1. The big contract of 2 billion next-generation fighters between Britain and France
British and French leaders attended the Anglo-French summit on March 3, and the two sides announced an agreement worth 2 billion euros on the same day to jointly develop the next generation of unmanned aerial vehicles. According to the statement released at the meeting, after a feasibility study started in 2014, the two countries hope to enter the next stage of work in 2017, so as to prepare for the comprehensive research and development of the unmanned combat aircraft operating prototype in 2025. Facing the current conflict situation between Syria and Libya, Britain and France hope to strengthen security and military ties and establish a more effective joint defense system. For the contractors involved in this project, it is a favorable opportunity to maintain competitiveness with their American counterparts. (Reuters, March 3, 2016)
2. Russia sends submarines off the coast of Syria.
Russia dispatched the "Rostov-on-Don" submarine off the coast of Syria, which is the quietest submarine in the world, driven by diesel-electric power and equipped with kalibr cruise missiles, and NATO called it a "black hole". The Kilo-class submarine has previously participated in Russia’s actions against extremist organizations "Islamic State" and Al Qaeda. This latest deployment is regarded as an integral part of Russia’s strategy of "An Arc of Steel from the Arctic to the Mediterranean", which is like building a new "iron curtain" aimed at challenging and countering NATO and western countries. (British "Observer" on March 4, 2016)
On December 13th, 2015, in Istanbul, Turkey, Russia’s latest diesel-electric submarine "Rostov-on-Don" departed from the Bosphorus and sailed for the Black Sea. Vision china information
3. A precision-guided arms race was staged in the Middle East
Precision guided weapons began to spread on a large scale in the Middle East. Precision guided weapons, mainly composed of anti-ship and anti-tank missiles, are increasingly used by non-state actors in the Middle East, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthi armed forces in Yemen and the extremist organization "Islamic State". Military groups with light weapons can challenge and sometimes even defeat the national army. Including Qatar, Egypt, Israel, Iran and other countries have also purchased new air-launched precision guided weapons on a large scale, which is having a far-reaching strategic impact on the pattern in the Middle East. (Military Edge March 2, 2016)
4. Google executives serve as the US Defense Innovation Advisory Committee.
The U.S. Department of Defense recently announced that eric schmidt, the chairman of Google’s parent company Alphabet, will be the head of the newly established Defense Innovation Advisory Committee of the U.S. Department of Defense, and make direct suggestions to Secretary of Defense ashton carter on new technologies. The advisory Committee will share the latest information in the field of science and technology with the Ministry of National Defense, without involving the discussion of military strategy. (US Military Times, March 2, 2016)
Ash Carter, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, announced on Wednesday that Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, will lead the newly established Innovation Advisory Committee of the Department of Defense. The picture comes from the Internet.
5. The United States delivered eight Black Hawk helicopters to Jordan to fight IS.
On the 3rd, the US military delivered eight refurbished Black Hawk helicopters to Jordan to support Jordan’s action against the Islamic State extremist forces (IS) on the national border. Jordan is a member of the US-led military alliance against the "Islamic State" and faces a direct threat from the "Islamic State". U.S. officials say they will deliver eight upgraded Black Hawk helicopters to Jordan before the end of 2017 as part of a military aid program worth hundreds of millions of dollars. (Military Times, March 3, 2016)
