Japan has awarded Kawasaki Heavy Industries a contract to produce 17 CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters for the armed forces.

Under the deal, Tokyo will invest $458.1 million for five aircraft in the CH-47J custom-built Japanese variant and $1 billion for 12 platforms in the CH-47JA extended-range variant.

The agreement requests the company build the fleet locally and adopt the Chinook Block II configuration, which features a more advanced airframe, fuel system, and drivetrain, increasing the system’s overall weight to boost its lift capability.
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https://thedefensepost.com/2025/01/...loper Boeing confirmed,Block IIs in July 2024.
 
A detachment of ships from the Russian Pacific Fleet, consisting of the corvettes Rezkiy and Geroy Rossiyskoy Federatsii Aldar Tsydenzhapov, Project 20380, arrived on the island of Bali in Indonesia to participate in the international naval exercises Komodo 2025. Representatives from 39 countries, including the United States, China and Japan, will participate in the Komodo 2025 exercises, organized by the Indonesian Navy, which will start on February 16 and last until February 22. The opening ceremony of the exercises is expected to be attended by the President of Indonesia. The Russian ships are accompanied by the medium sea tanker Pechenga.

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The crews of the Russian Pacific Fleet corvettes Rezkiy and Geroy Rossii Aldar Tsydenzhapov, Project 20380, took part in the opening ceremony of the international naval exercise Komodo-2025 in the city of Denpasar in Indonesia. During the opening ceremony, the ships of the countries participating in the military exercises passed in formation under the flags of their states. Aircraft and helicopters of the Indonesian Air Force flew in the sky.

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Singapore is enhancing its military capabilities with plans to procure new submarines, maritime patrol aircraft, and other defense assets.

Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen announced these plans during the Committee of Supply 2025 session, citing the need for preparedness in "turbulent times".

The country will acquire additional submarines and introduce new maritime patrol aircraft. A new infantry fighting vehicle with counter-drone capabilities is also part of the plans. Singapore's defense expenditure for 2025 is projected at approximately 23.4 billion Singaporean dollars ($17.4 billion), a 12.4 percent increase from 2024.

Minister Ng highlighted the importance of these investments, referencing the vulnerability of smaller states as seen in the Ukraine conflict. These procurements aim to maintain Singapore's qualitative edge through technological innovation and strategic partnerships.
https://www.mindef.gov.sg/news-and-...-the-committee-of-supply-2025-on-3-march-2025
 
Japan is considering deploying long-range missiles on the southwestern island of Kyushu as part of the country's efforts to acquire "counterstrike capabilities" to hit enemy targets in the event of an emergency, government sources said Saturday.

The deployment, expected to commence at the end of the next fiscal year in March 2026, is aimed at bolstering the security of the country's southwestern Nansei island chain, strategically important for its proximity to Taiwan, amid growing fears the self-ruled democratic island may be invaded by China.

China regards Taiwan as a renegade province that must be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary.

Authorities are assessing possible deployment sites, with local residents concerned they could be targeted in enemy attacks, the sources said.

The missiles may be deployed at the Ground-Self Defense Force's surface-to-ship missile regiment garrisons in Yufu in Oita Prefecture and the city of Kumamoto, according to the sources.

The southern island prefecture of Okinawa, which lies closer to mainland China, is unlikely to be a deployment site amid concern it could heighten tensions with Beijing, the sources said.

The missiles to be deployed are an upgraded version of the GSDF's Type-12 land-to-ship guided missile, with an extended range of 1,000 kilometers. Deployment in Kyushu would put North Korea and China's coastal areas within range.
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/...ing-long-range-missiles-on-kyushu-island.html
1280px-Type_12_%28AShM%29_firing%2C_Japan_GSDF.webp
 
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday announced that the prospective guided-missile corvette BRP Diego Silang (FFG-07) was formally launched at the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea on Thursday.

In a statement, AFP said the launch was attended by AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr., Navy commander Vice Admiral Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta, Defense Undersecretary Salvador Melchor Mison, and HD HHI chief executive officer Lee Sang Kyun.

Launching refers to the shipbuilding milestone where the ship leaves the dry dock and enters the water for the first time.

"The BRP Diego Silang, named after the Filipino revolutionary hero, is the sister ship of BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06), which also departed Korea on Thursday and is expected to arrive at the Subic Shipyard on April 8," the statement read.

Both guided-missile corvettes are equipped with a variety of weapons and sensors that can be used against anti-surface, anti-submarine, and anti-air warfare.

The Department of National Defense and HD HHI signed the PHP28-billion contract for the two ships on Dec. 28, 2021.
brp-diego-silang.webp

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1247088
 
Japan is considering deploying long-range missiles on the southwestern island of Kyushu as part of the country's efforts to acquire "counterstrike capabilities" to hit enemy targets in the event of an emergency, government sources said Saturday.

The deployment, expected to commence at the end of the next fiscal year in March 2026, is aimed at bolstering the security of the country's southwestern Nansei island chain, strategically important for its proximity to Taiwan, amid growing fears the self-ruled democratic island may be invaded by China.

China regards Taiwan as a renegade province that must be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary.

Authorities are assessing possible deployment sites, with local residents concerned they could be targeted in enemy attacks, the sources said.

The missiles may be deployed at the Ground-Self Defense Force's surface-to-ship missile regiment garrisons in Yufu in Oita Prefecture and the city of Kumamoto, according to the sources.

The southern island prefecture of Okinawa, which lies closer to mainland China, is unlikely to be a deployment site amid concern it could heighten tensions with Beijing, the sources said.

The missiles to be deployed are an upgraded version of the GSDF's Type-12 land-to-ship guided missile, with an extended range of 1,000 kilometers. Deployment in Kyushu would put North Korea and China's coastal areas within range.
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/...ing-long-range-missiles-on-kyushu-island.html
View attachment 522762
Japan with Type 12, US an its typhon and the Philippines and its Brahmos are really putting that net on the gaps with Taiwan in between. My guess is it will protect the Eastern side of Taiwan so Taiwan can focus on the West facing China.
 
The US State Department has approved a prospective sale of 20 F-16 aircraft to the Philippines, part of a larger package that includes hundreds of medium-range, air-to-air missiles, bombs, anti-aircraft guns and ammunition, worth $5.58 billion.

The official notice of the sale follows US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s trip to the Philippines last week, and it comes ahead of the annual Balikatan exercises, a joint military drill between the long-time treaty allies.

Image is an example
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Finland and Philippines to deepen defense cooperation, Nokia wants to sell something, I guess related to 5g.

Did we have any defense ties prior?

Gibo, Finnish envoy discuss defense ties

Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. has met with Finnish Ambassador to the Philippines Saija Nurminen to discuss opportunities for defense industry cooperation, according to the Department of National Defense (DND).

In a statement on Monday, DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said Ambassador Nurminen paid an introductory visit to the DND office on 2 April, where she expressed her support for a rules-based international order.

During their meeting, Teodoro highlighted that Finland’s geography and history have fostered its strong resilience to regional threats, contributing to its “advanced capabilities in securing its defense supply chains.”

“Meanwhile, Ambassador Nurminen conveyed that Finland seeks to cooperate with like-minded countries that uphold a rules-based international order, such as the Philippines,” Andolong said.

He said the Finnish envoy also mentioned that Nokia, a known Finnish multinational company, is interested in supporting the Philippines’ Self-Reliant Defense Posture program.

“The meeting concluded with Secretary Teodoro expressing the DND’s interest in enhancing its cooperation with Finland, particularly in conjunction with the Philippines’ Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept in areas relative to defense supply chain management,” Andolong said.

Read more at: https://tribune.net.ph/2025/04/07/gibo-finnish-envoy-discuss-defense-ties
 

Judging by the actions of the country and how it read the room from the economy and positioning itself... they might be on to something
 

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