Security

France tests space lasers for secure satellite downlink in world first

PARIS — French technology firms used laser to communicate between a low-orbit nano satellite and a commercial ground station in an experiment sponsored by the French Defence Innovation Agency, with France’s Armed Forces Ministry dubbing the test a world first. A...
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Ukraine wants 12 Viper attack helicopters spurned by Slovakia

WARSAW, Poland — As Slovakia’s government wobbles over the previous Cabinet’s plan to buy 12 AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters from the United States, Ukrainian officials are intensifying their lobbying in Washington to secure the aircraft for their defense against...
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Italian Air Force’s famed acrobatic squad changes course on new planes

ROME — Italy’s Air Force acrobatic team is to switch to flying the Leonardo M-346 jet trainer after using the aging M-339 for decades, the Italian Air Force announced on Thursday. The upgrade marks a change of plan for the team known as the Frecce Tricolori, which had...
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The aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt is leaving the Middle East

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon’s rare move to keep two Navy aircraft carriers in the Middle East over the past several weeks has now finished, and the Theodore Roosevelt is heading home, according to U.S. officials. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had ordered the TR to...
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