Military Space News, Nuclear Weapons, Missile Defense

December 24, 2015

PM Abe's cabinet approves largest defence budget
Tokyo (AFP) Dec 24, 2015
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet on Thursday approved Japan's biggest ever annual defence budget, as the country bolsters its military amid territorial rows and concerns over China's expanding naval reach. The cabinet approved 5.05 trillion yen ($41.8 billion) in defence spending for the next fiscal year starting in April, with the focus on strengthening protection of a string of southern islands that stretch from Japan's mainland to waters near Taiwan. The allocation is part of a record 96.7 ... read more

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Japan PM faces make-or-break test three years later It was an irresistible promise: elect me, I'll bring back Japan's once-soaring economy and restore its battered national pride. ... more		Germany withdraws Patriot missiles from Turkey Germany has begun withdrawing its Patriot missile batteries from Turkey, concluding its three-year mandate to support the NATO mission in the region. ... more		Italy receives Predator-A drones The Italian Air Force has taken delivery of two Predator-A drones from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., the last two Predator-A systems being produced. ... more
				Drone helps icebreaker navigate treacherous Antarctic Australia's flagship icebreaker has for the first time used drone technology to navigate treacherous Antarctic waters, overcoming significant technical hurdles, officials said Wednesday. ... more		Army unit retires Hunter unmanned aircraft systems The U.S. Army has retired its Hunter unmanned aircraft system after 20 years of service. ... more

BAE Systems to provide radar support for U.S. Air Force The U.S. Air Force has awarded BAE Systems a five-year contract to support the Instrumentation Radar Support Program. ... more		Czech Republic upgrading leased Gripen fighters Gripen fighters flown by the Czech Republic are to receive ground-attack capability upgrades through Sweden's Defense and Security Export Agency, or FMX. ... more		NASA and DOE plan fission power plant on Moon by 2030 Berkeley Scientists set to home in on 100 signals from Seti at Home Firefly prepares Alpha Block II upgrade for Flight 8		China's new counterterrorism bill inspired by US: foreign ministry China studied US legislation to draft its controversial counterterrorism law, it said Wednesday, amid concerns in Washington that the bill's provisions may tighten media controls and threaten the intellectual property of foreign tech firms. ... more
				India donates Mi-25 helicopters to Afghanistan India has delivered the first of four planned Mi-25 attack helicopters to the government of Afghanistan for use by the Afghan Air Force. ... more		Civilians escape IS grip as Iraqi forces push on in Ramadi Dozens of families the Islamic State group had been using as human shields in Ramadi escaped to safety Wednesday as Iraqi forces closed in on the jihadists' last redoubts. ... more

Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison & Memory Foam Mattress Review

Suspected French extremist caught entering Australia A suspected French extremist carrying cans of chemical mace was caught trying to enter Australia two days after the Paris terror attacks, officials revealed Wednesday, with security screening of travellers from Europe tightened up. ... more		Damascus ready to enter Geneva peace talks: Syria FM Syria is ready to participate in peace talks in Geneva aimed at ending its brutal civil war, the country's foreign minister said Thursday during an official visit to China. ... more		Cosmic krypton timestamps reveal Australia landscape evolution and resources Fire on Ice: The Arctic's Changing Fire Regime Warming trend to intensify crop droughts across Europe and beyond		Mali pro-govt armed group accuses France of killing 4 fighters A pro-government armed group in Mali accused the French military on Wednesday of killing four of its fighters during a weekend clash with an Al-Qaeda-linked movement in the country's restive north. ... more
Elbit upgrades tactical intelligence capabilities for Asian country An unidentified country is the Asia-Pacific region is boosting its airborne tactical capabilities through the acquisition of an ISTAR system from Elbit Systems. ... more		BAE Systems expands factory for F-35 component work BAE Systems has started expansion of a manufacturing facility in Britain for increased production of components for F-35 Lightning II fighters. ... more		Italy's Finmeccanica reorganizes Italy's Finmeccanica Industrial group has completed its reorganization into a single entity from a holding company with separately controlled businesses. ... more		Laser-derived X-ray method finds hidden nuclear materials Physicists at the Diocles Extreme Light Laboratory at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have demonstrated that their unconventional laser-based X-ray machine could provide a new defense against nuc ... more

	Aerojet completes design milestone for AR1 Engine Aerojet Rocketdyne has completed a key design milestone for its AR1 rocket engine this week. AR1 is an American-made engine that is being developed as a direct replacement for the Russian-made RD-18 ... more		Poland acquiring air defense system Poland is to field a short-range, self-propelled air defense system in 2018 from the country's PIT-RADWAR company, Defence24.com reported. ... more

Scientists uncover new quantum state that could power future technologies

Self-healing composite can make airplane, automobile and spacecraft components last for centuries

Pendulum device taps power from ocean currents

Lockheed Martin meets F-35 delivery goal		France, Russia to 'strengthen' information exchange on IS		New tactical radio order for Harris Corporation		UN to host next round of Syria talks in Geneva		Milestone in modernization of Canada's Halifax-class frigates
Saudi warns of reprisals after new Yemen missile		Iraq forces advance into centre of IS-held Ramadi		More Tiger combat helos for France		Japan spots cannon-like equipment on Chinese ship near disputed isles		First Afghan A-29 Super Tucano pilots graduate

Russia says downed warplane's damaged black box 'not yet' readable

Australia requests US Chinooks

Saab upgrading Swedish Navy torpedo

German Army orders more Boxer armored vehicles

Turkey PM lambasts pro-Kurdish party leader's Russia visit

SpaceX sticks landing of rocket in landmark recycle bid

China builds ground service center for satnav system

Russia, China Sign Range of Space Industry Agreements

US Congress Set to Lift Ban on Russian RD-180 Rocket Engine

Piece by piece NASA is 3-D printing a rocket engine

Putin Hopes Vostochny Comsodrome Completed According to Schedule

Arianespace concludes record 2015 year with another success for Europe

Delusional and desperate - The latest Republican presidential debate

Philippine leader says $1.8 bn to be spent on military modernisation

Chinese hackers target Taiwan opposition, media ahead of vote: officials

Yemen truce fragile as rebels threaten Saudi Arabia

In Greenland, hopes for climate change to boost economy

Milan limits daytime traffic to battle smog

Chinese city's purple haze blows the country's mind

World Bank loans Philippines $500m to fight natural disasters

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