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[BravoZulu]

Belgium:
The first Lockheed Martin F-35A for the Belgian Air Component touched down at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona on December 3.

This marked the beginning of a new era for the Belgian Air Component as they transition from the F-16 Fighting Falcon to the advanced F-35A Lightning II.

The arrival represents a significant leap forward for the Belgian Air Component, equipping them with fifth-generation fighter capabilities.

 

[Hiryu2.0]

Sweden is urgently buying 15 000 Colt M4A1 machine guns from the United States for its army.
The purchase comes against the background of an agreement signed in 2023 for the AK 24 machine rifle (Automatkarbin 24), developed and manufactured by the Finnish company Sako.
By the end of this year, Sweden should have received around 7,300 new AK 24 machine guns to start equipping mechanised units of the Swedish Army and Navy.
However, the Finnish weapons cannot be delivered at the required pace because the direct purchase from Sako has been challenged by the German competitor Heckler & Koch. ----But also because the development of the weapon that was bought from Finland is not complete - the weapons that Sako delivers already today do not meet the Defense standard and will have to be sent back to the manufacturer to be upgraded.
"We must supply the armed forces with weapons immediately."
"In addition to the normal procurement, this temporary order has been created to ensure that any shortages can be covered," says Jonas Lötsne, head of the military equipment department at the Swedish Defence Logistics Agency.
Sweden has therefore decided to buy directly from the US military.

https://www.dagensps.se/varlden/nya...fGlPoviY2_F-piUfeI_aem_vEvHbT4eKTreLPrDW_n2kA

 

[haze99]

Sweden goes US!

Sweden will urgently buy 15 thousand assault rifles from United States

Sweden will urgently purchase 15,000 assault rifles from the United States for its army

mil.in.ua

A misnomer in the title, the M-4 is the carbine version of the M-16A2 or M-16A4 rifle. So I gather Stockholm is buying M-4A1 or M-4A2 carbines, yes?

 

[Mike1976]

Sweden goes US!

Sweden will urgently buy 15 thousand assault rifles from United States

Sweden will urgently purchase 15,000 assault rifles from the United States for its army

mil.in.ua

A misnomer in the title, the M-4 is the carbine version of the M-16A2 or M-16A4 rifle. So I gather Stockholm is buying M-4A1 or M-4A2 carbines, yes?

"Assault rifle" is a purpose rather than a technical designation, most journalists don't know the difference between the two. An assault rifle is a select-fire weapon firing an intermediate cartridge. The emphasis is here on the "assault" rather than the "rifle" bit which can be a 20" M16A4 or an 8" Sig Rattler. It doesn’t say anything about the length of the weapon overall or of the barrel.

The rifle pictured as the AK 24 definitely isn't a Colt, it's from the original contract with Sako. They can't produce quickly enough though.

Sweden Signs Agreement For More Sako AK 24 Rifles

The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has requested an additional 22,500 AK 24 (Automatkarbin 24) rifles for the Swedish Armed Forces.The supplier is the Finnish company Sako, owned by Beretta Holding.The AK 24 is an automatic carbine in caliber 5.56mm that is adapted for both right-...

www.thefirearmblog.com

 

[Redav]

Portuguese Navy Awards Türkiye’s STM Contract to Build Multirole Logistics Support Ships - Naval News

On December 17, 2024, the Portuguese Navy and Türkiye's Defence Industry Presidency signed a contract for the construction of two replenishment vessels for the Portuguese Navy.

www.navalnews.com

 

[CemalPasha]

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[muck]

Portuguese Navy Awards Türkiye’s STM Contract to Build Multirole Logistics Support Ships - Naval News

On December 17, 2024, the Portuguese Navy and Türkiye's Defence Industry Presidency signed a contract for the construction of two replenishment vessels for the Portuguese Navy.

www.navalnews.com

View attachment 510366

@Redav What's the price tag for them? I've read incredible rumours that Portugal may only be paying €50 Million a pop.

 

[Redav]

@Redav What's the price tag for them? I've read incredible rumours that Portugal may only be paying €50 Million a pop.

Yep. That's the official version

 

[muck]

How is that even possible? A ship of that size?

 

[BravoZulu]

How is that even possible? A ship of that size?

It's not possible, not from Turkey anyway and not from China even.....there be skullduggery afoot

 

[Mike1976]

It's not possible, not from Turkey anyway and not from China even.....there be skullduggery afoot

An obligatory long-term exclusive maintenance contract that they get bent over the barrel for?

 

[muck]

Maybe the wannabe Sultan has revived the Ottoman custom of forced labour?

 

[BravoZulu]

Austria will buy 12 Italian Leonardo M-346FA jets to serve in both a training and defense role, Austria’s defense minister has said.

A contract for the buy is currently being negotiated on a government-to-government basis between Vienna and Rome, the Austrian defense ministry said in a statement, which added that funding was already budgeted for.

https://aviationweek.com/defense/ai...as formally said it,joint purchase with Italy...

 

[Balint]

Today, 31 December, an example of the LYNX KF-41 tracked infantry fighting vehicle was delivered to the Army Multifunctional Testing Center (CEPOLISPE) in Montelibretti (Rome).

RID Rivista Italiana Difesa - Il primo LYNX KF-41 è in Italia: sarà oggetto delle sperimentazioni dell'EI

Il primo LYNX KF-41 è in Italia: sarà oggetto delle sperimentazioni dell'EI

www.rid.it