Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey join forces for Black Sea mine countermeasures coalition

Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey join forces for Black Sea mine countermeasures coalition
Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey join forces for Black Sea mine countermeasures coalition

Todor Tagarev, Bulgaria’s minister of defence, directly tied the establishment of the new MCM task force to Russian actions in the Black Sea, amid Moscow’s continued blockade of maritime traffic in the area.

As UAE firms expand global reach, Brazil takes center stage for EDGE Group

As UAE firms expand global reach, Brazil takes center stage for EDGE Group
As UAE firms expand global reach, Brazil takes center stage for EDGE Group

EDGE, a conglomerate of more than 25 subsidiaries, is looking to Brazil as entry into a “niche region that has the ambitions to build up their militaries but don’t face pressing military threats,” one analyst said.

Awaiting F-16s, Bulgaria closes in on interim fighter potentially from Sweden or France

Awaiting F-16s, Bulgaria closes in on interim fighter potentially from Sweden or France
Awaiting F-16s, Bulgaria closes in on interim fighter potentially from Sweden or France

“Sweden and France have responded favorably to our request,” a Bulgarian MoD spokesperson told Breaking Defense, though talks are in early stages.

Logistic challenges abound for potential US-Poland-Ukraine fighter swap

Logistic challenges abound for potential US-Poland-Ukraine fighter swap
Logistic challenges abound for potential US-Poland-Ukraine fighter swap

Talk that Poland could send MiG-29s to Ukraine in exchange for the US sending F-16s to Warsaw is enticing to some, but questions about timing, maintenance and pilot availability will complicate it.

Ukraine Turns To West For Fighters; Plans To Drop MiG Fleet

Ukraine Turns To West For Fighters; Plans To Drop MiG Fleet
Ukraine Turns To West For Fighters; Plans To Drop MiG Fleet

KIEV: Ukraine, faced with Russian troops on two fronts, has gone public with plans to buy combat aircraft that are not Russian-made. The vulnerable NATO partner plans to become independent of Vladimir Putin’s military in a crucial domain. Unlike Poland, which has been operating a “mixed” fleet of US and Russian-made aircraft, Ukraine is evaluating…

F-35A Will Fly At Paris Air Show; JSF Boasts High Readiness Rates In Europe

F-35A Will Fly At Paris Air Show; JSF Boasts High Readiness Rates In Europe
F-35A Will Fly At Paris Air Show; JSF Boasts High Readiness Rates In Europe

WASHINGTON: The F-35A demonstrated higher mission capable rates during its just-concluded European deployment than the fourth generation aircraft it is replacing. “It’s very important to know that we are experiencing reliability rates rates that are unheard of in our legacy fleet with this jet. We’ve seen a very, very high rate of success with just…

Allies And 21st Century Weapons: The F-35 Comes To Europe

Allies And 21st Century Weapons: The F-35 Comes To Europe
Allies And 21st Century Weapons: The F-35 Comes To Europe

A key dynamic in the shift from COIN-centric land wars to a twenty-first century combat force is what the US and its closest allies will learn from each other thanks to the core weapons systems they are buying at the same time. Hidden in plain view is the emergence of a significant driver of change  –- flying the same…

Putin Won’t Blitz Baltic States — But NATO Has A Plan….

Putin Won’t Blitz Baltic States — But NATO Has A Plan….
Putin Won’t Blitz Baltic States — But NATO Has A Plan….

WASHINGTON: Vladimir Putin won’t blitzkrieg the Baltic states any time soon. It’s not his style, said the commander of the soldiers sent to the three small NATO nations last year to reassure them. That’s good news — especially in light of the bad news: The US effort to shore up its eastern allies and Ukraine,…