Reports - Washington Institute For Defence & Security

16 Mar 23

UK and German Eurofighters Intercept First Russian Aircraft in Joint Baltic Air Policing Mission

On March 14, 2023, Eurofighter combat aircraft from the United Kingdom and Germany intercepted the first Russian aircraft of the joint NATO Baltic Air Policing mission. The Russian aircraft was identified as a Tupolev Tu-22M bomber, and it was intercepted and shadowed by the Eurofighters for the duration of its flight. The Baltic Air Policing […]

15 Mar 23

AUKUS Pact: Escalating Geopolitical Tensions in the Asia-Pacific Region

China has responded with predictable fury to the official announcement this week of the so-called AUKUS pact, under which the United States and Britain will provide high-tech nuclear submarines to Australia, which Beijing sees as a direct threat. The deal, announced recently, marks a major escalation in the geopolitical tensions in the region and represents […]

07 Mar 23

Japan’s H3 Rocket Fails Debut Flight, Dents Bid to Cut Space Access Costs and Compete with SpaceX

Japan’s efforts to cut the cost of accessing space and compete with Elon Musk’s SpaceX took a major setback on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, when its new medium-lift rocket failed on its debut flight. The 57-meter H3 rocket, Japan’s first new model in three decades, was launched from the Tanegashima spaceport but its second-stage engine […]

01 Jun 22

With a food crisis coming, Milley believes that employing military force to break the Russian embargo would be a “high risk.”

In the midst of growing calls to break Russia’s blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports for grain exports, America’s top military general warned that doing so militarily would be a high-risk military operation. The statements were delivered by Mark Milley, chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, to reporters as he came here […]

01 Jun 22

The German government is preparing a $108 billion defense increase for a vote.

German government and opposition party leaders are urging their members to support a constitutional amendment that would ensure a €100 billion (U.S. $108 billion) military budget proposed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz in late February, just days after Russia invaded Ukraine. The fund, which is intended to fill equipment and ammunition gaps, will be critical in […]

29 Mar 22

Turkish Aerospace is working on a supersonic target drone.

A Turkish state-controlled corporation claims to have built a supersonic target drone that is now being tested in flight. According to a promotional pamphlet from Turkish Aerospace Industries, the supersonic drone is part of the SIMSEK High Speed Target Drone Project. TAI has also created algorithms and payloads as part of the effort. The drone, […]

29 Mar 22

The Space Force needs a 40% budget increase in order to improve space-based missile warning.

The U.S. Space Force’s $24.5 billion funding proposal for fiscal 2023 is a 40% increase over last year, driven by the Department of Defense’s need to expand its space-based missile warning and tracking system. During an embargoed media conference on March 25, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall informed reporters that the Space Force’s $7 billion […]

29 Mar 22

The Air Force wants more money to develop hypersonic weapons

The Air Force’s fiscal 2023 budget request includes further funding for hypersonic weapons development, replenishing guided munitions supplies, purchasing ship-killing missiles and air-launched cruise missiles, and further developing a next-generation intercontinental ballistic missile. The budget request, issued by the Biden administration on Monday, wants to raise spending on hypersonic prototyping from almost $509 million approved […]

29 Mar 22

In the fighter replacement competition, Canada selects the F-35.

According to government insiders, the Canadian government has chosen Lockheed Martin’s F-35 as the preferred offering in its competition to purchase a new fighter plane. Canada intends to purchase 88 new fighter planes to replace its CF-18s. The government has set aside around CA$19 billion (US $15 billion) for the acquisition. According to Procurement Minister […]

29 Mar 22

Biden proposes $773 billion for the Pentagon, a 4% increase.

According to a White House plan revealed on Monday, Defense Department spending would climb by 4% in fiscal 2023, which is much higher than what administration officials requested last year but likely not enough to please legislative Republicans. The $773 billion plan, according to administration officials, includes new funds to assist Ukraine in its fight […]