Global wrap-up: India signs deal for new frigates, Canada seeks new fighters

Asia-Pacific:

• India has signed a US$950 million contract with Russia's United Shipbuilding Corporation to supply two upgraded Krivak III Class stealth frigates. The 4,000-tonne Krivak III vessels will also accommodate two multi-role helicopters and will be used for anti-submarine and airborne early warning missions. This deal follows the recent US$5.43 billion deal to purchase five S-400 Triumf missile systems, despite objections from the US. 
• Japan launched the 11th Soryu Class submarine, the first Japanese submarine to be powered by lithium-ion batteries. The latest of Japan's Soryu Class, JS Seiryu was commissioned in March 2018. 
• A Chinese J-10 fighter jet crashed near the site of war games being held near Zhanjiang, Guangdong province. 
• South Korea has selected the Rolls Royce MT-30 marine gas turbine to power a new class of six FFX-III frigates to be deployed in the mid-2020s. 
• The Malaysian Navy has hit 10,000 flight hours with the Super Lynx helicopter. 
• ASEAN and China conducted the first major joint naval exercises, which saw major naval assets including frigates, destroyers, amphibious landing ships from China, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam and the Philippines participate.  
• Airbus officially delivered two new H225M multi-role utility helicopters, the first of 12 11-tonne helicopters currently on order with the Royal Thai Air Force. 
• Pakistan is officially moving ahead with a US$183.4 million deal for the sale of three JF-17 fighter jets to Nigeria. 

Middle East: 

• The Iraqi Air Force has taken delivery of six new KAI T-50 Golden Eagle light combat aircraft designed and built by South Korea. The US$2+ billion deal will provide the Iraqi Air Force with 24 aircraft. 
• Israel Aerospace Industries announced two deals worth a total US$1.3 billion with India to supply the Indian Army with the Sky Capture air defence system and US$777 million worth of Barak 8 missile defence systems. 

Europe: 

• The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence has received a funding boost of US$1.28 billion to focus on delivering key cyber and anti-submarine warfare capabilities and to fund the Dreadnought Ballistic Missile Submarine program. 
• The United Kingdom will purchase 16 CH-47 Chinook (Extended Range) from Boeing for an estimate cost of US$3.5 billion. The sale also includes communications equipment; navigation equipment; aircraft survivability equipment; initial training equipment and services; synthetic training equipment; support package including spares and repair parts; special tools and test equipment; aviation ground support equipment; safety and air worthiness certification and US government and contractor engineering and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistic and program support.
• Belgium announced that it had selected the F-35 as its replacement fighter for ageing F-16 fighter aircraft, making it the 13th nation to select the fifth-generation aircraft. 
• France has accepted delivery of it's first A330 MRTT aircraft to replace KC-135, A340 and A310 aircraft currently in service with the French Air Force, making it the sixth nation to operate the platform. 
• The Russian Navy's Project 22160 'Vasily Bykov' started sea trials in the Black Sea. The corvettes (patrol boats) were designed to guard and protect the maritime economic zone and in case of hostilities to ensure sustainability of fleet forces and facilities in deployment areas. 
• The Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia's only aircraft carrier, which was currently in floating dry dock as part of a modernisation program that would extend the vessel life by 25 years has been part of a serious incident, which saw the floating dry dock sink and a heavy crane collapse onto the flight deck causing significant damage to the vessel. 
• The Spanish Army is currently seeking a replacement for a new mounted mortar system to be fielded from 2020. The army will be looking for a 120mm mounted system to replace its Elbit Cardom systems.  
• The Italian Air Force has finalised testing for the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) designed by Northrop Grumman for its Tornado fighter bombers. 

North America: 

• Canada has officially kicked off its race for a replacement for the ageing CF-18 fighter jets currently operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force as part of a US$12 billion project with bids required by May 2019. It is currently expected that Lockheed Martin's F-35, the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Dassault Rafale, Saab's Gripen and the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet will be presented. 
• Canada also announced Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems with the Type 26 Global Combat Ship were the successful bidders for the Canadian Future Surface Combatant program, which would see 15 vessels replace Halifax Class destroyers currently in service. 
• German company Rheinmetall secured a contract with the US Marine Corps to supply 40mm grenade practice munitions. 
• The head of the US Army's Rapid Capabilities Office, Tanya Skeen, is leaving to join the F-35 Joint Program Office as its top civilian. 
• The US Navy is pushing to deploy its new over-the-horizon anti-ship missile, the Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile, for the surface fleet. 
• Raytheon's SM-3 Block IIA missile and Aegis Ballistic Missile Defence System have successfully intercepted a test missile launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai. 

Australia: 

Stephen Kuper

Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.

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