Drones

NATO signs two satellite capacity agreements for its UAV program

By Peter B. de Selding, Space News

From Peter B. de Selding, Space News: NATO is stepping up its purchase of commercial Ka- and Ku-band satellite capacity

U.S. defense companies prepare for decade-long downturn

By Andrea Shalal-Esa, Reuters

NATO signs deal for multinational Global Hawks system

By Ben Iannotta and Tom Withington, Defense News

From Ben Iannotta and Tom Withington, Defense News:  NATO’s 2011 air war over Libya was fresh on the minds of NATO officials in Chicago when they signed a $1.7 billion agreement with Northrop Grumman for five radar-equipped Global Hawks to be known as the Alliance Ground Surveillance system.

Britain Relying More on UAVs

By Nick Hopkins, the Guardian

From Nick Hopkins, the Guardian:  The British military is increasingly relying on unmanned drones to wage war against the Taliban, and has fired more than 280 laser-guided Hellfire missiles and bombs at suspected insurgents, new figures reveal.

France and Germany sign new defense agreement

By Sabine Siebold, Reuters

From Sabine Siebold, Reuters:  Germany and France agreed on Thursday to deepen military cooperation in areas ranging from satellites and missile defense to arms procurement, aiming to extract maximum value from shrinking defense budgets. The agreement, signed by the two governments in Paris on Thursday, highlights Europe’s drive to reduce costly duplication in defense and […]

U.S. Plans to Arm Italy’s Drones

By Adam Entous, the Wall Street Journal

From Adam Entous, the Wall Street Journal:  The Obama administration plans to arm Italy’s fleet of Reaper drone aircraft, a move that could open the door for sales of advanced hunter-killer drone technology to other allies, according to lawmakers and others familiar with the matter.

Afghanistan is urgent and difficult, but no longer strategic

By Tomas Ries, the New Atlanticist

From Tomas Ries, the New Atlanticist:  Afghanistan is urgent and difficult, but no longer strategic.

National contributions to NATO’s Smart Defense initiative

By Nicholas Fiorenza, Aviation Week

From Nicholas Fiorenza, Aviation Week: The Chicago summit will adopt multinational projects in the areas of logistics and sustainment; joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR); force protection; and effective engagement.

NATO Muddles Through in Chicago

By James Joyner, the New Atlanticist

From James Joyner, the New Atlanticist:  While the race to the exits on Afghanistan reached full stride with the election of François Hollande in France—which came with a promise to withdraw that pivotal nation’s forces by the end of this year

Why the Obama Administration’s Drone War May Soon Reach a Tipping Point

By James Joyner

In a speech Monday at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, John Brennan, President Obama’s counter-terrorism advisor, made a forthright defense of the drone war currently being conducted against Islamic militants in Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia.