The UK government has announced a major boost to its air defences, awarding a £453 million contract to upgrade radar systems on Typhoon fighter jets.
The deal, worth about $608 million, has been handed to defence contractors including BAE Systems and Leonardo.
On Thursday Defence Minister John Healey, ahead of a visit to Leonardo's facility in Edinburgh said, “As the threats we face increase, and as Russian drones continue to strike Ukraine and violate NATO airspace, this cutting-edge radar capability will keep Britain secure at home and strong abroad for many years to come."
The Typhoon is the backbone of the UK’s air defence fleet and the country’s upgrades to the fleet are important not just to protect the UK but to encourage other countries to order the jets, helping sustain production lines and jobs at home. The government also says the investment is about more than security, it is designed to support the UK economy.
Ministers argue that modernising the Typhoon fleet will make the aircraft more attractive to overseas buyers, helping to sustain production lines and protect skilled jobs. Officials say the contract will secure more than 1,500 jobs across Britain.
In October, the UK secured an £8 billion (more than $10 billion) deal to sell Typhoon jets to Türkiye, and officials believe further sales to Qatar and Saudi Arabia could follow.
The government has also pledged to increase defence spending to 2.6% of GDP from 2027, signalling a long-term commitment to military investment.
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Kazakhstan has ratified an allied relations treaty with Tajikistan and a strategic partnership agreement with the United Kingdom, aiming to deepen regional cooperation and expand ties with a major foreign investor.
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Iran accuses the United States of breaching a ceasefire after a commercial ship was seized in the Gulf of Oman, vowing retaliation, as Israel warns south Lebanon residents to avoid restricted areas.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 21st of April, covering the latest developments you need to know
Japan on Tuesday unveiled its biggest overhaul of defence export rules in decades, scrapping restrictions on overseas arms sales and opening the way for exports of warships, missiles and other weapons.
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