Asia-Pacific

Australia Questions AUKUS Commitments as US Pushes Higher Defence Spending and Taiwan Clause

Australia Questions AUKUS Commitments as US Pushes Higher Defence Spending and Taiwan Clause

Australia’s plan to get nuclear-powered submarines with help from the U.S. and U.K. is on pause for now. U.S. defense officials say the Pentagon will get an internal report on July 29 that could change the cost, schedule, and rules for the AUKUS program. Australia will need to either accept the updated deal or push back before those changes become final.

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Japan Negotiates Transfer of Abukuma-Class Destroyers and TC-90 Surveillance Aircraft to the Philippines

Japan Negotiates Transfer of Abukuma-Class Destroyers and TC-90 Surveillance Aircraft to the Philippines

Tokyo and Manila are negotiating the transfer of six Abukuma-class destroyer escorts and additional Beechcraft King Air TC-90 maritime surveillance aircraft. Philippine Navy chief Vice Adm. Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta says discussions started after Japan signaled its plan to retire the 35-year-old ships.

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Raytheon Secures $250 Million ESSM Block 2 Production Deal with Japan’s MELCO

Raytheon Secures $250 Million ESSM Block 2 Production Deal with Japan’s MELCO

Raytheon, an RTX business, has clinched a $250 million direct-commercial-sale contract with Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. The agreement sets the stage for licensed production of the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile Block 2 (ESSM B2) at MELCO’s Komaki-North complex. According to industry sources, the package is the largest single ESSM commitment Tokyo has placed since joining the NATO Seasparrow program.

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12 additional FA-50PH light combat aircraft

Philippines Secures 12 Advanced FA-50PH Jets in $700 Million South Korea Deal

The Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) has approved a fresh contract for 12 additional FA-50PH light combat aircraft from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). The agreement, signed in the first week of June and publicly confirmed on 10 June 2025, is valued at about $700 million, or 975 billion South Korean won. Delivery of all aircraft is due by mid-2030.

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Pakistan Strikes Back

Pakistan Strikes Back

Pakistan Air Force jets crossed the Line of Control at dawn and released laser-guided bombs against selected sites on the Indian side of Kashmir. Islamabad called the targets “non-military” and said the aim was to show both resolve and restraint. No casualties were reported at the time, yet the flight paths left a clear message: Pakistani aircraft could strike across the line and return home before Indian radar cues reached firing authority.

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