Security

US approves sale of F-16s to the Philippines in $5.5bn weapons package

MANILA, Philippines — The U.S. 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....
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France calls for new EU ammo plan, speeding up satellite constellation

PARIS — France is calling for a new European plan to ramp up ammunition production, including of complex ordnance such as missiles, and wants to move forward at a meeting of European Union defense ministers in Warsaw this week, French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien...
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With nod to neighbor Russia, Finland to quit global landmines ban

MILAN — Finland, which shares NATO’s longest border with Russia, will withdraw from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines, according to President Alexander Stubb. The decision comes shortly after Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland said they were...
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Putin announces new submarines, but the industry is strained

MOSCOW — Russia will build eight nuclear multi-purpose and strategic submarines for the Navy, according to the Russian president. Vladimir Putin announced the plans after the launching ceremony last week of the new Perm nuclear submarine of the Yasen-M class. That...
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