japanese Government approved a new Act concerning... more

DefenseItalian-French meeting in October: defence in the centre of attention
Rome, Italy - FREMM and Horizon frigates, UAV and Finmeccanica-Thales relations among the main issues
A bilateral Italian-French meeting is scheduled to be held in Rome on next October 4, on the occasion of which issues related to defence and security will be in the centre of attention. Besides attending... more

DefenseItalian Senate gave the definitive okay for international missions
Rome, Italy - It approved funds worth almost EUR 350m
Italian Senate’s Assembly gave the definitive green light for the law by decree financing with EUR 346 million Italian peace-keeping missions in the world in 2005: the affected nations will be Bosnia, K... more

DefenseTurkey: PKK claimed back the shooting down of a Helicopter but Ankara denied
Ankara, Turkey - It would have just dealt with an accident with four injured persons, according to Turkish authorities
A Turkish Army’s transport helicopter would have been affected by an accident on last Friday, according to what stated by the national authorities, while it was overflying Cukurca’s area, in the Southern reg... more

DefenseItalian Senate started talks over international missions
Rome, Italy - It will discuss that again on Monday July 25
With report by senator Meleleo (Forza Italia party), Italian Senate’s Assembly started yesterday to discuss DDL 3541 extending Italian partecipation to international missions in the former Jugoslavia, a... more

DefenseItalian Chamber of Deputies gave the green light to funding Iraq mission
Rome, Italy - Minister Martino expressed his satisfaction
Italian Chamber of Deputies approved yesterday the bill turning into law the decree related to "Urgent dispositions for Italian partecipation at international missions in Iraq" which extend "Antica Babilonia"... more

DefenseItalian Chamber of Deputies: soldiers to stay in Iraq for additional six months
Rome, Italy - The mission respite has been approved while waiting for Senate's decision
Italian Chamber of Deputies provided its go-ahead for the respite of the Italian contingent’s mission in Iraq for additional six months, while waiting for a Senate’s decision as well. Unione expressed its... more

DefenseSwitzerland: air bases reduced to four by 2010
Berne, Switzerland - Within the armed forces restructuring plan which schedules the cut of 2500 jobs
Swiss Ministry of Defence carries on its restructuring programme for the national armed forces scheduling to lower jobs down to 2500 by the next five years (even 1100 by the end of the current year) together... more

DefenseCerimony for the change of Italian Army's Chief of Staff to occur next Friday
Rome, Italy - Hand-overing will be performed before Minister Martino
Rome-based "Gandin" barrack will host the hand-over cerimony for the new Italian Army’s Chief of Staff from Gen. Giulio Fraticelli to General Filiberto Cecchi (see for details AVIONEWS). Cerimony is e... more

DefenseCuba: an anti-American military drill?
Havana, Cuba - Helicopters, anti-aircraft artillery and fighters are engaged
Havana is giving place to a defence military exercise these days honoring the 52nd anniversary of the attacks against the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Cespedes Garrisons, Fidel Castro’s heroic deeds w... more

DefenseBudget Committee was favourable to Italian mission in Iraq
Rome, Italy - Even amendments have been examined
The V Budget Committee for Italian Chamber of Deputies, in sight of the Assembly’s opinion and together with the transmitted amendments, examined yesterday bill to turn into law the decree related to u... more

DefenseJapan: the USA granted the licensed production for the Patriot missiles
Tokyo, Japan - They will be part of the sophisticated anti-missile defensive network of the Asian country consisting of both ground and naval systems
The Japanese anti-missile defensive system will be based on a mixed network consisting of surface-to-air guided rockets during the next years, practically including the Standard SM-3 naval and the Patriot... more

DefensePoland: Selex radar network to protect the coast
Warsaw, Italy - A EUR 30m agreement with the Finmeccanica group-owned company with readiness expected by the end of 2006
Polish coast will be protected by a radar sensor network for surface and air space monitoring produced by Selex (Finmeccanica group) by 2006. Local companies will be involved by the important project aimed... more

DefenseItalian soldier got killed in an accident at Nassiriya to receive the last respects
Rome, Italy - Funeral is expected to occur at Belluno this morning
The coffin of Italian Sergeant Davide Casagrande arrived on Friday evening aboard the C-130 aircraft welcomed at the airport of Istrana (Treviso) by Italian Chief of Defence’s General Staff, Adm. Giampaolo D... more

DefenseItaly attending to train the new Afghan Army Engineers Corps' personnel
Kabul, Afghanistan - Italian Army is in particular taking care of it and the first stage has been already accomplished
Italian armed forces are not simply making efforts to train foreign personnel belonging to Police and forces and operational military units of other countries during their peacekeeping and stabilization... more

DefenseItalian soldier got killed in an accident at Nassiriya (2): Minister Martino gave condolences
Rome, Italy - Sergeant Casagrande "Was attending a mission of a great humanitarian valour"
Italian Minister of Defence, Antonio Martino, after hearing the news of Sergeant Davide Casagrande’s death, sent to Italian Chief of Army’s General Staff, General Giulio Fraticelli, a message for expressing his... more

DefenseItalian Chamber and Senate's Defence Committees visited Nassiriya
Nassiriya, Iraq - To find out results of local security forces' training
After few days from Antonio Di Pietro’s travel in Iraq (see for details AVIONEWS), 17 members for Italian Chamber and Senate’s Defence Committees went in visit to the Italian contingent in Nassiriya on... more

DefenseItaly: use of military contingents to control fixed targets
Rome, Italy - The 4th Committee at Senate gave a favourable opinion
Italian Defence Committee at Palazzo Madama approved yesterday a favourable opinion about the bill’s layout introduced by Italian President of the Council of Ministers concerning the change to the bill o... more

DefenseItalian partecipation in Iraq's mission examined by Foreign Affairs and Defence Commitees
Rome, Italy - Text is ready for Montecitorio's Assembly
Foreign Affairs and Defence joined Committees at Italian Chamber of Deputies have continued reading bill to turn into law the decree related to urgent dispositions for Italian partecipation at international... more

DefenseItalian international missions: Chamber of Deputies approved a refunding
Rome, Italy - Iraqi matter not analysed yet
Italian Chamber of Deputies approved the decree related to the refunding for peacekeeping and stabilization missions abroad performed by the Italian armed forces yesterday, without reference to the Iraqi... more

DefenseItaly: okay to bill for international missions
Rome, Italy - The measure will be examined by Senate now
Italian Chamber of Deputies approved yesterday the bill to turn into law the bill June 28, 2005, number 11, concerning urgent dispositions for Italian partecipation at international missions. The measure... more

DefenseItaly about to deploy 12,000 soldiers for peacekeeping mission abroad
Rome, Italy - Despite the withdrawal of 300 soldiers from Iraq in September, the Italian commitment is always a particularly significant one
Italian armed forces’s commitment abroad is about to achieve up to 12,000 soldiers. An impressive figure when considering the announcement of the withdrawal for 300 soldiers from Iraq by September, a w... more

DefenseFraticelli: "Progress in defence has always been able to meet civil field's exigencies"
Rome, Italy - Italian Army Chief of Staff pointed out in this way the importance of effects that military industry can have for general purposes
Gen. Giulio Fraticelli, as Italian Army Chief of Staff (though he is going to be replaced by Gen. Filiberto Cecchi on July 23) commented recently regarding the opportunities that defence industry can take... more