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07 Feb 24. South Korea, Qatar defence ministers agree to boost military ties -Seoul. The defence ministers of South Korea and Qatar have agreed to expand joint military training and strengthen bilateral cooperation, Seoul’s defence ministry said on Wednesday, amid a push by Seoul to boost global arms sales.
Seoul’s defence minister Shin Won-sik met his counterpart Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah in Qatar on Tuesday where they also signed an agreement to hold regular ministerial-level talks and establish a foundation for bilateral defence cooperation, the ministry said in a press release.
Shin embarked on a seven-day trip to the Middle East last week, during which he also travelled to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, where he attended the World Defense Show.
Shin’s trip comes as South Korea seeks to become one of the world’s largest arms suppliers.
Its arms sales jumped to $17 billion in 2022 from $7.25 billion the year before, data from the defence ministry showed.
The country’s weapons exports to the Middle East grew nearly tenfold between 2013 and 2022, according to the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Shin also met with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s visit to the country in November, the ministry said. (Source: Google/Reuters)
09 Feb 24. Russia Offers Jet-Powered Shahed Drones for Sale at $1.4m.
Russian industries are already promoting Shahed as their development and exhibited it at World Defense Show 2024, an annual event currently underway in Saudi Arabia. Tank history expert Andrii Tarasenko (btvt.info) drew attention to the “Russian” weapon on display and the brochures detailing its specifications.
Awhile ago, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine revealed the production volumes of Shahed-136 loitering munitions in Russia and the set deadline for full localization of this product by the Russia defense industry. As of today, they have at least two working assembly lines making these attack drones but the only component they are capable of producing fully on their own is the airframe: the capacity is 330-350 units a month. The Russians expect to achieve a full cycle of local manufacture by 2026.
In Russian promos, the loitering munition is called MS 236 (Shahed-136) attack drone, according to the materials it has an electro-optical guidance system (“target selection by the operator”) and an internal combustion engine. The declared flight range is up to 2000 km, and the maximum take-off weight is 250 kg, including the warhead of 50 kg.
Side note, Defense Express previously reported that Russians have changed the Shahed-136 warhead three times already. Other specs are: cruising speed is 170 km/h, flight duration is 12 hours, and maximum altitude is 4,500 m
From here on start interesting nuances: the purpose of the drone is defined as “kamikaze,” and the Russians visualize two scenarios of its use. The first is “deterring UAVs of unfriendly countries from the borders of the Russian federation.” Exactly how this “deterrence” function was implemented in the drone’s capabilities remains a mystery.
The pictures show an MS 237 shooting down a hostile MQ-9 Reaper and its image in the thermal spectrum, apparently indicating a capability to initiate hit-to-kill interception by utilizing an alternative heat seeker to lock on the engines of enemy drones.
The second scenario of use is to reveal the location of enemy air defense systems. As stated, the drone is loud, has a high speed, and “looks like a fighter jet in sound and shape,” so it will be able to decoy the enemy air defense systems to reveal their positions and fire an interceptor — an anti-aircraft missile worth millions of dollars each in the case of the Patriot system and alike, compared to the much more affordable Shahed drone. Although the actual price for a Shahed is a topic of debate, the estimates vary from tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars apiece.
As for the Russians, they put a price tag of $1.4m per MS 237 (Shahed-238) and $3.75 million for a mobile control point, which can hardly be called “cheap.” This fact essentially nullifies the whole concept of such drones: they must be as cheap as possible in the first place.
That is not to mention, it’s not always an expensive missile that is necessarily spent to take down this decoy, as clearly evident in Ukraine, where such drones get shot down by machine guns — and recently, just jammed to fall by EW systems without spending any ammo. (Source: UAS VISION/Defense Express)
08 Feb 24. US-backed force in Syria: more air defence needed after deadly drone attack. A force that has been the backbone of the U.S.-led campaign against Islamic State said additional air defences should be deployed in northeast Syria after six of its fighters were killed in a drone attack it blamed on pro-Iran factions.
Mazloum Abdi, commander of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, said his force considered it “a dangerous development when our camps are targeted in drone attacks by factions backed by Iran.”
Abdi’s remarks to Reuters from northeast Syria suggest the force’s fighters — deployed alongside U.S. troops to fight remnants of Islamic State — are increasingly vulnerable to widening regional instability in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Palestinian group Hamas.
Bases across Syria’s east and northeast hosting U.S. troops and SDF fighters have faced a slew of drone and rocket attacks as pro-Iran militias declaring support for the Palestinians seek to attack U.S. and Western interests and fight Israel.
A drone strike by Iran-backed militants on a U.S. outpost in Jordan on Jan 28 killed three U.S. forces. On Feb. 4, the SDF said an explosive drone attack by Iran-backed armed groups in eastern Syria killed six, opens new tab of their fighters.
Asked whether he had requested additional military backing to fend off such attacks, Abdi said his Kurdish-led force would “require technical capabilities and an increase in the aerial defensive systems” deployed in northeast Syria.
“From their (the U.S.) side, they confirmed they would try and expend efforts to prevent these attacks,” he told Reuters.
In Washington, the Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Spearheaded by the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) and including Arab fighters, the SDF has been a major partner for the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State over the last decade. It holds a quarter of Syria, including oil fields and areas where some 900 U.S. troops are deployed.
Following rumours that the U.S. was considering pulling those troops out, Abdi said he had received reassurances by the State Department, White House and the Pentagon that their mission would continue.
But he said a withdrawal “is possible in the future… Truthfully, we don’t ask for American troops to stay here forever. That’s not possible.”
Abdi warned that any U.S. troop pull-out would “multiply several times over” the threats that the SDF faces from Iran-backed troops, Islamic State and Turkey, which considers the YPG and the SDF by extension to be “terrorist” groups.
“If American forces do withdraw, depending on the circumstances, naturally we will go towards the plans that suit the interests of our people and the make-up of the region,” Abdi added.
But that would not include a long-term partnership with the Syrian armed forces, which he said did not have the capacity to defend against IS.
The Syrian military has been gutted following more than a decade of fighting off rebel and hardline factions seeking to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, an opposition struggle that began following Assad’s brutal crackdown of protests against him.
(Source: Reuters)
08 Feb 24. Russian anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin will not be allowed to run in next month’s presidential election, the Central Election Commission has ruled, dealing a blow to disillusioned voters keen to show their opposition to President Vladimir Putin’s government. Nadezhdin, who opposes Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, said he had gathered more than 200,000 signatures in support of his candidacy. However, the commission ruled on Thursday that more than 9,000 of the 60,000 it reviewed were invalid, thereby barring Nadezhdin from running in the March poll. In a statement on Telegram on Thursday, Nadezhdin said he had sent objections to the commission and planned to appeal against the decision at Russia’s Supreme Court. The only anti-war candidate slated to face off against Putin in next month’s presidential election, Nadezhdin’s bid had galvanised thousands of frustrated Russians who rallied in January to support his candidacy, despite low expectations that the commission would permit him to run. “We conducted the collection openly and honestly — the whole world watched the queues at our headquarters and collection points,” Nadezhdin wrote on Telegram. “Running for president in 2024 is the most important political decision of my life. I will not back down from my intentions.” While the Kremlin has long permitted a selected group of so-called opposition candidates to run against Putin, as a means to maintain the perception of a free and fair election, it has taken a much more strident approach with candidates it believes to be a threat to the regime — such as the now-jailed Alexei Navalny. (Source: FT.com)
08 Feb 24. Congo (DRC): M23 conflict will likely disrupt supply chains feeding Goma, elevate protest risks. On 7 February, fighting between the M23 rebel group and the armed forces reached the outskirts of Sake town (North Kivu province), located around 15 miles (24km) to the west of Goma, North Kivu’s provincial capital. During the attack, a rocket landed near a university in Goma’s western Lac Vert neighbourhood. While the rocket attack resulted in no deaths, it underscores the mounting threats facing the city. In recent weeks, the M23 rebel group has been advancing along the RP 1030 route into the Masisi territory to the west of Goma. Fighting around the city is likely to persist in the coming weeks, disrupting supply chains and increasing Goma’s dependence on goods imported through the Rwanda border crossing. However, it remains unlikely that the M23 will seize Goma due to the military assistance provided by both the UN and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). However, we assess that further M23 operations will drive local unrest and elevate the risk of protests targeting UN facilities in the coming weeks. (Source: Sibylline)
08 Feb 24. Azerbaijan: Incumbent president’s likely re-election is unlikely to drive unrest risks. Earlier on 8 February, Azerbaijan’s Central Election Commission (MSK) announced that incumbent President Ilham Aliyev was leading the presidential race with 92.05% of the vote. The commission’s chairperson, Mazahir Panahov, stated that the MSK had already counted 93.35% of the ballots cast in the snap presidential vote on 7 February, indicating a landslide victory for Aliyev. The other candidates represented no real threat to Aliyev’s re-election in a vote that was neither free nor fair. The runner-up, Zahid Oruc, is a pro-government lawmaker who supported Aliyev’s candidacy for a fifth consecutive term; he received just over 2% of the vote. Reports have emerged of voter fraud, including ballot stuffing and carousel voting. Despite the main opposition parties having denounced the legitimacy of the vote, we assess that large-scale anti-government unrest is unlikely in the coming days as the Aliyev regime further consolidates its absolute grip over the country. (Source: Sibylline)
07 Feb 24. Pakistan: Attacks highlight heightened threat of militant activity in Balochistan ahead of election. Earlier on 7 February, a suicide bombing took place outside the office of an independent candidate and former provincial minister in Pishin district (Balochistan province). At least 14 people were killed and 30 others were injured in the attack. Following the attack, a second explosion occurred outside the election office of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) party in Qilla Saifullah district (Balochistan). At least 12 people were killed and several others were injured in the second blast, though casualty numbers are likely to rise. While no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, they come amid a sharp surge in militant activity in Balochistan in the past week. The authorities are highly likely to bolster security measures around the general election on 8 February. However, with around 80% of the polling stations in the province categorised as ‘sensitive’ or ‘highly sensitive’, we assess that there is an elevated threat of militant activity in the run-up to, on and in the days after 8 February. (Source: Sibylline)
07 Feb 24. Austin Praises Close U.S.-Kenya Partnership. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III praised the close partnership between the U.S. and Kenya on a range of security issues as he met today with Kenyan Defense Minister Aden Bare Duale.
The two leaders held talks at the Pentagon just months after signing a framework for defense cooperation during Austin’s visit to Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, last year.
“Kenya is a key strategic partner in tackling a range of shared threats and advancing security in East Africa and beyond,” Austin said. Kenya’s support and partnership in the African Union transition mission in Somalia is critical to stability in the region.”
Austin noted Kenya’s partnership with the U.S. in countering al-Shabab, an Islamist militant group based in neighboring Somalia.
The militant group is responsible for multiple attacks in Nairobi, including a multiday attack on the Westgate shopping mall in which al-Shabab militants killed 67 people in 2013.
In 2019, gunmen associated with al-Shabab attacked the DusitD2 Hotel complex in Nairobi, killing at least 21 people. A U.S. citizen was among the dead.
The secretary also praised Kenya as a key partner on security challenges far beyond its borders, noting the country’s participation in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.
He also noted Kenya’s participation in Operation Prosperity Guardian, an international maritime task force launched by the U.S. in December, in response to Houthi attacks against vessels operating in the Red Sea.
“We’ll keep working closely with Kenya to achieve our shared security goals,” Austin said. “Our partnership deepens our ability to deter threats and combat global terrorism and provide humanitarian assistance, when needed.
“The United States greatly values our strategic partnership with Kenya,” he said. “Your visit today shows the strength of our partnership, and we’re grateful for all that you’re doing for our shared security.”
Duale echoed Austin’s praise for the countries’ ties, pledging continued support for the U.S.-led initiatives in the Red Sea and in support of Ukraine.
“I look forward to continuing to strengthen our cooperation, which is important and fundamental—not only for addressing immediate security challenges, but also shaping our long-term strategic alliance for the promotion of peace and stability,” he said. (Source: U.S. DoD)
07 Feb 24. Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan: Demarcation progress raises likelihood of border deal in coming months. On 5 February, a Tajik state news agency reported that Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have agreed on the demarcation of an additional 2.3 miles (3.71km) of their shared border. Both countries have reportedly already agreed on the delimitation of around 90% of the disputed territory. The announcement was made on the same day that Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubayev met in Dushanbe (Tajikistan). Border disputes, especially over enclaves in the restive Ferghana Valley, have been a longstanding source of cross-border tensions, which escalated into deadly border clashes in 2021 and 2022. Disputes over access to natural resources have compounded these tensions. However, over the past few months, both countries have actively engaged in border delimitation negotiations; they agreed on a protocol regarding the disputed areas in October 2023. We assess that the reported progress raises the prospects of a border settlement in the coming months, decreasing regional tensions and border conflict risks. (Source: Sibylline)
07 Feb 24. Kyrgyzstan: ‘Foreign representatives’ bill will likely be resubmitted, sustaining risks for NGOs. Kyrgyz lawmakers were due to consider on 7 February legislation that would allow the authorities to designate NGOs as ‘foreign representatives’ if they receive foreign funding. However, Dastan Bekeshev (a lawmaker) stated that it had been removed from the parliamentary agenda for the day for unknown reasons. Bekeshev claimed that negotiations with Kyrgyzstan’s ‘international donors’ are possibly ongoing, adding that progress on the bill was previously suspended, but that talks were subsequently reopened in parliament once an unspecified EU grant had been received. A Kyrgyz parliamentary committee approved the bill on 23 January in the second reading. The Russian-style legislation will likely increase pressure on NGOs and media outfits considerably if it is passed. While the reason for its removal from the parliamentary agenda ultimately remains unknown, we assess that Kyrgyz lawmakers will likely resubmit the draft bill in some form in the coming weeks. (Source: Sibylline)
07 Feb 24. Egypt: Sentencing of opposition figure, campaign members is highly unlikely to lead to mass protests. On 6 February, an Egyptian court issued a one-year suspended prison sentence against opposition figure Ahmed Tantawi and his presidential campaign manager over electoral forgery charges. The court also sentenced 21 of Tantawi’s campaign members to one year in prison and banned Tantawi from running in any elections for five years. The ruling was widely anticipated and is consistent with the government’s crackdown on dissidents and opposition figures over the last decade. Tantawi had already been blocked from campaigning in the 2023 presidential election. Mass protests are highly unlikely due to the state’s elevated street-level security posture. However, we assess that there is a realistic possibility of limited protests by Tantawi’s campaign members inside the Journalists Union building and/or at the campaign’s headquarters on Qasr el-Nil Street, elevating the likelihood of partial mobility disruption in downtown areas of the capital Cairo. (Source: Sibylline)
06 Feb 24. RoK, US explore joint ship, weapons maintenance opportunities. South Korea and the United States are exploring whether the former’s defense industry could help maintain, repair and overhaul the latter’s warships and weapons, according to a series of news releases from South Korea’s Defense Ministry.
The two countries have held talks about ships for a year now, but only in December did they begin discussing MRO services for weapons as well.
“If weapons used by the U.S. military in the Indo-Pacific can be maintained domestically, the domestic [MRO] industry capabilities can be expanded and maintenance periods can be shortened,” the ministry noted.
Indeed, the U.S. Navy has expressed interest in improving maintenance efforts. In an overseas war, the Navy would tow ships into a foreign port.
Rear Adm. William Greene, who is in charge of surface ship maintenance, said the service has an eye on preparing for battle damage. The Navy in recent years incorporated battle damage into major exercises, putting decommissioned ships out to sea and detonating explosives onboard so sailors can practice towing ships back to port and running battle damage assessment and repairs.
Vice Adm. James Downey, the head of Naval Sea Systems Command, said the service is drafting a proposal for a future budget year to practice these scenarios at real shipyards in allied countries. This initiative would allow for up to six U.S.-based ships to undergo maintenance overseas — perhaps three in the Pacific and three in Europe — during repair periods of up to 90 days.
While 90 days is much shorter than a typical yard period at home, it would allow foreign repair facilities to learn how to do business with the Navy, understand American ship designs and systems, and lay the groundwork for potential emergency repairs.
Notably, South Korea’s Defense Ministry said it has explored the possibility of using “condition-based maintenance” — or preventative maintenance — under the country’s Defense Innovation 4.0 program, which uses sensor data to provide real-time assessments of weapons.
A bilateral agreement could also improve the combat readiness of troops from both countries, the ministry said, noting this would contribute to stability in the region.
The U.S. maintains about 28,000 troops in South Korea under a decades-long treaty, and the two countries regularly hold joint exercises amid threats from North Korea. The U.S. military also maintains assets in Japan, where the two countries are discussing more comprehensive MRO services for American weapons and platforms with Japanese companies.
Last year, South Korean companies HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hanjin Heavy Industries, SK oceanplant, and Hanwha Ocean as well as officials from the government’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration visited the American shipyards of HII, Austal, General Dynamics NASSCO and Norfolk Naval Shipyard to explore possible joint shipbuilding and MRO projects.
The meeting was to “confirm the status of commitments,” explore ways to quell “supply chain instability” and the loss of skilled employees, and identify ways to “overcome institutional and environmental difficulties facing the shipbuilding industry,” the Defense Acquisition Program Administration said. Attendees also discussed the development of advanced technologies, how to improve ship quality and the creation of quality assurance measures at the ship-design stage, DAPA added.
In December 2023 and January 2024, U.S. Defense Department officials and their South Korean counterparts attended workshops to discuss ways to reorganize Korean industry’s capacity and how to overcome obstacles. The latter event involved defense officials from several other countries, including Japan, Australia, Britain, Germany, France and Canada.
“There is a need for cooperation and action at the level of the U.S. government and allied countries,” the South Korean Defense Ministry said.
DAPA declined to share updates on ship MRO partnership opportunities, citing the “sensitive” nature of the topic. But it did tell Defense News the government created a unit under DAPA to manage industry partnerships with the U.S.
South Korean defense companies have been expanding their presence in the U.S. In 2017, Kencoa Aerospace — a supplier of aerospace and defense technology — completed the acquisition of a metal crafter in the U.S. state of Georgia.
Last year, Hanwha Ocean, one of South Korea’s leading naval defense contractors, established a local subsidiary in the United States. And LIG Nex1 announced plans to acquire a majority stake in the American firm Ghost Robotics. (Source: Defense News)
06 Feb 24. Japan-China: Regional tensions will be elevated after Chinese vessels’ approach to disputed islands. Earlier on 6 February, Chinese coast guard vessels patrolled the territorial waters of the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. The Senkaku Islands (known in China as the Diaoyu Islands) are controlled by Tokyo but claimed by Beijing. The latest patrols come amid increasing military tensions between China and Japan. On 1 February, Japan and the US reportedly named China as a hypothetical enemy in a simulated joint exercise. Data released by the Japan Coast Guard shows that Chinese vessels entered the islands’ contiguous zone on 352 days last year, the most since records began in 2008. In November 2023, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed his ‘serious concerns’ to Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding Chinese military vessels’ presence in the islands’ waters. Nevertheless, tensions between China and Japan are unlikely to escalate into a military conflict. However, based on precedent, we assess that there is a realistic possibility of Chinese boycotts and protests targeting Japan if Tokyo increases its military presence on or around the disputed islands.
06 Feb 24. Pakistan: Attack on police station highlights elevated threat of militant activity facing security forces. On 5 February, around 30 militants launched an attack against the Chodwan police station in Dera Ismail Khan district (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province). The militants used hand grenades as they attacked the police station from multiple directions. The ensuing firefight resulted in the deaths of at least ten police officers; at least six others were injured. Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP), an offshoot of the extremist Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP), has since claimed responsibility for the attack. The incident comes amid a notable increase in violence in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ahead of the upcoming general election on 8 February (see Sibylline Situation Update Brief – 22 January 2024). While security measures are likely to be bolstered throughout the province in the run-up to the polls, we assess that there is a realistic possibility of further militant attacks in the coming days. As such, elevated security risks will persist for bystanders in the vicinity of security sites and polling stations.
05 Feb 24. Ghana is due to overcome its volatile defence spending. According to GlobalData intelligence, Ghana’s defence expenditure is anticipated to register 11.3% annual growth over 2025–29 after a three-year slump.
GlobalData, a leading intelligence consultancy, has published a country report entitled Ghana Defence Market, 2024-2029, in which the company forecasts Ghana’s defence spending to consistently rise in the next five years.
The West African country’s defence budget was $317m in 2024 and registered a decline of 3.5% over the historic period 2020–2024.
However, the defence budget declined from $343.9m in 2023, registering a negative annual growth of 7.8% in 2024.
Now, Ghana’s defence expenditure is anticipated to register a compound annual growth rate of 11.3% over 2025–29 and reach $509.6m by 2029.
The republic’s acquisition budget, which includes research and development funding, is also anticipated to register significant growth. It is projected to reach $119.5m in 2029, up from $30m in 2025.
Responding to instability in the Sahel region
Ghana’s security is exposed to worsening instability in the overall Sahel region in North-West Africa. (Source: Google/naval-technology.com)
05 Feb 24. Philippines: Attempted agitations by former president highlight high-profile public dispute. Earlier on 5 February, the Philippines’ defence minister, Gilberto Teodoro, pledged to ‘secure the sovereignty of the state’ following secessionist threats made by the former president, Rodrigo Duterte. On 30 January, Duterte called for the independence of the southern island of Mindanao, his home region. Communist and Islamist armed secessionist forces have long had a presence in Mindanao, though in 2014 the largest rebel group on the island, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), signed a peace agreement with the central government. On 4 February, senior provincial leaders in Mindanao expressed support for a united Philippines. On the same day, Eduardo Manahan Año, the National Security Adviser, stated that the government would ‘use its authority and forces’ to quell any secessionist attempts. Duterte’s calls are unlikely to indicate a significant rise in autonomist activity, though the remaining active groups (which have suffered significant setbacks in recent years) will possibly seek to capitalise on the development. Duterte’s calls for secession come amid his growing dispute with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. We assess that Duterte’s persistent attempts to undermine the Marcos-led government will likely drive government stability risks, though Marcos maintains high approval ratings in his second year in office. (Source: Sibylline)
05 Feb 24. Royal Navy scraps major warship patrols around the Falklands.
Islands’ naval protection limited to a small offshore patrol vessel as Argentina plans to buy three submarines and a stock of warships
The Royal Navy has abandoned major warship patrols of the Falkland Islands because of ship shortages.
Despite an official policy to patrol the South Atlantic, a major British warship has not visited the area for almost seven years, leaving the islands’ defence to a small patrol vessel and four RAF Typhoons, the Telegraph understands.
Rishi Sunak is facing calls to review the Falklands’ security after the new Argentinian government announced plans to buy fighter jets, submarines and warships, raising fears that Argentina could launch a fresh invasion in a “repeat of 1982”.
The area around the Falklands was previously patrolled by a frigate or destroyer with anti-ship and air defence missiles, but Navy bosses have downgraded the islands’ naval protection to HMS Forth, an offshore patrol vessel with one 30mm cannon. Four Typhoon fighter jets remain on the island, but one is not operational.
Defence sources told the Telegraph that the last major warship to be deployed was the Type 23 frigate HMS Portland in 2017.
A Navy source said: “Everything only stretches so far, and we only have so many frigates and destroyers. If things were to hot up, we would look at it again.”
On Jan 15, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) revealed that four of the Navy’s 11 frigates are currently out of operational duty, including two that will be scrapped because of a staffing crisis.
New Type 31 and Type 26 frigates are not expected to enter service until at least 2027 and 2028, respectively. A new destroyer, the Type 83, is scheduled to launch in the late 2030s.
Javier Milei, the new Argentinian president, has said that his country has “non-negotiable” sovereignty over the Falklands and pledged to force the British Government to release its claim through “diplomatic channels”. The Foreign Office has rebuffed his efforts.
Since taking office last month, Mr Milei has reportedly approved a US-backed deal to acquire 24 F-16 fighter jets from Denmark, and has launched a review into plans to buy three submarines and a stock of warships from France or Germany. (Source: Daily Telegraph)
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Founded in 1987, Exensor Technology is a world leading supplier of Networked Unattended Ground Sensor (UGS) Systems providing tailored sensor solutions to customers all over the world. From our Headquarters in Lund Sweden, our centre of expertise in Network Communications at Communications Research Lab in Kalmar Sweden and our Production site outside of Basingstoke UK, we design, develop and produce latest state of the art rugged UGS solutions at the highest quality to meet the most stringent demands of our customers. Our systems are in operation and used in a wide number of Military as well as Homeland Security applications worldwide. The modular nature of the system ensures any external sensor can be integrated, providing the user with a fully meshed “silent” network capable of self-healing. Exensor Technology will continue to lead the field in UGS technology, provide our customers with excellent customer service and a bespoke package able to meet every need. A CNIM Group Company
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