Latest news with #MinistryofNationalDefence
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Border issues with Thailand require patience and determination, says Cambodian PM
PHNOM PENH (Khmer Times): Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet stated that resolving border issues is complex and must be approached with patience and persistence and through legal and diplomatic channels. On Saturday (May 31), he spoke to about 1,600 Cambodians living, working, and studying in Tokyo, Japan. The Prime Minister emphasised that border demarcation should be managed by the countries' designated border committees rather than through military conflict. Referring to the clash that occurred on Wednesday, he warned that if the situation had not been addressed quickly, the death toll could have risen from one to potentially one hundred, and the conflict could have spread along the entire border. He also indicated that taking border disputes to international court should be considered only as a last resort, stating, 'Once it reaches the court, negotiations will no longer be possible.' Furthermore, the Prime Minister strongly disapproved of opposition claims suggesting that the Royal Government allowed the Thai army to fire on Cambodian troops in order to distract the public from online crime issues. He condemned attempts to demoralise Cambodian forces during this sensitive time. 'This is a moment for national unity,' he said. 'We must support and uplift our soldiers who are risking their lives to protect the territorial integrity of our homeland,' questioning the opposition's intentions behind their efforts to sow division between army generals and frontline soldiers. The Prime Minister reaffirmed the Royal Government's commitment, alongside the Ministry of National Defence and the Cambodian Armed Forces, to peacefully resolve border disputes and to safeguard Cambodia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. - Khmer Times
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Poland, Romania lead a drone bonanza in Eastern Europe
WARSAW, Poland — As Poland's military is developing the Drone Force, its latest military component that was launched earlier this year, the Ministry of National Defence recently signed a deal to purchase the largest number of unmanned aerial vehicles in the country's history. The move comes as various Eastern European allies are advancing major drone purchases, drawing lessons from Russia's war against Ukraine. On May 15, the Polish ministry signed a framework agreement with local private defense company WB Group to buy some 10,000 units of the Warmate loitering munition. The contract foresees deliveries until 2035. 'This is a large-scale investment – 10,000 Warmate drones are becoming a fact,' Władysław Kosiniak Kamysz, Poland's deputy prime minister and defense minister, said at the official signing ceremony, as quoted in a statement. 'They will soon start being delivered to the Polish military. The next deals, which will be executive, will be signed in the near future,' he added. WB Group has been expanding its portfolio of UAVs over the past years. Some of the latest additions to the company's range include the Warmate TL-R reconnaissance system, FT5 mini tactical class drones in new variants, Warmate 20 loitering munition, and the extended-range Warmate 50. Warmate 20 has a range of 'several hundred kilometers' and Warmate 50's range exceeds that of Warmate 20, according to the company. Remigiusz Wilk, the head of communications at WB Group, told Defense News that, since the war's outbreak, the drone producer has observed a surge in interest in unmanned capabilities across the region. 'Drones are now considered an important protective measure for soldiers,' Wilk said. 'When combined, they allow to create complex aerial systems.' In the fighting between Ukraine against Russian invaders, sections of the front line have almost become devoid of human soldiers, with drones patrolling large swathes of land, ready to pounce on anything that moves. 'The more we push soldiers away from the battlefield and replace them with drones, the safer they are,' Wilk said. 'Drones have the potential to protect many lives, and the military appreciates this now more than ever before.' The Polish Armed Forces are showing an growing interest in buying new UAVs to develop their Drone Force, but WB Group is also using the company's expanding manufacturing capabilities to unlock additional markets. 'WB Group is currently building new facilities to produce more drones,' the spokesman said, listing countries in Europe and Asia, including South Korea and Malaysia, as clients. 'We have supplied drones to Ukraine's military since 2015, so we are in an optimal position to draw lessons from the conflict and continue to enhance our unmanned systems to respond to the evolving battlefield requirements.' At the same time, the Polish Drone Force will also comprise larger UAVs. In December 2024, the ministry signed a contract worth around $310 million to acquire an undisclosed number of MQ-9B Sky Guardian drones. The UAVs are to be delivered to Poland's military by the first quarter of 2027. Meanwhile in Romania, the country's economy minister, Bogdan Ivan, recently paid a visit to the factories of local drone manufacturers Carfil SA and IAR Ghimbav. During his visit to their facilities, Ivan announced Bucharest intends to use a significant portion of the European Union's funds for defense acquisitions by member states to buy drones for Romania's military. The Romanian minister was referring to the ReArm Europe plan, an initiative designed to bolster the EU's defense expenditure and capacities. Mobilizing up to €800 billion ($906 billion) through various means, the program is to stimulate higher national defense budgets and finance a new loan instrument available to member states to facilitate equipment purchases. Romanian officials hope the rising domestic drone production capabilities will allow to ramp up the military's unmanned capacities, but also enable local producers to sell a sizable share of their output abroad, according to the economy minister. 'When you have a production line that can make up to 3,500 drones annually, we will not only produce for the Romanian military,' Ivan said, as quoted by local daily Adevarul.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Taiwan bolsters air defence preparedness, test fires Land Sword II
In line with bolstering air defence preparedness, Taiwan conducted the live fire debut of Land Sword II, said the Ministry of National Defence on Tuesday. The details of the Surface-to-Air Missile System were provided in a post on X. As per the MND, Land Sword II possesses the capability of countering varied aerial threats, thereby significantly enhancing the protection of the force. In the visuals shared by the MND, the live-firing of the Missile System could be seen, with videos showcasing the its launch. "Land Sword II makes its live fire debut. This SAM system is capable of countering diverse aerial threats and significantly enhances force protection for #ROCArmy", MND wrote on X. This development follows after Taiwan had conducted its first live-firing of the American-supplied high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) at a base in Pingtung County on Monday, as reported by Focus Taiwan. According to Focus Taiwan, the drill was carried out by the Taiwan Army's 58th Artillery Command, which was held at the Jiupeng Base in Manjhou Township. It further noted that the HIMARS can be equipped with one pod containing six 227mm rockets or a single Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) with a range of up to 300 kilometres. In total, 33 rockets were fired, with 11 launch vehicles each firing three rounds. The military, however, did not provide any details on how the drills went, Focus Taiwan reported. Colonel Ho Chih-chung, the 58th Artillery's deputy commander, said the US supplier also sent its personnel to the site to assist with any technical issues during the live-fire exercise. As per Focus Taiwan, Taiwan has purchased 29 HIMARS from the United States, and the first shipment of 11 was delivered in 2024. According to a Ministry of National Defence report submitted to the Legislative Yuan in March, the second batch of 18 HIMARS is scheduled to be delivered next year instead of 2027 as was originally planned. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) also shared images of the HIMARS test-firing in a post on X. MND wrote on X, "#HIMARS debuts in #Taiwan, showcasing rapid deployment and next-generation strike capabilities." These developments become significant as China continues its activities in the Taiwan Strait. On Wednesday, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence detected 35 sorties of People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, eight People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels, and two official ships operating around Taiwan. The Taiwan-China issue is a complex and longstanding geopolitical conflict centred on Taiwan's sovereignty. Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), operates its own government, military, and economy, functioning as a de facto independent state. However, China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and insists on the "One China" policy, which asserts that there is only one China, with Beijing as its capital. Beijing has consistently expressed its goal of reunification with Taiwan, using diplomatic, economic, and military pressure to isolate Taiwan internationally. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Taiwan bolsters air defence preparedness, test fires Land Sword II
Land sword II (ANI) TAIPEI: In line with bolstering air defence preparedness, Taiwan conducted the live fire debut of Land Sword II, said the Ministry of National Defence on Tuesday. The details of the Surface-to-Air Missile System were provided in a post on X. As per the MND, Land Sword II possesses the capability of countering varied aerial threats, thereby significantly enhancing the protection of the force. In the visuals shared by the MND, the live-firing of the Missile System could be seen, with videos showcasing its launch. "Land Sword II makes its live fire debut. This SAM system is capable of countering diverse aerial threats and significantly enhances force protection for #ROCArmy", MND wrote on X. This development follows after Taiwan had conducted its first live-firing of the American-supplied high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) at a base in Pingtung County on Monday, as reported by Focus Taiwan. According to Focus Taiwan, the drill was carried out by the Taiwan Army's 58th Artillery Command, which was held at the Jiupeng Base in Manjhou Township. It further noted that the HIMARS can be equipped with one pod containing six 227mm rockets or a single Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) with a range of up to 300 kilometres. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like These Are The Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo In total, 33 rockets were fired, with 11 launch vehicles each firing three rounds. The military, however, did not provide any details on how the drills went, Focus Taiwan reported. Colonel Ho Chih-chung, the 58th Artillery's deputy commander, said the US supplier also sent its personnel to the site to assist with any technical issues during the live-fire exercise. As per Focus Taiwan, Taiwan has purchased 29 HIMARS from the United States, and the first shipment of 11 was delivered in 2024. According to a Ministry of National Defence report submitted to the Legislative Yuan in March, the second batch of 18 HIMARS is scheduled to be delivered next year instead of 2027 as was originally planned. Taiwan's ministry of national defence (MND) also shared images of the HIMARS test-firing in a post on X. MND wrote on X, "#HIMARS debuts in #Taiwan, showcasing rapid deployment and next-generation strike capabilities." These developments become significant as China continues its activities in the Taiwan Strait. On Wednesday, Taiwan's ministry of national defence detected 35 sorties of People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, eight People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels, and two official ships operating around Taiwan. The Taiwan-China issue is a complex and longstanding geopolitical conflict centred on Taiwan's sovereignty. Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), operates its own government, military, and economy, functioning as a de facto independent state. However, China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and insists on the "One China" policy, which asserts that there is only one China, with Beijing as its capital. Beijing has consistently expressed its goal of reunification with Taiwan, using diplomatic, economic, and military pressure to isolate Taiwan internationally.
Hans India
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Taiwan spots 31 Chinese aircraft, 7 warships in its territory
Taipei: Taiwan on Tuesday said that it spotted 31 Chinese aircraft (30 of which crossed the median line of the strait and entered the northern and southwest airspace), 7 Chinese warships, and one official ship, continuing to operate around the Taiwan Strait. The Taiwanese army used mission aircraft, ships, and shore-based missile systems to closely monitor and respond. "31 sorties of Chinese army aircraft, 7 Chinese navy vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 30 out of 31 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone," the Ministry of National Defence posted on X. The defence ministry also stated that China carried out a satellite launch mission that passed through central Taiwan toward the western Pacific Ocean, and as the altitude is outside the atmosphere, it posed no threat to Taiwan. These satellites were launched from Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) in China's southwest Sichuan Province in the early hours on Tuesday. "At 02:09 (UTC+8) today, China launched satellites from XSLC with the flight path over central Taiwan toward the Western Pacific. The altitude is beyond the atmosphere, posing no threat. Taiwan's Armed Forces monitored the process and remain ready to respond accordingly," the ministry said. Last month, Taiwan strongly condemned China's joint military drill when it detected 19 Chinese Navy ships around Taipei, and stated that Beijing's provocations threatened regional peace. The Taiwanese defence ministry called the move a disruption to the status quo and said it had deployed military vessels and aircraft in response to the threats. Taiwanese President Lai had also labelled China a "foreign hostile force" and ramped up national security measures in the face of growing threats and a string of spying cases. China claims Taiwan to be a part of its territory that must be reunified with the mainland by force if necessary. In recent years, Beijing has increased military exercises in the Taiwan Strait to intensify pressure on Taiwan. Meanwhile, the US and its allies consider the Taiwan Strait as an international waterway and routinely send warships through the strait, asserting their influence in the Indo-Pacific region and countering the growing influence of China.
