* The US State Department confirmed that the US embargo on weapons sales to Vietnam has been partly lifted, so far only as far as maritime security-related items are concerned. Defense News notes that this may include aviation assets. * That thawing between the US and...
* France’s Ministry of Defense released its 2015 budget plans [in French]. They’re looking at a nominally flat (i.e. excluding inflation) 31.4 billion euros ($39.7B) budget, within which €5.7B go to major programs and €2.8B are assigned to the nuclear...
* US SecDef Chuck Hagel and Acquisition defense chief Frank Kendall met with Indian Prime Minister Modi. They have a list of potential cooperative projects, but Kendall downplayed [Reuters] expectations of any immediate major announcements. There’s indeed not...
* With a brand-new administration in place, Afghanistan signed its Bilateral Security Agreement with the US as well as the NATO Status of Forces Agreement. Industry “Consolidation” * Boeing is relocating most of its defense services work from Washington...
* On Friday the UK’s House of Commons voted 524-43 in favor of joining a military coalition against ISIS. This includes authorizing strikes in Iraq, but explicitly excludes strikes in Syria which would have to be subject to a separate vote. On Saturday 2 Tornado...
