Weapons Purchase

India looks West for cutting-edge weapons to reduce reliance on Russia

India, the world's biggest importer of weapons, has been buying less and less from Russia. Only 36 per cent of India's arms imports came from Russia last year, down from 76 per cent in 2009

Britain to contribute $2.9 billion to G7 loan for Ukraine's weapon purchase

The European Union, where the bulk of the Russian assets are blocked, has already agreed to provide 35 billion euros ($38 billion) as part of the bloc's share

Biden admin sending $1 billion more in weapons, ammunition to Israel

The Biden administration has told key lawmakers it would send more than USD 1 billion in additional arms and ammunition to Israel, three congressional aides have said. But it was not immediately known how soon the weapons would be delivered. It's the first arms shipment to Israel to be revealed since the administration put another arms transfer, consisting of 3,500 bombs of up to 2,000 pounds each, on hold this month. The Biden administration, citing concern for civilian casualties in Gaza, has said it paused that bomb transfer to keep Israel from using those particular munitions in its offensive in the crowded southern Gaza city of Rafah. The package disclosed Tuesday includes about USD 700 million for tank ammunition, USD 500 million in tactical vehicles, and USD 60 million in mortar rounds, the congressional aides said. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an arms transfer that has not yet been made public. There was no immediate indication of when the arms would be .

Colorado clears semiautomatic firearm ban; Bill sent to Senate for approval

Colorado's Democratic-controlled House on Sunday passed a bill that would ban the sale and transfer of semiautomatic firearms, a major step for the legislation after roughly the same bill was swiftly killed by Democrats last year. The bill, which passed on a 35-27 vote, is now on its way to the Democratic-led state Senate. If it passes there, it could bring Colorado in line with 10 other states including California, New York and Illinois that have prohibitions on semiautomatic guns. But even in a state plagued by some of the nation's worst mass shootings, such legislation faces headwinds. Colorado's political history is purple, shifting blue only recently. The bill's chances of success in the state Senate are lower than they were in the House, where Democrats have a 46-19 majority and a bigger far-left flank. Gov. Jared Polis, also a Democrat, has indicated his wariness over such a ban. Last year, a similar bill died in committee, with some Democratic lawmakers citing concerns ov

Zelenskyy warns weapons shortage risks giving Russia breathing space

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned allies Saturday that an artificial deficit of weapons for his country risks giving Russia breathing space, hours after his military chief said he was withdrawing troops from the eastern city of Avdiivka. Zelenskyy spoke to the Munich Security Conference, an annual gathering of security and foreign policy officials. Ukraine is back on the defensive against Russia in the nearly 2-year-old war, hindered by low ammunition supplies and a shortage of personnel. Ukrainians have proven that we can force Russia to retreat, he said. We can get our land back, and (Russian President Vladimir) Putin can lose, and this has already happened more than once on the battlefield." "Our actions are limited only by the sufficiency and length of range of our strength, he added, pointing to the situation in Avdiivka. Ukrainian commander Col Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi said early Saturday that he was withdrawing troops from the city, where outnumbered defenders battl

North Korea fired cruise missiles in 3rd launch of such weapons this month

South Korea's military detected North Korea firing multiple cruise missiles into the sea off its western coast Tuesday in its third round of tests of such weapons this month. The launches came amid heightened tensions in the region, where the pace of both North Korea's weapons demonstrations and the United States' combined military exercises with allies South Korea and Japan have intensified in a tit-for-tat. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the South Korean and US militaries were analyzing the launches. It didn't immediately provide specific flight details, including the number of missiles fired and how far they flew. The launches follow tests on January 24 and January 28 of what North Korea has described as a new cruise missile developed for submarine launches. The North also on January 14 tested a new solid-fuel intermediate-range missile, which underscored its efforts to advance its lineup of weapons targeting remote US targets in the Pacific, including the military hub

Japan's Defence Ministry seeks record 7.7 trn yen budget for FY 2024

The government through the National Security Strategy, vowed to obtain counterstrike capabilities and almost double its annual defense expenditure over five years through fiscal 2027

US approves new $500 mn arms sale to Taiwan as tension from China surges

The Biden administration has approved a $500 million arms sale to Taiwan as it ramps up military assistance to the island despite fervent objections from China. The State Department said Wednesday it had signed off on the sale of infrared search tracking systems along with related equipment for advanced F-16 fighter jets. The sale includes the infrared systems as well as test support and equipment, computer software and spare parts, it said. Although the deal is modest in comparison to previous weapons sales, the move is likely to draw fierce criticism from Beijing, which regards self-governing Taiwan as a renegade province and refuses to rule out the use of force to reunify it with the mainland. This proposed sale serves U.S. national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient's continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability, the State Department said in a statement. "The proposed sale will improve the recipient'

US to sell Australia missile systems in deal valued at $975 million

Australia is also developing detailed plans for a guided weapons production capability to manufacture Himars-compatible missiles domestically from 2025

Army bought weapons worth Rs 7,300 cr from domestic firms to counter China

Another Rs 7,000 crore worth of orders is in the final stages of procurement and is likely to be completed in the coming weeks

No weapons exports to parties in Ukraine conflict: China Foreign Minister

China's foreign minister on Friday said the country would not sell weapons to parties involved in the conflict in Ukraine and would regulate the export of items with dual civilian and military use. Qin Gang was responding to concerns from the US and others that China was considering providing military assistance to Russia, which Beijing has backed politically and rhetorically in the conflict while formally saying it remains neutral. Qin reiterated China's willingness to help facilitate negotiations to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict and said all parties should remain objective and calm. Speaking at a news conference with his visiting German counterpart Annalena Baerbock, Qin also blamed Taiwan's government for heightened regional tensions after Beijing held large-scale military drills in an attempt to intimidate the island it claims as its own territory. On both Ukraine and Taiwan, Qin articulated well-worn defences of Chinese policies that underscore Beijing's rejection

Fast-track talks underway in Ukraine for long-range missiles, planes

Ukraine and its Western allies are engaged in fast-track talks on the possibility of equipping the invaded country with long-range missiles and military aircraft, a top Ukrainian presidential aide said on Saturday. Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said Ukraine's supporters in the West understand how the war is developing and the need to supply planes capable of providing cover for the armoured fighting vehicles that the United States and Germany pledged at the beginning of the month. However, in remarks to online video channel Freedom, Podolyak said that some of Ukraine's Western partners maintain a conservative attitude to arms deliveries, due to fear of changes in the international architecture. Russia and North Korea have accused the West of prolonging and taking a direct role in the war by sending Kyiv increasingly sophisticated weapons. We need to work with this. We must show (our partners) the real picture of this war," Podolyak said,

Ukraine likely to get arms that can hit deep inside Russia: Report

US and allied military inventories are shrinking, and Ukraine faces an increasing need for more sophisticated weapons as the war drags on

US, 6 other nations urge tight ban on arms sales to Myanmar

Fears of an escalation of violence are growing in Myanmar, whose army is attempting to crush an increasingly active armed opposition movement

Analysis: UAE-Israel relations may get Abu Dhabi advanced weapons

A US-brokered deal that saw Israel and the United Arab Emirates begin to open diplomatic ties may end up with Abu Dhabi purchasing advanced American weaponry

Lockheed Martin names Steven Walker as chief technology officer

In October, Lockheed said it expects $1 billion in sales from hypersonic weapons in 2020

India world's biggest arms importer, spat with Pak and China fueling demand

In 2013, India's imports were 5,322 TIV, up from 1,845 in 2008

India spent Rs 2.42 lakh cr in weapons purchase since 2013-14

Government spent a total of Rs 1.22 lakh crore since 2013-14 in modernisation of Indian Air Force