Mideast Africa

US awaits final $17 million repayment from Saudis for air refueling in Yemen war

Between March 2015 and November 2018, the Pentagon spent about $300 million to fly aerial refueling missions in support of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and others engaged in the nearly eight-year conflict.

AFRICOM’s chief warned Mali about the Wagner Group. It didn’t work.

America’s top commander for Africa said Thursday he personally urged Mali’s ruling military junta not to invite in Russian mercenaries the Wagner Group before it did just that.

New security training and oversight after 2020 Manda Bay attack

All troops deploying to U.S Africa Command will receive the new training.

Saudi industry to produce THAAD air defense subsystems

In the first program of its kind in Saudi Arabia, a local organization is teaming with American firm Lockheed Martin to produce parts for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system.

Chinese and Saudi firms create joint venture to make military drones in the kingdom

Advanced Communications and Electronics Systems Co. signed an agreement with China Electronics Technology Group Corp., with the two companies announcing their tie-up during the World Defense Show in Riyadh.

Israel reveals first time it used F-35 to shoot down Iranian drone

Israel says the interception took place before the UAVs could enter Israeli airspace. This means they were shot down over the airspace of at least one other country.

Turkey’s policy changes could see defense biz grow with Gulf rivals

Analysts agree that, faced with declining approval ratings, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan needs to lure foreign investment and boost mutual trade partnerships to improve the economy ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections in June 2023.

Here’s what stood out at the UAE’s unmanned defense expo

And see the systems that Russian, Chinese, Indian and American businesses showed off to potential clients.

UAE to buy a dozen Chinese L-15 trainer aircraft

UAE Air Force Col. Abdulnaser Al Humeidi revealed the country’s intent to buy the fixed-winged Chinese aircraft, with the possibility of increasing the quantity to 36.

US Navy plans launch of Mideast drone force alongside allies

Vice Adm. Brad Cooper said he hopes the drone force using artificial intelligence would be operational by the summer of 2023 to put more “eyes and ears on the water.”

Iran-backed attacks are further driving UAE-Israeli defense tech development

It was about a year ago that Emirati defense conglomerate Edge Group partnered with Israel Aerospace Industries to develop counter-drone systems, marking the first defense collaboration of its kind between the two countries.

UAE’s Edge Group to release tube-launched Hunter 10 drone in 2023

The first prototype of the Hunter 10 was unveiled during the 2021 Dubai Airshow near its 58-kilogram tube launcher.

Hezbollah claims it’s making drones and missiles in Lebanon; chief offers export opportunity

“We have started manufacturing drones in Lebanon a long time ago. Those who want to buy can fill out an application.”

Israel plans ‘laser wall,’ but questions remain about effectiveness and cost

Where will Israel station the weapons? Will they be able to defend the country against rockets? Is the technology affordable, and what platforms will host the laser systems?

Singapore Airshow

Russia sends warplanes to Syria for naval drills in Mediterranean

Russia also has expanded and modified a naval base in the Syrian port of Tartus, the only such facility that Russia has outside the former Soviet Union.

Iraq seeks French drones and jets, additional Russian tanks

Iraq’s military is seeking several defense systems of different origins, including French Rafale fighter jets, drones and artillery, as well as Russian T-90 tanks, with some ongoing negotiations reaching an advanced stage.

Turkish shipyard preps two landing crafts for Qatari Navy

Anadolu officials noted the LCMs would be delivered to the Qatari Navy at an August ceremony and reach Qatar in September.

Turkey’s own Atmaca missile to replace Harpoons on its Navy ships

An official from state-controlled missile-maker Roketsan, a co-producer of Atmaca, says the weapon will replace more than 350 Harpoons in the next two to three years.

Iran unveils new missile it says can strike US bases, Israel

Iran's state TV said the missile has high accuracy, is manufactured completely domestically, and can defeat missile shield systems.

Arab-Israeli missile defense has a shot, says CENTCOM nominee

In the wake of recent missile and drone attacks against the UAE by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, there’s a fresh opportunity to integrate air and missile defense in the Mideast, says Lt. Gen. Michael Kurilla.

Commentary

Here’s how the US can reestablish a measure of deterrence against Iran

Undue restraint in the face of aggression has been dangerously provocative and is becoming evermore so. It’s time for President Joe Biden to change course.

Why did Egypt choose to buy South Korea’s K9 howitzer?

Egypt expressed interest in updating its artillery systems in 2009, but efforts were postponed for nearly a decade amid the Arab Spring. Now the African nation has chosen a system by Hanwha.

Egypt inks $1.7 billion deal for K9 howitzers from South Korea

The K9 accounts for nearly 50 percent of the global self-propelled howitzer market, as it is in service with seven countries.

F-35 fighters, 5G networks, and how the UAE is trying to balance relations between the US and China

The United Arab Emirates recently suspended F-35 acquisition talks amid U.S. concerns over a 5G vendor, but the Middle Eastern country is still carrying on with its network connectivity efforts. Will it circle back to negotiations over the aircraft?

US approves $2.2 billion sale of C-130J aircraft to Egypt

The State Department has also OK'd the possible $355 million sale of air defense radar systems to the key Middle East ally.