Asia Pacific

Defense News offers premier news and analysis of defense programs and strategies in Asia Pacific to keep military and industry decision-makers informed.


  • India may sue Polish firm over armored recovery vehicle contract
    India may sue Polish firm over armored recovery vehicle contract

    The Indian government may file a lawsuit against Polski Holding Obronny of Poland, formerly known as Bumar, for allegedly not honoring a contract.

  • US lawmakers skeptical of arms sales to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Lebanon
    US lawmakers skeptical of arms sales to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Lebanon

    U.S. lawmakers on both sides of the aisle laid bare their suspicions about U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Lebanon over the countries’ alleged links to terror on Thursday, perhaps signaling choppy waters in the alliances.

  • US Navy littoral combat ship shows off maintenance capabilities overseas
    US Navy littoral combat ship shows off maintenance capabilities overseas

    The LCS Coronado has successfully conducted an expeditionary preventive maintenance availability while on a scheduled port visit to Vietnam, in a demonstration of its ability to conduct maintenance while deployed.

  • Malaysia adapts Russian-built jets to drop US-made bombs
    Malaysia adapts Russian-built jets to drop US-made bombs

    Malaysia has adapted its Russian-built Sukhoi Su-30 multi-role combat aircraft to drop U.S. laser-guided bombs, with a successful release of a live weapon at the end of last year.

  • Indian Army hunts for new carbines
    Indian Army hunts for new carbines

    Efforts to acquire the CQB carbines since 2008 have not yielded any result, and the carbines developed by the state-owned Defence Research and Development Organization, or DRDO, and the Ordnance Factory Board, or OFB, have not been accepted by the Indian Army, according to a senior Indian Ministry of Defence.

  • Airbus proposes upgrade for Australian attack helicopters
    Airbus proposes upgrade for Australian attack helicopters

    In the lead up to the 2017 Paris Air Show, European giant Airbus has revealed details of its two-stage proposal to upgrade the Australian Army’s Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopter.

  • Dassault Reliance Aerospace kick-starts Rafale fighters offset partnership
    Dassault Reliance Aerospace kick-starts Rafale fighters offset partnership

    Dassault Aviation and Reliance Defence co-hosted a business meeting to set up industrial partnerships between Indian and French defense companies, including major Rafale industrial partners such as Thales, Safran and MBDA.

  • Suspected North Korean drone photographed US missile defense site
    Suspected North Korean drone photographed US missile defense site

    The finding came four days after North Korea tested new anti-ship missiles in a continuation of weapons launches that have complicated new South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s push to improve ties frayed over the North’s nuclear ambitions.

  • Japan seeks to expand arms deals with Southeast Asia
    Japan seeks to expand arms deals with Southeast Asia

    The head of the Japanese Defense Ministry’s Acquisition Technology and Logistics Agency said the country will host a meeting with defense officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to discuss the sharing of equipment and technology.

  • Is ISIS looking to expand its toehold in Southeast Asia?
    Is ISIS looking to expand its toehold in Southeast Asia?

    Granted, there is virtually no possibility of the ISIS-linked militants successfully holding on to an ever-shrinking part of Marawi City in the Lanao del Sur province on the southern island of Mindanao against the ongoing military assault. But regional defense and security watchers fear that the perceived success of the Maute group in keeping the…