Articles

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has finally announced that the UK will be reverting to the jump-jet F-35B variant of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme after costs to modify the Queen Elizabeth-class (QEC) carriers for the F-35C fighter jet began to spiral. Read more

The decision on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter variant or any further details on the UK’s Queen Elizabeth-class carrier programme are unlikely to be revealed before the local elections on May 3rd, Permanent Under Secretary Ursula Brennan told the Public Accounts Committee today. Read more

At a time when Europe is facing its biggest economic challenge since the Second World War, the need not only to keep but to improve our capabilities is a common responsibility for every European nation. It is not a question of everyone´s level of ambition but the will to cooperate. Regardless of the economic situation we must ensure we still move forward; adapting to new challenges is the key. Read more

The UK’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft took its inaugural flight last week according to manufacturer Lockheed Martin. During the 45 minute sortie test pilot Bill Gigliotti put the short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) Lightning II aircraft through a number of functional flight checks before being officially accepted by the UK MoD. Read more

The clock in Trafalgar Square tells us there are 107 days until the London 2012 Olympic Games begin. As the days continue to drop off the calendar, concerns over security at the Games will undoubtedly increase as the authorities hurriedly put the final measures in place to ensure the capital is a safe and sporting environment for all this summer. Read more

The Royal Navy and RAF’s Search and Rescue helicopters were called into service last night as a Force 9 gale wreaked havoc on a cargo vessel near Colwyn Bay. Read more

The Pentagon’s Selected Acquisition Report on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter was delivered to Congress yesterday, projecting a $17 billion hit on initial estimates. Last year the total production and acquisition costs of the programme increased 4.3% to $396 billion according to the report. Read more

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond today announced that the MoD has signed off a £350 million refit of a Vanguard class submarine, securing 2,000 jobs as a result. But has it been manufactured to divert attention away from the indecision on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter? Read more

The Joint Strike Fighter programme is under close review as the government is reportedly considering reverting back to the F-35B variant after cost implications continue to mar the procurement of the F-35C variant. Read more

In recent weeks, Mustafa Abdul Jalil, chairman of the National Transitional Council (NTC) in Libya, heaped praise onto the UAE for its rapid and effective humanitarian aid to the country following the end of the uprising in October last year. Read more

The announcement of the sale of $29 billion worth of fighter jets and upgrades recently to the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) comes as a further sign that the West and especially the US will continue to sell high tech weapon systems to Middle Eastern governments. Read more