“The U.S. continues to systematically state its commitment to the defense of Saudi Arabia so I don’t think arms transfers in general will completely stop,” Yasmine Farouk, Middle East expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, says.
By Chyrine MezherHow to unlock innovation and savings for DoD: “commercial,” not COTS
Overmatch is fleeting and while traditional acquisitions can’t always keep up with new threats, a different and approved practice can.
A senior source here said industry’s complaints are exaggerated: “The ministry has to take into account many issues that are not directly connected to the profit line in the annual reports of the companies.”
By Arie Egozi
Strategic relations between the US and UAE remain clear and stable. “We may sometimes disagree, but the UAE will not yield to any decision that contradicts its vision and plans,” retired Staff Maj. Gen. Abdullah A.Al Hashmi told me in an interview. “We have our own plans and strategies, and the US is interested in preserving the relations with the Gulf states.”
By Chyrine Mezher
The US Director of Operational Test and Evaluation’s annual report says the CH-53K engine’s performance degrades bellow the accepted minimum after 21 minutes of dust exposure. This is causing great concern in the IAF as it eyes buying the first batch of 20 helicopters.
By Arie Egozi
US arms exports grew 15 percent, to more than a third of the global market, driven largely by a surge in Mideastern buying – but Biden is reviewing major sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
By Arie Egozi
Elbit’s 120 mm mortar uses GPS and lasers to make the infantry’s favorite heavy weapon precision-guided – and the US is looking to upgrade its own 120s on Strykers and AMPVs.
By Arie Egozi
China has long relied on Russian imports to power its jet aircraft. Now a Chinese bid for a Ukrainian engine maker could change that – with dire results for US air superiority.
By Reuben Johnson
Modernizing military simulation with open systems architecture
Best-of-breed common models and architecture enable virtual training and testing with the same data in a cyber-resilient posture.
Patriot missiles are expensive. Rafael and its US partner Raytheon say they can fire the cheaper Israeli SkyCeptor from existing Patriot launchers. Will that tempt the US Army?
By Arie Egozi
While the UAE government was silent on the Biden Administration’s pause on arms sales, social media reaction was harsh.
By Riad Kahwaji
The $9 billion is aimed at purchasing the KC-46As, a new heavy helicopter to replace the Israeli air force CH-53, the purchase of V-22s, all this in addition to more F-35s and F-15 EXs. The estimated price of the KC-46As will be $1 billion.
By Arie Egozi
Miniaturized missile defenses work well on heavy tanks, but efforts to fit such Active Protection Systems on light vehicles like Stryker have failed – so far. Now the Army will test two lightweight options: Rafael’s Trophy VPS and Rheinmetall’s ADS.
By Arie Egozi
With the second battery now bound for the US, the Israeli-made missile defense system must prove it works with American command networks. “We have a very detailed plan to do the integration,” Rafael’s Pini Yungman told me.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
The Army wants a wheeled howitzer that can keep up with its Stryker units, so the Israeli firm is shipping its 8×8 ATMOS gun to Yuma, where it’ll fire “hundreds of rounds.”
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
With the UAE turning to China for armed drones, policymakers in the Trump administration worry about Beijing’s efforts to gain influence in the Middle East.
By Riad Kahwaji and Paul McLeary
