The Royal Thai Air Force's decision on its next fighter aircraft could be forced into a holding pattern after lawmakers appointed a new prime minister.

The UK and Australia will no longer need to apply for licenses to obtain U.S. technology for about 80% of their defense trade with Washington.

The two fighters were returning from a refueling training mission in Germany when the accident occurred around 12:30 p.m. local time on Aug. 14.

France joins Croatia, Greece, Portugal and Spain in acquiring the firefighting aircraft, which the European Commission is partly funding through its RescEU program.

Bulgaria operates one of the smallest military aircraft fleets in Europe, but the modernization of key capabilities is underway to respond to the worsening security situation in Eastern Europe and in the Black Sea.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Aug. 11 ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group to accelerate its deployment to the region.

While Taiwan's defense spending has been rising in recent years, officials have acknowledged that next year will represent the peak of Taipei's defense spending—at least in the medium term.

The value of FMS export contracts signed this year already set a new annual record at more than $80 billion.