* AFP writes that according to NATO Russian columns including tanks, artillery and infantry vehicles have been entering eastern Ukraine, in line with earlier reports from other sources such as Reuters. Artillery strikes have been reported [WSJ video] in Donetsk. *...
(click to view full) On the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, in 1918, the guns ceased. This day is honored all over the world, albeit in different ways. It is honored here, and we will not be publishing today. Instead, we have a quick backgrounder, a...
* India's Prime Minister Modi expanded his cabinet [Reuters] yesterday and finally appointed a dedicated defense minister in the person of Manohar Parrikar, a former Chief Minister in the southern state of Goa whom the Economic Times describes as a "man with...
* ISIS is starting to suffer [AP] setbacks [NYT] in Iraq and Syria. Killing their momentum might go some way to dispel their mystique and make it harder for them to recruit and motivate jihadists. But in August during the battle for control of the Mosul dam they've...
* If you haven't read enough about how and why Republicans won the US Senate and increased their control of the House [The Hill], here are a couple pointers: Military Times' elections guide | Familiar Faces in New Places on Senate Defense Committees [Defense News]. *...
* The US Marines released their 2015 aviation plan [PDF], which shows they plan to retire their Harriers then their Hornets as they phase in F-35s in the second half of next decade. US Biz Dev * DARPA will hold a presenter's day [FBO] about Electrical Prescriptions...
* Syrian rebels armed and trained by the US surrendered to al-Qaeda [The Telegraph], with armament that may include TOW missiles. These aren't an international concern, but they will make Daesh more formidable. See DID's coverage from December last year of Saudi TOW...
NH Industries’ NH90 helicopter has been selected to replace the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s aging UH-1 Iroquois, which will remain in service until 2009. A firm deal has not been finalized with respect to numbers or dollars. The 10-tonne NH90, which first flew in 1996, uses composite materials instead of riveted alloy plates, and electronic fly-by-wire systems to save the weight of the usual strong and heavy power-boosted hydraulic control systems. This allows…
* Herve Guillou, the new boss at French shipbuilder DCNS, is eager to get a share of Canada's huge forthcoming naval programs, and is willing to build ships in Canada with local partners as well as transfer technologies to sweeten the deal. National Post. * Dutch...