Global wrap-up: Sea trials for China’s new Destroyer, Patriots for Turkey

Asia-Pacific: 

• The Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has begun a series of sea trials for the lead vessel of the Type 055 Class Guided Missile Destroyer (DDG). The Nanchang (DDG-101),a 13,000-tonne vessel, and her sisters will play a key role in protecting China's existing and future aircraft carrier battle groups. 
• The Indian Army is fast-tracking a US$553 million deal to procure 93,895 close-quarter-battle (CQB) rifles for UAE company Caracal following controversy about the bidding process and complaints from Thales and S&T Motiv of South Korea over the price offered by Caracal. 
• The Indian Navy has commissioned its fifth Mk-IV Class Landing Ship as part of a US$310 million contract for eight ships, signed in September 2011. 
• The Royal Thai Navy took official delivery of the first of the nation’s new guided missile frigates from South Korean company DSME. The vessels have a length of 122.5 metres and displace 3,650 tonnes.
• JFD secured a US$30 million contract with the Republic of Korea Navy (ROK-N) to design, construct and deliver a deep-sea search and rescue vehicle combined with training and in-service support.
• Hyundai Heavy Industries secured a US$561.5 million to build two 2,800-tonne escort frigates for the ROK-N. The two escorts will have enhanced combat capabilities compared to first-phase naval escorts as they will be equipped with state-of-the-art weapon systems, including tactical ship-to-ground guided missiles and long-range anti-submarine guided missiles.
• The Japanese Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) and Japanese government have announced a major increase in the nation's 2019 defence budget. The US$315 billion over the next five years will see the nation become the second largest operator of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the modification of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force's (JMSDF), Izumo Class vessels, a modernisation of key air and sea platforms, as well as new investments in cyber, space situational awareness, anti-space and ballistic missile defence capabilities.  

Middle East: 

• The United States has announced a "full and rapid" withdrawal of US forces in Syria following President Donald Trump declaring that ISIS has been defeated in the country. 
• Turkey has been cleared for a US$3.5 billion deal with the US to purchase the Patriot Missile Defence System, including 80 Patriot MIM-104E Guidance Enhanced Missiles and 60 PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement Missiles and associated equipment, logistics, serving and support training. 
• A subsidiary of Tutor Perini won a US$104 million contract to design and construct facilities for the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF), which will include a squadron operations facility, three aircraft maintenance hangers, a storage facility, a water and fire protection system pump building and a gatehouse, as well as an apron, shoulders and taxiways for aircraft, with construction to begin in 2019.

Europe: 

• The German Army has announced that it will form a fully equipped and digitised division sized force by 2027. The Armoured Infantry Brigade will continue to lead the NATO Response Force's (NRF) Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) in 2023. The brigade will be expanded into an entire division by 2027 and by 2032 the German Army aims to have three fully deployable divisions, two of which are digitised, for territorial and NATO defence.   
• The French Air Force has expanded their order for Airbus A330 Multirole Tanker Transport (KC-30A) to include and additional three aircraft, following an announcement earlier in the year.
• The Czech Ministry of Defence has announced a US$92.6 million agreement with domestic small-arms manufacturer Ceska Zbrojovka to supply 14,000 CZ BREN 2 assault rifles. 
• The UK government announced the Modernising Defence Program (MDP) to the House of Commons, which will be supported by a US$1.2 billion increase to the defence budget in FY19. 
• The Croatian Navy has received a new inshore patrol vessel. The 43.25-metre vessel is armed with a 30mm automatic gun and will support patrol and search and rescue operations, as well as combat and logistic support as required. 
• The US is playing middle-man in a US$500 million deal between Israel and Croatia for modified Israeli Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter aircraft to replace ageing MiG aircraft. 
• The Russian Army is expected to receive two brigades of the S-300 air defence missile system in 2019, with additional plans to roll out 719 armoured vehicles, including a set of Iskander-M short-range ballistic missiles and two brigades of Buk-M3 surface to air missile systems. 

North America: 

• The US Navy's newest Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) the USS St Louis, designed and built by Lockheed Martin, was launched. 
• BAE Systems won a US$376 million contract to conduct engineering, manufacturing and development (EMD) to build 12 pre-production vehicles for the US Army's Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) program. 
• General Dynamics Land Systems also received a US$335 million contract for similar work for the MPF program. 
• Raytheon secured a US$114 million cost-plus-fixed fee, firm-fixed-price, cost only contract for air and missile defence radar AN/SPY-6(V) integration and production support efforts. 
• Boeing was awarded a US$90.4 million contract modification to support the MQ-25 Stingray unmanned air vehicle engineering, manufacturing and development phase of the program for the US Navy.
• Lockheed Martin delivered the first Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASM) to US Air Force operational units and has achieved early operational capability (EOC) ahead of schedule, sparking opportunities for future Australian service.

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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