All bar three NATO allies saw defence spending growth last year
Most NATO member states increased defence spending last year despite the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to provisional figures for 2020 released by the alliance on 16 March.
Albania, Norway and Turkey cut defence spending in 2020 but Bulgaria saw the most significant decrease (50%).
Estimated overall spending of almost $1.03 trillion in 2020 represented a 2.7% increase on 2019, with the US naturally accounting for the vast majority ($717 billion).
Eleven of the 30 member states met a NATO baseline requirement by spending 2% of GDP on defence in 2020: the US (3.73%). Greece (2.68%), Estonia (2.33%), UK (2.32%), Poland (2.31%), Latvia (2.27%), Lithuania (2.13%), Romania (2.07%), France (2.04%), Norway and Slovakia (2% apiece).
16th March 2021 - 16:00 GMT | by Tim Martin in London RSS
The first part of the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy has given the F-35 programme a financial shot in the arm, but a question mark over aircraft numbers looks only to be resolved once a Command Paper is released on 22 March.
The Integrated Review (IR) of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy by the UK government has allocated additional funding towards the cost of 48 F-35B fighter jet aircraft on order, in a move that offers a way out of a £7.9 billion ($10.97 million) black hole identified by the .
15th March 2021 - 11:57 GMT | by Wilder Alejandro Sanchez in Washington DC RSS
The latest defence procurement plan for 2021-2023 includes only limited new programmes for the Argentine armed forces.
Official data shows the ratio of debt to GDP in Argentina exceeded 100% in 2020 as economic activity slumped by 10%, due partly to the COVID-19 pandemic but also because of structural problems dating back decades.
Against this backdrop, the government only included modest new acquisitions for the armed forces .
Want to read more?
To read this article, along with thousands of others like it, start your Premium News free trial. Start Trial or log in
Avon Protection has brought to market a new lightweight portable hood that gives the wearer at least 15 minutes of protection against CBRN threats.
The single-size CH15 was developed in response to an emerging requirement from specialist users for ‘instant protection from all CBRN materials when in a live threat scenario’, Avon noted in a statement. There was particular input from the Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office in the US DoD.
Justin Hine, global product manager at Avon Protection, described the CE-approved CH15 as ‘a low-profile, lightweight, one-size-fits-all solution that is small and light enough to be carried at all times’.
Four launches to be conducted by SpaceX and United Launch Alliance.
United Launch Alliance (ULA) and SpaceX have been selected to provide basic launch services and mission integration support for the US Space Force (USSF) under Phase 2 of the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) programme.
NSSL Phase 2 involves four launches of USSF payloads between 2023 and 2028 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Vandenberg AFB.
ULA was awarded task orders worth $224.29 million by USSF for launching two missions (USSF-112 and USSF-87) from Cape Canaveral.
SpaceX received $159.72 million to launch the USSF-36 and NROL-69 missions from Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg.
Both ULA and SpaceX are expected to complete their launches by Q4 in FY2023.